The purpose of this class is to present Volkswagen AG in historical, economic and business perspectives as it plays into the greater scheme of the Post-WWII German economy.  The class will follow two tracks that will merge with one another.  On the one hand data about the company, its models and subdivisions will be presented and on the other, remarks will be made to the connections to larger economic and political trends. This will allow versatile presentation that will combine the fun with the educational aspects a DeCal is expected to possess.

The case of Volkswagen AG will be used both as a tool to introduce the macroeconomic and historical analysis of the German economic revival after 1945 and as a business case study in itself.  From a business and economic perspective the company is fascinating to observe as it started in the vain of pre-war corporatism, adapted to war-time demands and later managed to surface again and once more change paradigms adjusting to a free market economy to become the fourth largest automanufacturer in the world.