Chasing Gold: The Incredible Story of How the Nazis Stole Europe's Bullion
George M. Taber
Language: English
Pages: 500
ISBN: 1605986550
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
In the highly anticipated new book from the bestselling author of Judgement of Paris, George M. Taber reveals the integral role gold played in World War II, from its influence on the Nazi war machine to the ultimate triumph by the Allies and the fall of Berlin
A USA Today "New and Notable" Book
For the entire history of human civilization, gold has enraptured people around the globe. The Nazis was no less enthralled by it, and felt that gold was the solution to funding Hitler's war machine. Gold was also on the mind of FDR across the Atlantic, as he worked with Europe's other leaders to bring the United States and the rest of the world out of a severe depression. FDR was hardly the first head of state to turn to gold in difficult times. Throughout history, it has been the refuge of both nations and people in trouble, working at times when nothing else does. Desperate people can buy a loaf of bread or bribe a border guard. Gold can get desperate nations oil to keep tanks running or munitions to fight a war. If the price is right, there is always someone somewhere willing to buy or sell gold. And it was to become the Nazi's most important medium of exchange during the war.
Chasing Gold is the story of how the Nazis attempted to grab Europe’s gold to finance history’s bloodiest war. It is filled with high drama and close escapes, laying bare the palate of human emotions. Walking through the tale are giants of world history, as well as ordinary people called upon to undertake heroic action in an extraordinary time.
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Pohl of the SS called Emil Puhl and asked him if he knew about the deliveries. The banker said yes, but then added that he did not want to talk with him about it on the phone. He asked the SS officer to come to his office so they could discuss the matter in person. Pohl arrived with an assistant and said that he already had a large quantity of jewelry in Berlin and wondered if he could bring it to the bank. Puhl replied that he would try to arrange it. After the war, the bank managing vice.
A massive attack on Berlin took place before noon on February 3, devastating the capital and the Reichsbank. Nearly a thousand U.S. B-17 bombers dropped thousands of bombs on the city, killing nearly three thousand Berliners and leaving 120,000 homeless.5 Large sections of the Reichsbank were now rubble, and the staff was forced to work in the cellar. The currency printer was destroyed, but the printing plates survived. Nonetheless, a severe currency shortage soon developed, causing the.
Historian Fernand Braudel called the metal the “lifeblood of Mediterranean trade in the Second Millennium B.C.”5 Thucydides in the fifth century B.C. wrote admiringly of the Carthaginians, “If willing to help, of all existing states they are the best able; for they have abundance of gold and silver, and these make war, like other things, go smoothly.”6 Explorers during the Age of Discovery set off in sailing ships to look for gold. The objectives of Columbus were gold, god, and glory. On October.
Considered the country’s worst humiliation. At the Reichsbank’s holiday party, Schacht called the anti-Semitic violence “a wonton and outrageous undertaking as to make every decent German blush for shame.” Then he added, “I hope none among you had any share in these goings-on. If any one of you did take part, I advise you to get out of the Reichsbank as quickly as possible. We have no room in the Reichsbank for people who do not respect the life, the property, and the convictions of others.”.
Convoy again drove through the night. Travel on the treacherous roads was made worse by having to move in darkness. The gold was hidden in forests during the day, and drivers would set off again after dusk. The last stopover was at a village manor. Despite the risk, the convoy of buses and cars arrived safely in Lutsk, and the crates of gold were stored this time in the cellar of the bank office there.18 While the central bank treasure was on the road, Koc recruited two other Piłsudski Colonels.