Rheinmetall AG, one of the most powerful arms companies in Germany, stands for ruthless profit through war and destruction. In a time when billions are allocated for rearmament and the public is indoctrinated into 'military readiness', the company from Düsseldorf is at the center of public debate. Fred Schumacher traces the history of the company from World War II to the present day, showing the crucial role Rheinmetall played in the Nazi war machine and why the corporation still belongs to the economic elite of the Federal Republic today. Rheinmetall - a corporate history in blood and steel.

"That the big businesses that make up war are not made by small people. That war, which is a continuation of business by other means, fatally destroys human virtues, even for their owners. That no sacrifice is too great in the fight against war." Bertolt Brecht.