The Nazi Billions Hidden in Plain Sight

BMW, Volkswagen, Allianz and Dr. Oetker are all household names – but how did these German businesses get to be so wealthy? The reality of collaboration, collusion, and the active championing of Hitler and the Nazi regime – during World War II, and beyond – by corporations remains “happily ignored”. So how have global powers let them get away with it? Jelena Sofronijevic talks to financial journalist David de Jong, author of author of Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties.  “The businessmen that I write about pressured Jewish businessmen to sell assets far under their value or there would be more dire repercussions.” “The vast majority of Germany’s business community went through this very flawed legal process called de-Nazification. This saw millions of criminals get off scot-free for their crimes.” “There were farcical legal proceedings that saw Nazi war criminals exonerated.” “The allied thinking that they needed to have a financially West Germany also led to those businessmen keeping their assets.” “Most of the characters in my book are sheer opportunists.” “As we get further away from the atrocities of the Third Reich, this history is receding.” “As consumers the bare minimum we should expect from these families is that they’re transparent.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices