13 February 2008

The Story of Adi Dassler

Stop motion work has always amazed me. Whether it's Wallace and Grommit or the lightpainting by LICHTFAKTOR from Germany, the artistry and skill necessary are astounding. That's why I love the new site by Adidas which tells the story of Adidas and Adi Dassler. Hit the jump to watch the film and explore Adi's workshop.
What the film does not tell however is the fascinating story of the split between Adi and his older brother Rudolph Dassler. The split between these two Nazi party members apparently occurred over a misunderstanding in a bomb shelter.

"During the war, a growing rift between the pair reached breaking point, after an Allied bomb attack in 1943 when Adi and his wife climbed into a bomb shelter that Rudolf and his family were already in. 'The dirty bastards are back again,' Adi said, apparently referring to the Allied war planes, but Rudolf was convinced his brother meant him and his family. After Rudolf was later picked up by American soldiers and accused of being a member of the Waffen SS, he was convinced that his brother had turned him in."

In 1948, the brothers split their business, when Rudi left the high hill for the other side of the Aurach river: Adolf called his firm Adidas after his nick name; Rudolf started his own little shoe company... now known as Puma.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

DUDE ... seriously love it