29. You look at it: Ibid.
30. Half to Switzerland: Eduard Kubu, Czechoslovak Gold Reserves and Their Surrender to Nazi Germany, pp. 245-248.
31. The former Czechoslovakia: Ibid., pp. 245-249. Colonel Bernard Bernstein report to Lt. General Lucius Clay, November 1, 1945. NACP RG 260 File 940.607.
CHAPTER NINE: MUTINY AT THE REICHSBANK
1. Results of our policy: IMT 611-EC.
2. England target 1942: Georg Thomas, Geschichte der Deutchen Wehr—und Ruestungswirtschaft, p. 509.
3. The new demand: Adam Tooze, The Wages of Destruction, pp. 223-239.
4. Hands of criminals: IMT, May 1, 1946 morning session. Exhibit Schacht-34.
5. Hitler by the throat: IMT, April 25, 1946 morning session.
6. Demanded of me: Ulrich von Hassell, Von Anderen Deutschland, pp. 3-31.
7. Then hang me: Edward Peterson, Hjalmar Schacht, p. 320.
8. Attack on Kristallnacht: John Toland, Adolf Hitler, pp. 696-698.
9. Reich was bankrupt: IMT PS-3731.
10. Brink of financial collapse: Adam Tooze, The Wages of Destruction, pp. 252-253.
11. After the holidays: Adam Tooze, The Wages of Destruction, pp. 297.
12. Likely lead to inflation: Hjalmar Schacht, Account Settled, pp. 134-135.
13. Hitler and his methods: IMT, May 3, 1946, p. 72. EC-348.
14. Country’s financial situation: IMT 369-EC. Hjalmar Schacht, Account Settled, pp. 133-134.
15. Hitler was coming: Hjalmar Schacht, My First Seventy-Six Years, pp. 199-200. IMT EC-348.
16. Reichsbank and currency: IMT 369-EC.
17. Dumb and useless: IMT 369-EC.
18. Put off to 9:15: Hjalmar Schacht, My First Seventy-Six Years, p. 392.
19. Not sufficiently Nazi: John Toland, Adolf Hitler, pp. 695-696.
20. Have kept silent: Hjalmar Schacht, My First Seventy-Six Years, p. 392.
21. Any more now: Ibid., p. 393.
22. Good thing Mein Führer: Ibid.
23. The Nazi regime: Ibid.
24. As Reich Minister: IMT EC-397.
25. Reorganization of Reichsbank: U.S. Berlin Embassy cable to Washington, January 20, 1939. NACP RG 59.
26. Shoot me yet: Time magazine, January 30, 1939.
27. Message with Heil Hitler: GFA, Reichsbank folder. Bestand R 25.01.
28. Out of all this: Ulrich von Hassell, The Ulrich von Hassell Diaries, p. 33.
29. In the east: Hugh Trevor-Roper, Hitler’s War Directives, pp. 37-40.
CHAPTER TEN: POLAND’S LONG ODYSSEY
1. First suitable opportunity: IMT L-79.
2. Military might at Poland: IMT EC-28. The German Campaign in Poland, U.S. Chief of Staff Report, March 21, 1942, pp. 1-10.
3. Long-delayed economic treaty: William Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, pp. 513-530.
4. Lay our hands: IMT PC-699.
5. The latter date: Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, pp. 536-542.
6. Poland to September 1: Ibid. pp. 540-544.
7. With a red pencil: Hugh Trevor-Roper, Hitler’s War Directives, pp. 38-40.
8. The alleged victims: David G. Williamson, Poland Betrayed, pp. 63-75.
9. War with Germany: BBC Archives. The Transcript of Neville Chamberlain’s Declaration of War. Shirer, Berlin Diary, p. 201.
10. Société de Banque Suisse. Wojciech Rojek, Odyseja skarbu Rzeczypospolitej, p. 28.
11. The Reichsbank’s holdings: Col. William Brey Report on Captured Gold, NACP RG 260, Box 397, NND 775057. Zygmunt Karpiski. Histoire de l’Or Polonais Pendant la Deuxieme Guerre Mondiale.
