(The Artillery Export of the Škoda Works to Iran in the 1930s)
Abstract: This article analyses the arms trade between Iran and the Czechoslovak company Škoda Works in the 1930s. When Reza Shah Pahlavi came to power and Czechoslovakia established diplomatic relations with Iran, the Iranian market opened to Czechoslovak companies. This moment was also an opportunity for Škoda Works. Škoda Works needed to compensate (at least partially) the reduction in exports caused by the Great Depression. New business opportunities were offered by the Iranian army which needed modern cannons. At first, it was necessary to persuade Iranian clientele to give priority to the products of the Škoda Works over the competition. The first contracts for the supply of cannons were signed in 1934. The largest business contracts were realized in the following year. However negotiations on some contracts were very difficult and lasted for several years in some cases. Some of the contracts were not very advantageous for Škoda Works. But Škoda Works were forced to sign these contracts to prevent losing Iranian customers.
Author: HLADÍK Jan
DOI: 10.17846/SHN.2020.24.1.111-124
Publication order reference: Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, Národohospodářská fakulta, Katedra hospodářských dějin, Náměstí Winstona Churchilla 1938/4, 130 67 Praha 3 – Žižkov, Czech Republic, mail: jan.hladik@vse.cz
Source: Studia Historica Nitriensia, 2020, vol.: 24, number: 1, pages: 111-124
Key words: Škoda Works; Cannons; Iran; Export; Ammunition; Negotiation;
Language: SLOVAK