Behn

"ments. Such strategy placed ITT in an ideal situation to parlay World War II into an economic triumph. Behn was one of the few who could make meaningful long-range plans — no matter which side won. He waited, watching the fortunes of war, until a discernible pattern of victory emerged. Then, shazam — although ITT had been accused of Axis collaboration at the beginning of the war, Behn emerged as a conquering Allied hero, of sorts. He was the man with strong political influence and business interests all over Europe. As the Allied armies mopped up, Behn was personally on the scene to restore the ITT empire before the military governors could piece things together. And even more remarkably, ITT managed to carry off the role of victim of World War II and file a $30 million claim for damages which recently the United States government has seen fit to pay. So, with discreetly applied pressures and much chutzpah, Behn managed to have it both ways. If the Germans had won, who could tell what rewards would have befallen the faithful industrial empires of Krupp, Siemens, Mercedes, and the several German equivalents of ITT."