12. Comfortable 256.7 tons: Bergier Commission Final Report, p. 39, table 1.
13. Waited for instructions: Eugeniusz Romiszewski, An Epic Tale of Polish Argonauts. Zygmunt Karpiski, Histoire de l’Or Polonais Pendant la Deuxieme Guerre Mondiale, pp. 2-5.
14. Bar is left inside: Janusz Mierzwa, Pułkownik Adam Koc. pp. 15-45.
15. Warsaw’s Handlowy Bank: Ibid., Eugeniusz Romiszewski, An Epic Tale of Polish Argonauts, pp. 2-10.
16. Ready to be shipped: Wojciech Rojek, Odyseja skarbu Rzeczypospolitej, p. 32.
17. And small toddlers: David G. Williamson, Poland Betrayed, p. 61.
18. Bank office there: Report of the Management Board of the Bank of Poland on Deployment of the Gold reserves of the Bank of Poland Before the War and on the Bank’s Evacuative Transports Made in September 1939. Hoover Institution Archives, Polish Collection, 2272/VI.
19. Getting it to France: Wojciech Rojek, Odyseja skarbu Rzeczypospolitej, pp. 40-41.
20. Leadership of Floyar-Rajchman: Matuszewski papers, Piłsudski Institute, New York, N.Y.
21. The Romanian side: Wojciech Rojek, Odyseja skarbu Rzeczypospolitej, p. 43.
22. Had recently passed: Ibid. p. 44.
23. Leave Romanian borders: Encrypted correspondence between Reichs Ministry of Foreign Affairs and German Embassies in Bucharest and Istanbul. Hoover Institution Archives, Polish Collection, 2272/VI.
24. On short notice: Report of the Management Board of the Bank of Poland on Deployment of the Gold reserves of the Bank of Poland Before the War and on the Bank’s Evacuative Transports Made in September 193. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Archives, Polish Collection Letter from K.H.M. Duke, British Eastern European Section, Joint Research Department to J. Weinstein in Hoover Collection.
25. Would be attacked: Eugeniusz Romiszweski, An Epic Tale of Polish Argonauts.
26. Confiscated and secured: Hoover Institution Archives, Polish Collection, 2000C71, Eugeniusz Romiszewski, An Epic Tale of Polish Argonauts.
27. Him out a receipt: Zygmunt Karpiski, O Wielkopolsce, złocie i dalekich podró ach, p. 204.
28. Take the gold: Ibid.
29. Took three hours: Adolphe Leportier, La Bataille de l’Or, pp. 32-42.
30. Toulon on October 6: Ibid.
31. Run its operations: Gérard Cornu, L’Or Polonais, Cahiers anecdotiques de la Banque de France, #13. TCA Poland, p. 3. NACP RG59/62D115 Box 22.
CHAPTER ELEVEN: NORTHERN LIGHTS GO OUT
1. Bank for International Settlements: RGAE, Fond 5, op. 1, file 2761, Cit in Elena Osokina, Zolotodlya Industrializatsii: Torgsin, Moskva: Rosspan, 2009, Tablitsa 2, s. 524. Elena Osokina, Gold for Industrialization: Torgsin, Moscow: Rosspan, 2009, Table 2, p. 524.
2. Spheres of influence: Fordham University, fordham.edu, Modern History Sourcebook. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, 1939.
3. More of Poland: Gerhard L. Weinberg, A World at Arms, pp. 60-64.
4. Troops in each country: Ibid.
5. Accepted their applications: Ibid.
6. Soviet state bank: RGAE, Fond 7733. The People’s Commissariat of Finance (Narcomfin-NKF) of the URSS, 1918-1946. The Ministry of Finance of the URSS, 1946-1991, RGAE op. 26 (1941), file 1455.
7. Our account subsequently: New York Federal Reserve Latvia folder 261.
8. Gold to Moscow: U.S. Federal Register, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Executive Order 8484.
9. Of that action: RGAE, 2324-26-2685, p. 50.
10. And Polish bullion: Pierre Arnoult, Les Finances de la France (1940-44), p. 225.
11. His board members: Thomas H. McKittrick Papers 1889-1970, Harvard Business School, Carton 5, f.24.
12. The Baltic States: RGAE, 2324-26-2690.
13. Countries held abroad: RGAE, 2324-26-2779.
14. Protect their independence: Thomas H. McKittrick Interview, Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University.
