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| UK profited from East German forced labour, Stasi archives report claims | UK profited from East German forced labour, Stasi archives report claims |
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| Western nations including the UK profited from goods produced under gruelling conditions in East German prison factories at the height of the cold war, a report claims. | Western nations including the UK profited from goods produced under gruelling conditions in East German prison factories at the height of the cold war, a report claims. |
| The study shows that goods sold in the 1970s and 80s by large companies including Aldi, Volkswagen, as well as British furniture group MFI, were originally produced by East German prisoners incarcerated for their political beliefs. | The study shows that goods sold in the 1970s and 80s by large companies including Aldi, Volkswagen, as well as British furniture group MFI, were originally produced by East German prisoners incarcerated for their political beliefs. |
| Prison Products for the Class Enemy, which was commissioned by the German agency responsible for the preservation of the Stasi archives, is to be published at the end of this month. The report also claims that in one of the factories the communist regime of the GDR forced prisoners to donate blood which was then sold on to the Bavarian Red Cross. | Prison Products for the Class Enemy, which was commissioned by the German agency responsible for the preservation of the Stasi archives, is to be published at the end of this month. The report also claims that in one of the factories the communist regime of the GDR forced prisoners to donate blood which was then sold on to the Bavarian Red Cross. |
| In 2012, Swedish furniture retailer Ikea had to issue an apology after it emerged that some of its products had been produced through forced labour in the GDR. But "Ikea was only the tip of the iceberg", said Roland Jahn, the head of the Stasi archives. | In 2012, Swedish furniture retailer Ikea had to issue an apology after it emerged that some of its products had been produced through forced labour in the GDR. But "Ikea was only the tip of the iceberg", said Roland Jahn, the head of the Stasi archives. |
| Aldi and Volkswagen, which stand accused of importing goods including tights, lamps and screws from GDR prison factories, said they had neither been aware nor approved of the conditions at the factories after the report was trailed on a German television documentary. | Aldi and Volkswagen, which stand accused of importing goods including tights, lamps and screws from GDR prison factories, said they had neither been aware nor approved of the conditions at the factories after the report was trailed on a German television documentary. |
| But the full report, which has been seen by the Guardian, states that Britain also imported goods from East Germany on a large scale. In 1980, for example, Britain imported furniture worth £18m from the GDR. In 1982, East Germany exported toys worth £2m to Britain. | But the full report, which has been seen by the Guardian, states that Britain also imported goods from East Germany on a large scale. In 1980, for example, Britain imported furniture worth £18m from the GDR. In 1982, East Germany exported toys worth £2m to Britain. |
| As in the case of Aldi and Volkswagen, the involvement of UK companies may have been indirect and without their knowledge. Yet the report makes it clear that these firms "profited from prison labour in East Germany". | As in the case of Aldi and Volkswagen, the involvement of UK companies may have been indirect and without their knowledge. Yet the report makes it clear that these firms "profited from prison labour in East Germany". |
| Furniture factories in particular were frequently staffed by prisoners. One table factory, VEB Tischfabrik Finsterwalde, used inmates from prisons in Karl-Marx-Stadt, Waldheim and the Hoheneck women's prison. It exported up to 80% of its goods to Britain, in particular to Philip Lair Furniture Limited and MFI. | Furniture factories in particular were frequently staffed by prisoners. One table factory, VEB Tischfabrik Finsterwalde, used inmates from prisons in Karl-Marx-Stadt, Waldheim and the Hoheneck women's prison. It exported up to 80% of its goods to Britain, in particular to Philip Lair Furniture Limited and MFI. |
| A spokesperson from MFI Direct Ltd, which has been relaunched as an online retailer after going into administration in 2008 and has since been through a number of different owners, said: "We would like to make it clear that there is absolutely no connection between this story and the current business." | A spokesperson from MFI Direct Ltd, which has been relaunched as an online retailer after going into administration in 2008 and has since been through a number of different owners, said: "We would like to make it clear that there is absolutely no connection between this story and the current business." |
| During the 40-year history of the GDR, a formal trade agreement with Britain was never signed, in spite of repeated efforts on behalf of East Germany. Hans-Georg Golz, a historian specialising in GDR-UK relations, said he was not surprised by the revelations. "Cold war propaganda was one thing, trade was another. For British companies, pragmatism often beat ideology," he noted. | During the 40-year history of the GDR, a formal trade agreement with Britain was never signed, in spite of repeated efforts on behalf of East Germany. Hans-Georg Golz, a historian specialising in GDR-UK relations, said he was not surprised by the revelations. "Cold war propaganda was one thing, trade was another. For British companies, pragmatism often beat ideology," he noted. |
| Tobias Wunschik, the historian who authored the report, said western countries had deliberately exploited the "low-wage economy" of East Germany and could have done more to find out about conditions at the factories. "These companies made good business, but preferred to look the other way when it came to the rights of workers," he said. | Tobias Wunschik, the historian who authored the report, said western countries had deliberately exploited the "low-wage economy" of East Germany and could have done more to find out about conditions at the factories. "These companies made good business, but preferred to look the other way when it came to the rights of workers," he said. |
| "These prisoners not only had to do the more unpleasant, tougher jobs than other workers. They also had to meet higher targets." | "These prisoners not only had to do the more unpleasant, tougher jobs than other workers. They also had to meet higher targets." |
| Many prison workers would work a seven-day week and were put into solitary confinement if they failed to meet targets. | |
| One political dissident who was forced to work in a prison factory told the Guardian about his "deep disappointment" upon learning that the goods he had been forced to produce were sold in the west. Roland Braukmann spent 20 months in Cottbus prison for having displayed a Polish Solidarity banner in Zwickau in 1981. | One political dissident who was forced to work in a prison factory told the Guardian about his "deep disappointment" upon learning that the goods he had been forced to produce were sold in the west. Roland Braukmann spent 20 months in Cottbus prison for having displayed a Polish Solidarity banner in Zwickau in 1981. |
| During his time in jail, Braukmann worked under what he described as "slave-labour conditions" on an assembly line for camera parts. Years later, he spotted the cameras he made parts for being sold in expensive west German shops. "I had always wondered why no one had cared about us in the west. Now I know why." | During his time in jail, Braukmann worked under what he described as "slave-labour conditions" on an assembly line for camera parts. Years later, he spotted the cameras he made parts for being sold in expensive west German shops. "I had always wondered why no one had cared about us in the west. Now I know why." |
| • This article was amended on 16 January 2014. The earlier version referred to "solidarity confinement" where "solitary confinement" was meant. | |
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