Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties

by David De Jong

It is common knowledge that in the 1930s and 40s, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP for short) had a stronghold over the German political scene. Under Adolf Hitler’s command, the NSDAP committed unprecedented atrocities against anyone they deemed their opponents or that contradicted their racial purification agenda; their prime targets being the Jewish population.

The above facts are commonly taught and talked about in the United States of America, but what about the behind-the-scenes atrocities and financial dealings? Have you ever wondered how the financially poor NSDAP financed their 1932 and 1933 political campaigns? How about how they were able to finance their post-political take over concentration camps, death chambers, or even their military and paramilitary organizations?

In Nazi Billionaires, The Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties, David De Jong uses evidence-based research to examine the financial dealings between the NSDAP and Germany’s ultra-wealthy patrons. He also dives into how these same patrons profited off of the rearmament of Nazi Germany and atrocities committed against Germany’s and later Europe’s marginalized communities.

Now you may be wondering, why have I never learned about this side of history? Were these patrons held accountable for their participation and financial backing of the NSDAP’s atrocities? What happened to these ultra-wealthy families and their business empires? Lastly, have these families turned a new leaf and repented for their ancestors’ participation in the Holocaust and forced labor of marginalized communities?

David De Jong does an excellent job at explaining all of the post-World War II legal prosecutions, distribution (or lack thereof) of financial reparations, and the current status of the patrons’ family wealth. He also explains how the split Allied control of Germany following World War II greatly affected the different outcomes of each patron.

If you are like me and want to learn about the less-commonly known facts of World War II and how they correlate to modern times, I highly recommend that you read David De Jong’s Nazi Billionaires: A Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties. De Jong does a phenomenal job at providing his fact-based evidence in a clear and concise way that even readers, with no business or financial background, can understand easily. This book is also incredibly interesting for automotive enthusiasts, especially those interested in European style cars. De Jong explains how these major automotive brands worked with the NSDAP to aid Hitler’s military and paramilitary during World War II. Overall, this book broadened my understanding of the NSDAP and their behind the scenes dealings, forced labor utilization during the Holocaust, and the post war prosecutions. It was well-worth the read.