Adolf Dassler

Biography

Adolf "Adi" Dassler was born in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria on Nov. 3, 1900. From a young age, Dassler was trained as a cobbler. He began creating his own version of sports shoes in his mother's laundry room once he returned home from World War I. His father, Christoph Dassler, worked in a shoe factory where the Zehlein brothers produced handmade metal spikes for track shoes. Adolf was supported by his father and the Zehlein brothers when he began his own business. Adolf’s older brother, Rudolf, joined the effort, and in July 1924, the business became known as the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory. The foundation for the international expansion of the company was laid when Dassler provided shoes for many of the athletes at the 1928 Olympics. The 1936 Summer Olympics, held in Berlin, provided another opportunity for Dassler after he equipped U.S. athlete Jesse Owens with a pair of his trademark shoes. Owens won four gold medals while wearing Dassler's shoes, further promoting his business. During Adolf Hitler's rise in the 1930s, both of the Dassler brothers joined the Nazi Party. Rudolf was drafted and later captured. Adolf remained with the shoe factory, producing boots for the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Germany. Adolf broke ties with the Nazi Party shortly thereafter. A rift formed between the brothers during World War II. In 1948, Rudolf left the brothers' company and founded his own business, known today as Puma. Adolf then renamed his company after his nickname "Adi" and the first letters of his surname, calling the company Adidas. Adolf’s son, Horst Dassler, founded a company that produced swimming equipment in 1973. After his father died in September 1978, Horst and his wife Käthe took over management of Adidas. Adidas converted into a private limited company in 1989. It remained the property of the Dassler family until its initial public offering (IPO) in 1995.   Adolf "Adi" Dassler was born in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria on Nov. 3, 1900. From a young age, Dassler was trained as a cobbler. He began creating his own version of sports shoes in his mother's laundry room once he returned home from World War I. His father, Christoph Dassler, worked in a shoe factory where the Zehlein brothers produced handmade metal spikes for track shoes. Adolf was supported by his father and the Zehlein brothers when he began his own business. Adolf’s older brother, Rudolf, joined the effort, and in July 1924, the business became known as the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory. The foundation for the international expansion of the company was laid when Dassler provided shoes for many of the athletes at the 1928 Olympics. The 1936 Summer Olympics, held in Berlin, provided another opportunity for Dassler after he equipped U.S. athlete Jesse Owens with a pair of his trademark shoes. Owens won four gold medals while wearing Dassler's shoes, further promoting his business. During Adolf Hitler's rise in the 1930s, both of the Dassler brothers joined the Nazi Party. Rudolf was drafted and later captured. Adolf remained with the shoe factory, producing boots for the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Germany. Adolf broke ties with the Nazi Party shortly thereafter. A rift formed between the brothers during World War II. In 1948, Rudolf left the brothers' company and founded his own business, known today as Puma. Adolf then renamed his company after his nickname "Adi" and the first letters of his surname, calling the company Adidas. Adolf’s son, Horst Dassler, founded a company that produced swimming equipment in 1973. After his father died in September 1978, Horst and his wife Käthe took over management of Adidas. Adidas converted into a private limited company in 1989. It remained the property of the Dassler family until its initial public offering (IPO) in 1995.  

Research Interest

Business