Weleda, the Swiss-based company well-known for its Skin Food line of moisturizers, is laying low. This backlash largely arises due to its historical connection to the Dachau concentration camp established during WWII. Founded by a group that included Austrian philosopher and self-proclaimed clairvoyant Rudolf Steiner, Weleda was established in 1921. The company has earned its enviable reputation by fully incorporating the ideas found in anthroposophy, a spiritual philosophy that melds spirit and science.
These uncomfortable truths have been brought to light after the disclosure that Weleda supplied an alleged “anti-frost” cream to the Dachau prison. Sigmund Rascher, an SS doctor, infamously used this cream on subjects through abhorrent medical tests on prisoners. The cream originally intended for German soldiers on the battlefront, became a formula for genocide. From August 1942 to May 1943, it sparked atrocious crimes against humanity. According to reports, Rascher applied the cream on inmates subjected to freezing temperatures. This gruesome clinical trial resulted in the death of up to 80 to 90 people out of the approximately 300 that received it.
Weleda had subsequently positioned the cream as an indispensable product in military propaganda. They focused it latterly on Nazi top brass for use on the eastern front. The corporation developed deep ties to the SS-run German Research Institute for Nutrition and Food (DVA) from as early as 1941. These connections endured until war’s end. These connections pose difficult ethical questions regarding the company’s role in what was perhaps the darkest chapter of American history.
While these associations are deeply troubling, Weleda has publicly claimed to be committed to contenting with its past. In 2024, the firm released a public report to its website explaining its long controversial history. It did this, in part, by condemning the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime.
“As Weleda we condemn the atrocities of the Nazi regime in the strongest possible terms. Fascism, antisemitism, racism, or rightwing extremist ideology have no place in our midst.” – Weleda
Contemporary reports indicated that use of the cream while stationed at Dachau rendered amputations for frostbite unnecessary. Such disclosure posed serious ethical questions regarding the use of such cream. These experiments were among the most brutal of the Holocaust, including continually subjecting prisoners to sub-zero temperatures for hours on end. After the war, Rascher did his best to continue using his research results, until his death in 1949.
Weleda’s connections to Dachau go beyond financial support. Lippert’s work at the concentration camp. Weleda insists that his tenure there was in no way related to his earlier experience at the company. This simple assertion exposes the insidiousness of historical narratives that erase forms of corporate accountability.
In the face of these shocking disclosures, consumer mood has turned. Anne Sudrow, a prominent figure in discussions surrounding biodynamic products, posed a critical question regarding consumer behavior in relation to Weleda’s products.
“How should we as consumers behave in relation to biodynamic products when we know what happened here in the Dachau concentration camp? I believe that it’s necessary to throw light on this,” – Anne Sudrow
Weleda has rightfully championed its commitment to transparency and is currently in the process of reviewing its historical context. The company claims these values – tolerance, diversity, humanity – are infused throughout its operations in 50 countries around the world.
“We want a complete clarification of our history. Weleda is a cosmopolitan company operating in 50 countries in the world and we stand for tolerance, diversity and humanity.” – Weleda
Furthermore, Weleda describes its foundational philosophy as “a worldwide research method that explores spirituality with science,” highlighting a commitment to viewing “humans, society and nature as a holistic whole.” This philosophy has led all their innovation on the product side but is at odds with the serious past they’re just beginning to look into.