Empty promises

As the only Philips director left in the occupied Netherlands, it was up to Frits Philips to determine what the company’s attitude should be towards the occupying power. The challenge was to act responsibly towards the 19,000 Dutch workers whilst avoiding making an indirect contribution to the German war effort.

This also marked the start of Frits Philips’ personal war. This was a battle involving countless empty promises and bluffs, sabotage and clandestine activities, and continually sailing close to the wind, a battle waged primarily with the Verwalter, trustees assigned to large companies to promote the interests of the Germans. Two such trustees were assigned to Philips.

In all the chaos and uncertainty of the first few months of the war, Frits Philips again found comfort and strength in prayer: ‘Although I was only thirty-five, through prayer I was able, as the man with the main responsibility, to help many of our people who were often faced with colossal problems. It was also prayer that enabled me to remain optimistic about the final outcome of the war and encourage many people, especially the men in the factory, who were only too eager to be contaminated by the optimism of ‘Mr Frits’.’