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War in the Information Age

Poughkeepsie production plant

IBM dedicated many of its plants to producing military material following after the start of World War II.

War in the Information Age

During World War II, IBM technology helped the United States fight Nazi Germany. And helped Germany fight the United States.

IBM vigorously supported America’s war effort, placing its facilities at the government’s disposal, setting a 1% profit limit on military equipment, and providing the processing power to manage supply inventories and soldier records.

However, throughout its reign Nazi Germany used IBM punched card equipment from the company’s German subsidiary—including for record keeping at concentration camps. Data processing had become vital to modern society, and IBM was the world’s preeminent source.

Tom Watson, Sr. meets with Adolf Hitler

Watson’s controversial meeting with Hitler came shortly before he received a medal for “Service to the Reich” for providing tabulating equipment. Watson later returned the medal.

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