15. All their debts: RGAE, 2324-26-2776, p. 149.
16. Was well underway: GARF, Fond R-6822.
17. Bank for International Settlements: Antti Kuusterä and Juha Tarkka, Bank of Finland 200 Years, pp. 62-64.
18. Finns would obey: Nikita Khrushchev and Strobe Talbott, Khrushchev Remembers, p.154.
19. On the table: Nikita Khrushchev and Strobe Talbott, Khrushchev Remembers, p. 154.
20. Washington’s wartime regulations: NYFED, Fo
lder 261 Finland.
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE WORLD’S FORT KNOX
1. Even more harm: Henry Morgenthau III, Mostly Morgenthaus, pp. 152-172.
2. But Congress refused: Douglas Brinkley, World War II: The Axis Assault, 1939-1942, pp. 99-106. Gianni Toniolo, Central Bank Cooperation at the Bank for International Settlements 1930-1973, p. 671.
3. Accommodation with Berlin: HM 219: 23-26.
4. Daily gold operations: Liaquat Ahamed, Lords of Finance, pp. 298-320.
5. Can stop.it: HM 55:330-331.
6. Or the coffeepot: HM 54:125-127 and 303-304.
7. Federal Reserve: NYFED Shipping Records 1938-1939, SZ1-SZ32. Gold Team Report, p. 9.
8. British Purchasing Commission: Warren F. Kimball, The Most Sordid Act, p. 20.
9. This job well: HM 385:204.
10. None for Europe: HM 219:23-35.
11. The risks involved: NYFED, 1939 shipping, SZ1-SZ32.
12. Nearly $2 million: Ibid.
13. Make preparations beforehand: NYFED England File 261.
14. In lower Manhattan: NYFED, 1939 financial register.
15. War machine running: HM 176:269-284.
16. Do the job: HM 206:223-477.
17. Bullion in gold: HM 239:207-211.
18. Fed’s gold policy: HM 276:295.
19. Securities were $112 million: Blum II pp. 106-107.
20. For the worst: NYFED, Folder 261 Sweden Correspondence.
21. Percent in 1929: Peter L. Bernstein, The Power of Gold, p. 323.
22. Bretton Woods New Hampshire: Benn Steil, The Battle of Bretton Woods, pp. 10-25.
23. The Gold Problem: HM 275:76-77.
24. Written a note: HM 206:84 and 114.
25. Place of safekeeping: HM 260:114.
26. The world’s bullion: Kimball, p. 37. HM 259:401-409.
27. Nazi war effort: HM 501:271.
28. Now under way: New York Times, June 5, 1940.
29. Britain $766.8 million: HM July 1, 1940, 278:6.
30. Gold held here: HM September 23, 1940, 308:359.
31. Paid for in gold: HM October 28, 1940 325:703.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: DENMARK AND NORWAY FALL QUICKLY
1. Economically vital Ruhr: Hugh Trevor-Roper, Hitler’s War Directives, p. 50.
2. The original plan: Gerhard L. Weinberg, A World at Arms, pp. 109-111.
3. In northwestern Germany: Erich Raeder, My Life, pp. 300-310.
4. Have died overnight: Ibid., p. 300.
5. Experience in Finland: Geirr H Haarr, The German Invasion of Norway, pp. 8-12.
6. Making all preparations: Adam Claasen, Hitler’s Northern War, p. 36. Henrik Lunde, Hitler’s Preemptive War, p. 64. Earl Ziemke The German Northern Theater, p. 17.
