NAZIS’ WEALTH

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20922, 29 September 1939, Page 5

NAZIS’ WEALTH

FORTUNES OF LEADERS INVESTMENTS ABROAD REPLY TO CHALLENGE (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyrig&t) PARIS, Sept. 28 The Paris Soir has published an article signed by the American correspondent, H. R. Knickerbocker, who wrote the original articles, taking up Dr. Goebbels’ challenge to produce evidence that Nazi leaders nave fortunes invested abroad. Mr Knickerbocker states that three agents helped Dr. Goebbels to place capital abroad. They were:— Wilhelm Achterberg, who travelled to Montevideo, on behalf of Eher Verlag, publishers of Hitler’s book Mein Kampf, and deposited 1,850,000 dollars on behalf of Dr. Goebbels in the safes of a German importing firm in Buenos Aires. Thomas Bucher, a member of the executive of the Ministry of Propaganda, who, helped by the Kreisbank Aktien company, deposited on behalf of Dr. Goebbels in Luxembourg bearer shares to the value of 2,480,000 belgas. Paul von Boddcheim, banking agent, who deposited on behalf of Dr. Goebbels with the Osaka branch of the Nippon Ginko Bank bills and currency to the value of £465,000. Goebbels’ Life Insurances Dr. Goebbels’ life insurances are: On his own life 330,000 dollars, 2,350,000 Dutch florins, and 1235 belgas; on his wife’s life, 670,000 Swiss francs, 4,500,000 reichmarks and £89,000. Herr von Ribbentrop’s agents, says Mr Knickerbocker, were Robert Eylau, a rich wine producer, Hans Grosse, wine importer and Henrich Marbau, von Ribbentrop’s confidential friend. They placed 165,000 dollars to von Ribbentrop’s credit in the Amsterdamsche Bank, Haarlem, the Hollandische Buitenland Bank, The Hague, and the Banca Svizzera (Italian), Zurich. Herr von Ribbentrop is the only Nazi leader who has taken out insurances in French francs, says the article. This is perhaps significant, as he has always held out to Hitler that a separate peace with France is possible. His own life is insured for 3,000,000 French francs, 1760 belgas, 2,800,000 Dutch florins, and 8900 reichmarks. His wife’s insurances are 520,000 dollars, 3,500,000 Italian lire, and £30,000. Goering and Other Leaders Field-Marshal Goering’s agents are all named by Mr Knickerbocker, also the banks in which he has investments. He has 1,225,000 dollars in a safe deposit at Sao Paula, Brazil, American bonds in New York aggregating 750,000 dollars, and 1,000,000 dollars at Malmo, Sweden, and Trieste, Italy. In addition, he has some millions of life insurance. Transactions by Herr Hess are also detailed. They include 475,000 dollars at Soa Paula, over £200,000 worth of Swiss and Dutch bonds, and life insurances in foreign currencies valued at over £125,000. Dr. Robert Ley was out of luck, as his agents were executed or placed in concentration camps. Herr Himmler placed 2,000,000 dollars in South America, the Near East and Finland. Mr Knickerbocker concludes by saying he is glad to publish these details at Dr. Goebbels request.