Adolf Dassler Biography

Adolf Dassler was born on 3 November 1900, in Herzogenaurach, Germany, as the youngest child of Christoph and Pauline Dassler. He had two brothers—Fritz and Rudolf—and a sister — Marie.

Though Christoph belonged to the family of weavers and dyers, he left the profession after the decline of textile industry. He turned towards cobbling and joined a local factory.

Pauline established a laundry service at the back of the house. While Marie helped in laundry, the three brothers were responsible for transporting it to and from the clients.

After finishing his high school in 1913, Adolf began working as an apprentice at a bakery; however, he had absolutely no interest in the job.

Instead, with his friend Fritz Zehlein, he took interest in sports and spent much of his spare time participating and competing in sports like track and field, soccer, ice-hockey, javelin, and skiing.

During this time, he also learnt shoe making from his father. He began to realise that each sport may require a specially designed shoes for better results.

Between June 1918 and October 1919, Adolf Dassler served in the army. Upon return, he turned his mother’s laundry room (now closed) into a small shoe workshop. The situation, post war, was not good and there were problems regarding supply of material, credit and electrical service in Germany.

An innovative person, he used materials originally meant for military use –like helmets and bread pouches - to make his shoes and resorted to jury-rigging available devices to help mechanized production.

Initially, he earned money by repairing shoes of the local people. He also experimented with new shoe models. The shoes impressed the area’s sports club and consequently he bagged numerous orders.

In 1923, his elder brother Rudolf joined the business and their company named Gebrüder Dassler Sportschuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Sport Shoe Factory) was commercially registered a year later. The two brothers managed areas they excelled in – Adolf in developing shoes and Rudolf in sales and marketing.

The company began producing first football boots with nailed leather studs and track shoes with hand-forged metal spikes.

By 1926-1927, the business, having grown considerably, moved to a new bigger factory with new machineries and increased staff member.

The shoes designed by him began to be used in international competitions. In 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics, German distance runner, Lina Radke, wore a track shoes designed by him and won a gold medal.

The period also saw a friendship developing between Adolf Dassler and the then German Olympic track-and-field team coach, Josef Waitzer. The latter began giving consultation and feedbacks for product development. The friendship also brought Adolf in contact with both German and foreign players.

In 1932 in Los Angeles Olympics, more athletes used Dassler shoes. In 1933, keeping their business interest in mind, the Dassler brothers joined the Nazi party. Adolf Dassler became the coach of and supplier to Hitler Youth Sports league.

The 1936 Berlin Olympics brought the company tremendous international recognition after the American track-and-field star Jesse Owens won four gold medals wearing track spikes manufactured by Adolf Dassler.

The increased demands led to the opening of a new factory in Herzogenaurach in 1938. However, the beginning of World War II negatively impacted the business. The production fell down and Adolf Dassler was drafted to work as a radio operator for the military for a brief period between 1940 and 1941. The new factory had to be closed down.

The company produced shoes for the German army, though it still continued limited production of sports shoes.

During this time, personal and professional disagreements between Adolf and Rudolf began to widen. Situation became worse when Rudolf was drafted into the military in 1943. Later the same year, as per a government directive, the Dassler factory had to stop manufacturing shoes and instead produce weapon parts.

After the war, the denazification proceedings further created irreparable breach between the brothers. Adolf was classified as a Nazi party member and prohibited from owning a business; however, testimonies from his employees and other citizens (including a Jew) reduced his charges. In 1947, he was re-granted the ownership of the company.

The two brothers eventually split in 1948 and Rudolf founded his own company Puma.

Meanwhile, Adolf named his new company Adidas and made the now recognisable three stripes its logo. Adolf’s wife, Kathe, became more involved in the business and played a crucial role in the success of the company.

Adidas prospered firmly. Adolf and Kathe developed relationship with sports personalities around the world due to which Adolf further enhanced his understanding of needs of different sports.

Accordingly, he manufactured shoes suitable for sportsmen in different fields like track and field, football, tennis, basketball and even shooting.

In 1954 football world cup final, the German national team unexpectedly defeated the Hungarians, something which came to be known as the Miracle in Bern. Credit for the win was also given to Adolf’s screw in studs football boots worn by the players. The big win made Adidas extremely popular at international level.

In the early 1950s itself, Adidas began making sports bags, the first for the company which up till now was only involved in shoe making.

In 1959, a new factory came up in France and was managed by Adi Dassler’s son, Horst.

Adidas grew exponentially and in 1967 launched its apparels. Three years later, Adidas provided the official ball for 1970 FIFA world cup.

The period also saw Adolf Dassler collaborating with orthopaedic doctors and sports medicine specialists to create specialised shoes for injured athletes like Uwe Seeler and Heide Ecker-Rosendahl.

At the time of his death, Adidas was the biggest sporting good producer. His wife and son took charge of the business after his death.

Adolf Dassler was recognised for his work on numerous occasions. He was awarded the German Order of Merit, First Class (1968), the Bavarian Order of Merit (1974) and became the first non-American to be inducted into National Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame (1978).

In 2006, a life size bronze statue of him was unveiled in the Adi Dassler Stadium in Herzogenaurach.

Adolf Dassler wedded Käthe Martz, daughter of the famous shoe mould producer, Franz Martz, in March 1934. The couple have five children together – son Horst and daughters Inge, Karin, Brigitte and Sigrid.

He passed away due to a heart failure on 6 December 1978, at the age of 77.