Episode 22: Simson & Co: A Family Forged in Steel

The Simson family business has been manufacturing everything from firearms to vehicles for decades. But when the Nazis take over, they’re not happy to learn that a Jewish family is supplying weapons to the German army. After a new law forces the Simsons to relinquish their company to the Nazis, the family flees to the United States. Fifty years later, a Simson descendent makes his way back to Germany – and finds out what became of the business empire his family once led. 

The LBI Archives hold much of the extensive documentation Ulrike Schulz used to create her history of the Simson company, which was published in German in 2013. Among the records available digitally at LBI are Arthur Simson’s statement to the Zurich police after fleeing there in 1936 and a folder of clippings about the expropriation of the company. Learn more at lbi.org/simson.

Exile is a production of the Leo Baeck Institute, New York and Antica Productions. It’s narrated by Mandy Patinkin. This episode was written by Hana Walker-Brown.

Our executive producers are Laura Regehr, Rami Tzabar, Stuart Coxe, and Bernie Blum. Our producer is Emily Morantz. Research and translation by Isabella Kempf and David Brown. Voice acting by Manuel Mairhofer. Sound design and audio mix by Philip Wilson. Theme music by Oliver Wickham.

Special thanks to Jens Arndt for the use of the film The Simson Suhl Vehicle Works. 

Please consider supporting the work of the Leo Baeck Institute with a tax-deductible contribution by visiting lbi.org/exile2025.

This episode of Exile is made possible in part by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Finance and the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future.