It is home to two major international sporting goods companies, Adidas and Puma,[3][4] and Schaeffler Group, a car parts manufacturer.

Herzogenaurach was first mentioned in a document from 1002 under the name of Uraha when Holy Roman Emperor Henry II granted the town to the Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg.

Operating since the 1960s,[5] both companies' headquarters are still located in the town, originally on opposite sides of the Aurach River, and brand loyalty was sharply divided as well.

For many years, Adidas and Puma workers would not associate with each other, and even when Adolf and Rudi died, they were buried in opposite ends of the town's cemetery.

The airfield was mainly used as a fuelling point for aircraft providing air cover for troops during the invasion of Austria and Czechoslovakia.

In early September of each year, planes took off from the airfield to fly over the annual Nazi party rally (Reichsparteitag) staged at Zeppelinwiese (Zeppelin Field) in Nuremberg.