7. Over the gold: C.V. Bramsnaes, The National Bank During the German Occupation of Denmark, p. 11.
8. On April 10: Per Arnt Harnes, Gulltransporten, pp. 10-15.
9. Intend to do so: Winston Churchill, The Gathering Storm, pp. 575-585.
10. North to Jutland: Douglas C. Dildy, Denmark and Norway 1940, p. 34.
11. Disregard of detail: IMT C-66.
12. War was over: IHT D-627.
13. A magnificent work: William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, p. 700.
14. Returned to Denmark: Bo Lidegaard, Kampen om Danmark, pp. 25-45.
15. Long 1939 memo: Ibid.
16. Any foolish resistance: Halvdan Koht, Norway Neutral and Invaded, pp. 69-75.
17. Progress said Koht: Ibid.
18. Central Station at 7:00: Carl Hambro, I Saw it Happen in Norway, pp. 8-28.
19. Also an antique: Halvdan Koht, Norway Neutral and Invaded, p. 30.
20. Face a court martial: Geirr H Haarr, The German Invasion of Norway, pp. 126-135.
21. The stricken cruiser: Frank Binder, Hans Schlünz, Hermann Schlünz, Schwerer Kreuzer Blücher, pp. 35-45. Geirr H Haarr, The German Invasion of Norway, pp. 130-135.
22. Reached the bridge: Frank Binder; Hans Schlünz, Hermann Schlünz, Schwerer Kreuzer Blücher, pp. 45-47.
23. Oslo about midnight: Geirr H Haarr, The German Invasion of Norway, pp. 138-143.
24. Soon as it was loaded: Per Arnt Harnes, Gulltransporten, pp. 13-19.
25. Their head cut off: Bo Lidegaard, Kampen om Danmark, p. 47.
26. Guard the train: Hans Christian Adamson and Per Klem, Blood in the Midnight, p. 62.
27. Finally recalled it: Ibid., p. 64.
28. Million in gold: Tryve Lie, Leve eller dø, pp. 179-180.
29. Worth about $30: Hans Christian Adamson and Per Klem, Blood at Midnight, p. 72.
30. To the port: Fredrik Haslund Report. NAN, Oscar Torp (Pa 640), Box 8, File 4.
31. Galathea signed it: Ibid.
32. No one was killed: Ibid.
33. Carry the load: Michael Brady, Nordic Gold, p. 4.
34. Have to obey: J.L. Moulton, The Norwegian Campaign of 1940, p. 210.
35. Gold to London: Fredrik Haslund Report. NAN, Oscar Torp (Pa 640), Box 8, File 4.
36. Best you can: Hans Christian Adamson and Per Klem, Blood in the Midnight, p. 80.
37. A direct hit: The Day of Destiny in Molde, April 1940, p. 23.
38. Gimnes for repairs: Fredrik Haslund Report. NAN, Oscar Torp. (Pa 640), Box 8, File 4.
39. Island to island: Ibid.
40. Port of Sauøy: Ibid.
41. Should take place: Ibid.
42. Land set free: G.M. Gathorne-Hardy, War Poems of Nordahl Grieg, p. 23.
43. At all times: Hans Christian Adamson and Per Klem, Blood in the Midnight, p. 89.
44. Bank of England official: Ibid., p. 94.
45. Our dear fatherland: All for Norway, p. 98.
46. Nose of the Germans: Hans Christian Adamson and Per Klem, Blood in the Midnight, p. 100.
47. Lock and key: Fredrik Haslund Report. NAN, Oscar Torp (Pa 640), Box 8, File 4.
48. The Norwegian Government: NYFED, Correspondent File C261 Norway.
49. Leaving the ship: Fredrik Haslund Report. NAN, Oscar Torp (Pa 640), Box 8, File 4.
50. Would be arriving there: NYFED, C261 Norwegian Correspondence Account.
51. Federal Reserve Bank: Fredrik Haslund Report. NAN, Oscar Torp.(Pa 640), Box 8, File 4.
52. Bank of England: Per Arnt Harnes, Gulltransporten, p. 108.
53. Saved Norway’s gold: Fredrik Haslund Report. NAN, Oscar Torp.(Pa 640), Box 8, File 4.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: ITALY CRUSHES ALBANIA
1. The Adriatic Sea: Miranda Vickers, The Albanians: A Modern History.
2. Hands of Italy: Alessandro Roselli, Italy and Albania, pp. xii-xiii.
3. And Belgian banks: Ibid. p. 36.
4. 9.2 million in 1938: Ibid., pp. 48-89.
