Nazi Billionaires

The Dark History of Germany's Wealthiest Dynasties

By: David de Jong

Narrated by: Michael David Axtell

Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

A groundbreaking investigation of how the Nazis helped German tycoons make billions off the horrors of the Third Reich and World War II—and how America allowed them to get away with it.

In 1946, Günther Quandt—patriarch of Germany’s most iconic industrial empire, a dynasty that today controls BMW—was arrested for suspected Nazi collaboration. Quandt claimed that he had been forced to join the party by his archrival, propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, and the courts acquitted him. But Quandt lied. And his heirs, and those of other Nazi billionaires, have only grown wealthier in the generations since, while their reckoning with this dark past remains incomplete at best. Many of them continue to control swaths of the world economy, owning iconic brands whose products blanket the globe. The brutal legacy of the dynasties that dominated Daimler-Benz, cofounded Allianz, and still control Porsche, Volkswagen, and BMW has remained hidden in plain sight—until now.

In this landmark work of investigative journalism, David de Jong reveals the true story of how Germany’s wealthiest business dynasties amassed untold money and power by abetting the atrocities of the Third Reich. Using a wealth of untapped sources, de Jong shows how these tycoons seized Jewish businesses, procured slave laborers, and ramped up weapons production to equip Hitler’s army as Europe burned around them. Most shocking of all, de Jong exposes how America’s political expediency enabled these billionaires to get away with their crimes, covering up a bloodstain that defiles the German and global economy to this day.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 David de Jong (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Fascinating & Horrific

Well-researched & tragically sad.

Besides the horrific ways these companies benefitted & thrived on the backs of slave labor, the fact that these opportunistic industrialists suffered almost no repercussions - even in this 21st century - makes every death at their hands more insidious.

Must read, well delivered story

Dark past captured in a well documented manner. Great narration and delivery of sensitive content. Must read.

Great detail, muddled conclusion.

Great detail of the life and times of these business moguls. The last few chapters in the final section included sloppy innuendo conflating reasonable opposition to the Euro, euro-skepticism, and questioning of the Merkel immigration policies with “far right” policies. The book overall was well worth my time but the slop at the conclusion could have been trimmed.

History is wildly and deeply imperfect and as this book clearly illustrates, often grossly unfair.

Brilliant!

Are we currently seeing the same thing play out among American billionaires? It’s a must read!

Fabulous!

So, so informative. I will be listening again in order to absorb this great history lesson even better.

Excellent Rendition

I have done a lot on WWII & the Holocaust. This book presented so much information I had never heard before. It addressed details about wealthy, powerful individuals who stole properties from Jewish owners and profited immensely by doing so. Though heartbreaking and disgusting, I feel it’s important to recognize this aspect of WWII and the Holocaust. I am so appreciative that this kind of information was brought to light. We must not forget or we’re destined oftentimes to repeat horrendous acts.

Very insightful into untouched corruption w/us now

Is it any wonder that Deustchebank funded the most corrupt president in US History? And w/o accountability, these & other corrupt orgs continue to undermine democracies! e.g. citizens united Supreme Court decision

Fascinating!! Well researched, well written and well presented

I would highly recommend this for any history enthusiast! The level and depth of research make this book a must read for anyone wishing to understand this period in our history

Superbly researched and told story

What an eye-opener of a book into a world that one knew existed but couldn’t fathom the extent of its influence on contemporary German business life.

Must read

Truly amazing incredible reporting about a story you often don’t hear. Helped me shape my purchasing decisions and spread the word of who not to support.