Nazi Gold: The Full Story of the Fifty-Year Swiss-Nazi Conspiracy to Steal Billions from Europe's Jews and Holocaust Survivors

by Tom Bower

On This Page

Description

A "compelling [and] carefully researched" account of greed, duplicity, and an unholy partnership between Switzerland and the Third Reich ( The Washington Times ). In the third and fourth decades of the twentieth century, the European continent fell, nation by nation, to Nazi Germany's invincible war machine. But Switzerland remained neutral during World War II, taking no side and bowing to no master. For a long time after, that was the accepted history-but it was a lie. Respected British show more investigative journalist Tom Bower reveals the shocking truth about how the government of Switzerland and the Swiss banking industry knowingly collaborated with the Reich during the darkest era in modern history. With the knowledge and acquiescence of the Swiss government, hundreds of millions of dollars stolen from Jewish Holocaust victims-including gold teeth extracted from the mouths of those murdered-were systematically hidden away in Swiss bank accounts. But these crimes did not end with the defeat of Hitler. For the next half century, Swiss authorities engaged in a covert campaign of lies, subterfuge, and corruption to hide the wealth from its rightful owners-concentration camp survivors and the families of the slain-while freely dispensing the illegally obtained funds to fugitive Nazis. Written by "one of the finest investigative journalists in the English-speaking world, " Nazi Gold is an explosive true account of state-endorsed crimes and atrocities; of former victims fighting courageously for their due in the face of prejudice, hatred, and indifference; and of the dedicated US Treasury agents who worked tirelessly for decades to right an unconscionable wrong ( The Washington Times ). show less

Tags

Recommendations

Member Recommendations

Member Reviews

4 reviews
This book was first published in 1997 and republished as an Ebook by Open Road Media in March 2017. I received an invitation by the publisher to read and review this book via NetGalleys.

Tom Bower, a British journalist, chronicles the 50 years of greed between the Third Reich and the government of Switzerland and the Swiss banking industry. Millions of dollars, gold pilfered from occupied country including gold teeth extracted from the mouth of those murdered were hidden away in Swiss bank accounts. The crimes didn’t end with the end of the war. The Swiss authorities hid the wealth from the rightful owners for the next half a century. Finally when a class action was launched by the Wold Jewish Congress against the Swiss banks a show more settlement was reached and millions of dollars were released in the late 90’s.”Nazi Gold” tells how it took a huge amount of time and patience to reach a fair conclusion.

Mr. Bower not doubt has put his heart into writing an account in great details. It seemed well-researched with first rate sources to back his statements. I was quite interested for part of the book but after a while the narration became too technical, highly colourful and particularly overwhelming. I found to presentation to be done in a journalistic manner: rather cold and in a sharp tone. Mid way, I thought things were going in circle and I lost interest, the writing was somewhat repetitious so I kept skipping parts to see the outcome in this grizzle chapter of history. Even if I was not totally captivated by this book it nevertheless gave me a better appreciation of the Swiss government involvement with Germany and the perfidies of the Swiss banking system.
show less
Nazi Gold is an expose on Switzerland's senior government officials and bankers who conspired to keep billions of dollars in gold and other valuables that were deposited by Jews in Swiss banks or stolen by the Nazis. It is chock full of facts concerning the Nazi theft of art works and money. The amount of facts given were overwhelming to read. The book reads like a textbook. The main thrust of the book is that Swiss bankers and politicians were just as anti-Semitic as the Nazis and still today will not allow these assets to leave their banks.
un document (certes à charge) mais consternant... Totalement consternant.
½

Members

Recently Added By

Author Information

Picture of author.
29 Works 1,674 Members

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Nazi Gold: The Full Story of the Fifty-Year Swiss-Nazi Conspiracy to Steal Billions from Europe's Jews and Holocaust Survivors
Original publication date
1997

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction, Business
DDC/MDS
940.53History & geographyHistory of EuropeHistory of Europe1918-World War II, 1939-1945
LCC
HG3204 .B68Social sciencesFinanceFinanceBankingBy region or country
BISAC

Statistics

Members
189
Popularity
172,617
Reviews
3
Rating
½ (3.38)
Languages
Dutch, English, French, Portuguese
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
8
ASINs
6