Helmut Eberspächer
Helmut Eberspächer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 November 1915 |
| Died | 19 June 2011 (aged 95) |
| Occupation | Chairman of Eberspächer GmbH |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Heer Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1934–39 1939–45 |
| Rank | Hauptmann (Captain) |
| Unit | LG 2 SKG 10 KG 51 NSGr. 20 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg |
Helmut Eberspächer (18 November 1915 – 19 June 2011) was a German businessman and chairman of Eberspächer. During World War II, he served in the Wehrmacht as a fighter pilot. A flying ace, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was credited with 7 victories, each resulting in the destruction of an enemy aircraft.
In 1950, he and his cousin Walter took over the family business, Eberspächer GmbH. He ran the business as chairman until 1988, and remained as an honorary chairman until 2005. He also served on the board of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) and the German Automotive Industry Association. Under his leadership, Eberspächer became one of the leading automobile industry suppliers in Germany, with approximately 5,600 employees worldwide and 1.9 billion Euros in sales in 2010.