New Documentary Estimates Hitler's Net Worth in the Billions

<![CDATA[It seems that being the almighty Fuhrer of Nazi Germany had its perks. According to a British documentary, "The Hunt for Hitler's Missing Millions", Hitler was worth 1.1 billion Reichsmarks, or in today's money a staggering, $6.1 billion dollars! It is even alleged that one of the main reasons why he was so rich was because he did not believe in paying taxes. The Mein Kampf author was born in Austria in April of 1889, and rose to power as the chancellor of Germany in 1933. Before that he was the leader of the Nazi party. He believed that the world should have only one race, the true Arian Caucasoid, and led Germany into murdering millions of European Jews in what is now known as the Holocaust. He was involved in World War I as a soldier, and joined the Nazi party, or the precursor of the party, in 1919. He became their leader in 1921. After a failed coup to seize power of the German government, he was imprisoned, and it was there that he wrote his infamous memoir, "Mein Kampf", which means "My Struggle". In 3 years he was released and his popularity grew.   He had a deep hatred of the Jews, and thought they had a worldwide conspiracy trying to impose capitalism and communism on the world. Hence, his party was against those two economic systems. Because of his popularity, he won the German general election by the largest margin to date, and became its chancellor in 1933. After the defeat of Nazi Germany at the end of the Second World War he committed suicide with his lover Eva Braun, and their corpses were burned soon after. Hitler was not only a war-machine, but also a money-making machine as well. He had numerous financial schemes that made him money, including copyrighting his image, which earned him royalties for every stamp that was sold with his face on it. Most of these money-making schemes were running in the country unbeknownst to Germany’s tax authorities. Copies of Mein Kampf, which were given to newlyweds on their wedding day, are thought to have earned him the equivalent of at least $1 million a year in royalties. The makers of the documentary surmise that Hitler owed the German tax authority over $3 million in tax in today’s money. Shortly after his death his will was found by a German Jew, Herman Rothman, working in British Intelligence, and questions were raised about his fortune. Mr. Rothman, now in his 90s, told the makers of the documentary that the Counter Intelligence Unit that he was working with spotted a man dressed in civilian clothing whom they believed was a Nazi. They captured him and took his jacket, which contained a seven-page document detailing Hitler’s last will. In this will, Hitler blamed the Jews for starting the conflict, and from the second page onwards, it is seen how much of a shrewd investor he was. Earning money from different appearances, speeches, and royalty claims, he built himself a personal $6 billion empire. It is even said that his family members living today could claim a portion of those missing billions from his image rights alone, although it is yet to be seen if anyone will come forward. “The Hunt For Hitler’s Missing Millions” aired on Britain’s Channel 5.]]>