Germany takes over 40 % of the arms company KNDS. In this way, the Federal Republic of Germany is using public money to secure more control over the company.
The German-French arms company is scheduled to go public by summer. The German part of the company (50 %) is currently family-owned by the Wegmann Group, while the French share (50 %) is already with the state.
The federal government wants the billion-dollar IPO 40 % of the group. In this way, the government secures influence on armaments projects and locations. KNDS plays a central role in arming Germany and Europe to make them warworthy.
The Kassel Bode family dynasty is behind the German portion of KNDS. August Bode developed the wagon factory into one of the most important arms companies under National Socialism using forced labor. His descendants, the Bode families, Sethe and von Braunbehrens, are now selling their shares back to the German state for several billion.