Chasing Gold: The Incredible Story of How the Nazis Stole Europe's Bullion

by George M. Taber Narrated by Robertson Dean

Overview

In the highly anticipated new book from the bestselling author of Judgment 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.

For the entire history of human civilization, gold has enraptured people around the globe. The Nazis were no less enthralled by it and felt 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.

Editorial Reviews

Newsweek

A sprightly and definitive account.”

Entertainment Weekly

A vivid, robust story.”

New York Times

Engrossing.”

Kirkus Reviews

As former Time editor and reporter Taber shows in this crisp, well-documented history, lust for gold was integral to Hitler’s military ambitions…A chilling tale vividly told.”

Publishers Weekly

Former Time magazine staffer Taber reveals one of WWII’s darkest secrets in this compulsively readable, real-life thriller of how the Nazis funded their war machine…Those with an interest in war crimes will relish Taber’s masterful reportage and the unearthing of these wartime treasures.”

Library Journal

If a crazed ideology motivated the Nazis in their drive for European hegemony, gold was the instrument that Hitler needed to make his dreams a reality. Independent scholar Taber provides a detailed account of the German economists—some committed Nazis and others merely technocrats—who helped Hitler obtain the reserves he needed…Relates the account of World War II from the perspective of gold, something that will attract a variety of readers.”

Booklist

An absorbing examination of an important and rarely covered episode in WWII.”

The Huffington Post

A meticulously researched and tensely dramatic account of the movements of gold just before and during the conflict — a story full of ruthless plunder, desperate maneuvers and narrow escapes.

Shelf Awareness

Rarely can a story about central bankers, bullion holdings and maritime shipping be described as thrilling. Nazis, of course, tend to liven things up. But outrunning the Nazis was only the first obstacle. Chasing Gold glitters with an engaging narrative.

Booklist

An absorbing examination of an important and rarely covered episode in WWII.

Midwest Book Review

Eye-opening. Chasing Gold almost reads like a thriller at times, packed with true stories of greed, murder, political intrigue, and corrupt money laundering that persisted well past the war's end. Highly recommended.”

Robert Mark Kamen

In All the President's Men, Deep Throat tells Woodward and Bernstein to "follow the money." George Taber took his advice and, in Chasing Gold, he leads us on a journey never undertaken before to uncover how the Nazi Wehmacht financed the death and destruction they wrecked upon the world for six terror filled years. Chasing Gold should be required reading for anyone interested in the history of World War Two.”

Eric Asimov - The New York Times

Engrossing.

Newsweek

A sprightly and definitive account.

Barron's

There is a big payoff in Taber's research, and especially his felicitous writing style

Kirkus Reviews

2014-10-05
The story of the Nazis' international bank robberies.After World War I, Germany was subject to huge reparations to the Allied victors. High unemployment, inflation and fierce anger over the nation's defeat generated political and social strife that fueled Hitler's rise to power. As former Time editor and reporter Taber (In Search of Bacchus: Wanderings in the Wonderful World of Wine Tourism, 2009, etc.) shows in this crisp, well-documented history, lust for gold was integral to Hitler's military ambitions. In 1933, the Germans had six army divisions, a skeleton air force and only one heavy naval cruiser; by 1939, after raiding Austria and Czechoslovakia, the Nazis had built up their military might to 51 army divisions, including four tank units with 6,000 tanks; 21 air squadrons and 7,000 planes; four battleships, 22 destroyers and four submarines. The nation had also trained and equipped 1.25 million soldiers. Before the invasion of Austria in March 1938, Germany had about $149 million in gold, most in hidden assets. By the end of the war, the Nazis' stores totaled almost $600 million. Once Hitler's rampage began, European nations rushed to safeguard their gold stores by sending bullion abroad, much of it to the United States. By early 1940, the U.S. harbored more than 60 percent of the world's gold. Taber recounts the tense, often frenetic process of secreting these hordes on trains, trucks and boats, sometimes only yards away from the invading Nazis. Some countries, like Norway, succeeded in saving their gold; most did not. Taber emphasizes that "the German war machine would have ground to a halt long before May 1945" without cooperation from Romania, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Sweden for materiel, and especially from Swiss bankers, who eagerly sold the Nazis Swiss francs with which to pay for vital war products. A chilling tale vividly told.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169662672
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	12/15/2014
Edition description:	Unabridged

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