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This article investigates one stage in the career of Dr. Wilhelm Voss (1896-1974) who was a chartered accountant, manager of the Reichswerke "Hermann Göring" and armament adviser to the Egyptian government after World War II. During the Weimar republic Voss was a respected association official and chartered accountant without a political background. Between spring 1933 and autumn 1934 he integrated himself fast and successfully into the Nazi regime. The article explores Voss' actions, his motives and family background as well as professional points of contact to National Socialism. At the same time it reveals the difficult development of chartered accountancy as a profession in Germany around 1930 and attempts to professionalize the occupation by different individuals and organisations. This paper takes up new research approaches to the history of elites. The source material is evaluated on the four analysis levels of "authority", "situation", "profession" and "self-image".

Abstract
This article investigates one stage in the career of Dr. Wilhelm Voss (1896-1974) who was a chartered accountant, manager of the Reichswerke "Hermann Göring" and armament adviser to the Egyptian government after World War II. During the Weimar republic Voss was a respected association official and chartered accountant without a political background. Between spring 1933 and autumn 1934 he integrated himself fast and successfully into the Nazi regime. The article explores Voss' actions, his motives and family background as well as professional points of contact to National Socialism. At the same time it reveals the difficult development of chartered accountancy as a profession in Germany around 1930 and attempts to professionalize the occupation by different individuals and organisations. This paper takes up new research approaches to the history of elites. The source material is evaluated on the four analysis levels of "authority", "situation", "profession" and "self-image".