HITLER’S WEALTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1939, Page 7

HITLER’S WEALTH

DEPOSITS IN EUROPE FORTUNE FROM “MEIN KAMPF.” PRECAUTIONS TAKEN IN CASE OF ABDUCTION. "I am, as a matter of fact, the only statesman in the world who has no bank account.” Adolf Hitler once said in a speech in the Berlin Sportpalast. This statement of the German Fuehrer has been refuted not only by the American journalist. Mr R. H. Knickerbocker, but by many others who have investigated the mighty holdings of the German leader in foreign banks. One of these is the well-known author of "Axbyssinia On the Eve," Mr Ladislas Farago. who says that Hitler is one of the richest men in Europe. He claims that not only did "Mein Kampf” mean considerable returns to Hitler, but also that he has investments in real estate and industrial concerns, the proceeds from which are deposited in 15 bank accounts under three names. All of this fortune has been accumulated during Hitler’s years as a politician, according to Mr Farago. "Mein Kampf" afforded Hitler the bulk of his fortune. Today the book is the world’s best seller and has been made so by the fact that Max Amann. Hiller's personal fiscal agent since 1921 and business manager of the Nazi party since 1922. found means to increase the sale of the book. It was he who suggested that Hitler should order that it be presented to every newly-wed couple in Germany. Copies were bought, by the State with the taxpayers’ money. Similarly it was given to school children.

PROCEEDS FROM “MEIN KAMPF.”

According to Mr Farago the royalty on Hitler’s book is 2s lOd a copy. In 1934 his royalties from those distributed to married couples amounted to £100,640 and in 1934 it reached £140,000. He estimates Hitler's annual royalty at £170,000. By 1936 there was so much surplus cash on hand that Max Amann decided to invest his Fuehrer’s wealth in sound securities. He purchased real estate in Munich, Berlin and Cologne, and enlarged the official publishing house of the Reich. Franz Eher Verlag, by acquiring other printing and publishing firms. In Munich Hitler owns the greater part of the Thiersch Strasse and has large plots in the exclusive Maxmillian Strasse as well. Today any one banking house is considered inadequate to hold all the earnings of Hitler. Therefore they are well distributed. The largest sum in Hitler’s own name is at the Bayerische Gemeindebank Girozentrale. Munich. There arclarge deposits with this bank and with the Wechelbarik; the Munich branch of the Deutsche Bank and Disconto Gesellschaft and in both the Berlin and Munich offices of the Bank of Gterman Workers, a former Socialist Party organisation seized by the Nazis. HITLER’S BANK ACCOUNTS. Here is a list of Hitler’s bank accounts according to records kept in Amann's auditing office and which are scattered in nine European countries under three different names: — At Berne, Switzerland, at the Bundes Postcheckamt. account numbei 111-7205 in the name of Max Amann: At Paris, France, at the Bureau Central des Cheques Postcaux, rue des Favorite, account number 190,066, in the name of Amann; At The Hague, Holland, at the Postcheque en Girodienst, Spechenlein. account number 211.846. in the name of Amann; At Brussels, Belgium, at the office des Cheque Pdstaux, account number 350,797, in the name of Amann: At Prague, Czechoslovakia, at Postovni Sporitelna, account number 77.303, in the name of Franz Eher Verlag; At Warsaw, Poland, at Pocztowa. Kasa Oszczednosci, Jasna. account number 194.121. in the name of Franz Eher Verlag; At Budapest, Hungary, at the Magyar Kiralyi Postatakarek-Penztar. account number 13.532, in the name of Philip Bouhler; At Belgrade. Jugoslavia, at Cekodni Ured, account number 68.237. in the name of Philip Bouhler; At Bucharest. Roumania. at Casa National de Economic ci Cecuri. account number 24.968. in the name of Bouhler. who is the trusted chief of Hitler's Personal Office. PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. Mr Farago claims that in case Hitler is compelled to leave tincountry at a moment's notice, owing to the fall of his regime. Herr Amann is making sure that the Fuehrer will find money wherever he seeks a sanctuary. It is pointed out that Hitler has no money in Italy, which seems to rule out the possibility of his seeking the protection of Signor Mussolini. From all appearances the Nazi regime is less secure than the Fuehrer has led the world to believe.