5. Effect bullion certificates: International Currency Review, July 1977, p. 48.
6. Largely Ciano’s war: Bernd J. Fischer, Albania at War 1939-1945, p. 11.
7. Month of pregnancy: Galeazzo Ciano, Diary, p. 208.
8. Received no sympathy: Bernd J. Fischer, Albania at War 1939-1945, pp. 14-15.
9. For an invasion: Ciano Diary, pp. 207-216.
10. Own personal ultimatum: Bernd J. Fischer, Albania at War 1939-1945, pp. 19-21.
11. Force of arms: Galeazzo Ciano Diary, p. 213.
12. South toward Greece: Bernd J. Fischer, Albania at War 1939-1945, p. 25.
13. Ciano was pleased: Jason Tomes, King Zog of Albania, p. 230.
14. Fight a major war: Bernd J. Fischer, Albania at War 1939-1945, pp. 22-24 and Jason Tomes, King Zog of Albania, pp. 215-232.
15. Soon jammed them: Jason Tomes, King Zog of Albania, p. 230.
16. For that refuge: Life magazine, June 25, 1957. TCA: Albania. NACP RG59/62D115.
17. Jewelry from residents: Arben Puto and Qirjako Qirko, On the Plundered Albanian Gold by the Nazis, London Gold Conference, pp. 17-19.
18. In Merkers Germany: Ibid., p. 18.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: HOLLAND FALLS IN FOUR DAYS
1. Wa
s insufficiently daring: Alister Horne, To Lose a Battle, pp. 172-175.
2. Ideas in detail: Erich von Manstein, Lost Victories, pp. 120-126.
3. Off until later: Alister Horne, To Lose a Battle, pp. 158-168.
4. Behind the dikes: Geschiedenis van de Nederlandsche Bank—Vijfde deel De Nederlandsche Bank van 1919 tot 1948. Trips tijdvak 1931-1948 onderbroken door de Tweede Wereldoorlog–Dr. Joh. de Vries. p. 352. Gerard Aalders, Eksters, p. 20. TCA Holland, p. 2.
5. In the U.S.: Ibid., p. 21. Corry van Renselaar, Partij in de marge: oorlog, goud en De Nederlandsche Bank, p. 48.
6. Its total holdings: Ibid. TCA Holland, pp. 2-3. NACP RG59/62D115 Box 23.
7. Set to leave: Alfred Draper, Operation Fish, pp. 121-126. Corry van Renselaar, Partij in de marge : oorlog, goud en De Nederlandsche Bank, p. 48.
8. Out of the country: Gerard Aalders, Eksters, p. 24.
9. Except human affairs: The Diaries of Sir Alexander Cadogan 1938-1945, pp. 277-280.
10. To the Dutch: Owen Chadwick, Britain and the Vatican During the Second World War, pp. 109-110.
11. Anglo-French action: William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, p. 716.
12. Has been kept: Winston Churchill, The Second World War, Their Finest Hour, pp. 3-4. Hugh Trevor-Roper, Hitler’s Table Talk, p. 70.
13. For a few days: Jacques Benoist-Méchin, Sixty Days that Shook the West, p. 66.
14. Army in its tracks: Ernest R. May, Strange Victory, pp. 229-235. Winston Churchill, The Second World War, Their Finest Hour, p. 34.
15. Landing in Holland: Alister Horne, To Lose a Battle, p. 259.
16. Along to Wilhelmina: Alfred Draper, Operation Fish, pp. 107-112.
17. Not hit anything: Ibid., 109.
18. The British Navy: Gerard Aalders, Eksters, pp. 25-28.
19. Better than nothing: Ibid., p. 26.
20. Finally agreed on ƒ500, 000: Ibid. p. 27.
21. Loyalty to the country: Alfred Draper, Operation Fish, pp. 121-122.
22. Take him to Britain: Ibid., pp. 123-126.
23. Bank of England: Ibid., pp. 125-126.
24. Take her prisoner: Ibid., pp. 116-117.
25. Have attracted attention: Alfred Draper, Operation Fish, pp. 116-119.
26. With the Nazis. Ibid.; Donald A. Bertke and Don Kindell, World War II Sea War, Vol. 2, Ships messages May 10-May 20, 1940.
27. Sitting in her lap: Alfred Draper, Operation Fish, p. 121.
28. Breakfast at 09.15: Donald A. Bertke and Don Kindell, World War II Sea War, Vol. 2, Listings May 10-May 20, 1940.
Chasing Gold: The Incredible Story of How the Nazis Stole Europe's Bullion Page 49