The Story Behind the Nazi Gold Essay Paper Example For Students

The Story Behind the Nazi Gold Essay Paper The Story Behind the Nazi Gold Nazi Gold: Hard currencylooted from treasuries of countries occupied by the Axispowers during World War II. Ingots consisting of goldmelted down from the teeth of murder victims andweddings bands and jewelry. About two thirds of anestimated $660 million ($7.8 billion in todays dollars) instolen Nazi gold passed through Switzerland during thewar. And like any sharp businessmen with hot goods, theSwiss disposed of much of their gold quickly throughPortugal mainly, but also to Sweden, Spain, and othercentral banks (Hirsh 48). Probably no more that $140million remains unaccounted for, and a good portion of thatwas probably sold onward as well. But what remains of theknown Nazi hoard (none of which has been returned to theJewish community) is worth no more than about $65 millionaccording to the Brussels-based Tripartite GoldCommission, set up after World War II to return stolengold to national treasuries. Recently the Clintonadministration created a com! mi ssion to search for anyNazi funds that might have ended up in U.S. FederalReserve vaults. We have to be willing not only to focus thespotlight on Switzerland, says Under Secretary ofCommerce Stuart Eizenstat. We have to be willing tofollow the trail of assets into our own treasury (qtd. inHirsh 47). This trail though, suggests that there is no hugestash of Nazi gold in Switzerland. The loot has scatteredworldwide through numerous transactions and is probablyirretrievable. Also, because so many banks were involved,the amount of gold left in Wieckowski 2 Switzerland isprobably negligible, contrary to what investigators haveuntil now presumed. At this point the cost or returning theNazi Gold to its rightful owners is not worth the trouble andinconvenience it would create. Documents released inrecent months have made it clear that Swiss banks tradedin looted Nazi-gold, and that Swiss businesses made afortune selling arms to the Nazis. In a historical reportpublished around May 9,1997, i t was said that there wasno evidence that the Swiss or other neutral countries knewthat gold from the central banks had been smelted togetherwith gold fillings, wedding bands, and other jewelry stolenfrom Holocaust victims (Sanger). But, Eizenstat foundincontrovertible evidence that Swiss bankers knew theywere trading in gold that Germany had looted from thetreasuries of states it occupied, and also a handwrittenledger sheet from the Reichsbank showed a deposit of29,996 grams of dental gold into a Swiss account (Aharsh). This confirms that the Nazis melted down andrecirculated gold extracted from the teeth of murderedJews and other death camp victims. It also proves theinvolvement and knowledge of dealings with gold extractedfrom tee! th of murdered victims by the Swiss in that therewere deposits made into their accounts. Germany also sentSwitzerland via diplomatic pouch packages of jewelry,looted from Jewish persecutees, to be exchanged forindustrial diamonds and foreign currency e ssential to theGerman war effort (Sanders). From this evidence we seethat the Swiss acted as the Nazis principal bankers andafter the war took a legalistic stance to hold onto theirill-gotten gains, returning only $58 million worth of gold(Chesnoff). Some argue that the Swiss should have givenup all of the gold, but why should they? It was businessafter all. Many Swiss argue that what Switzerland did wasdone for survivals sake, but their critics assert that it wasWieckowski 3 done of opportunism and amorality andshould be paid for in both moral and financial terms(Cowell). During WWII, the German threat to Switzerlandwas real, not imaginary or exaggerated. After the collapseof France in 1940, historically neutral Switzerland wasvirtually surrounded by axis-dominated territory. After theGermans occupied Vichy, France in the fall of 1942,Switzerland was entirely cut off from the outside world. .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 , .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 .postImageUrl , .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 , .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843:hover , .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843:visited , .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843:active { border:0!important; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843:active , .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843 .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4e98e4c28b40dac0306a7664750c0843:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: DRUG ABUSE Essay We will write a custom essay on The Story Behind the Nazi Gold Paper specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

The Relationship between Eliezer and his Father

The Relationship between Eliezer and his Father Change is inevitable and the relationship between Eliezer and his father in Night transforms drastically. The young boy and his father go through much suffering in concentration camp. The experience at the concentration camp changes the relationship between son and father and the despicable treatment by the Nazis help Eliezer and his father develop a strong bond.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship between Eliezer and his Father specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As the story begins the relation between Eliezer and his father is very weak. It does not reflect a normal relationship between a father and a son. Eliezer even thinks that his father cares for others more than his family â€Å"He was more concerned with others than with his own family† (Wiesel 2). Moreover, his father does not support him in his religious quest. Thus Eliezer finds Moshe, a teacher to teach him the Cabbala something that do es not go well with his father who condemns him for his preoccupation with the Cabbala. Their relationship is strained but soon it changes as their circumstances change. Once the two are taken to a concentration camp along with many others their relationship, begin to become close. The reason for the change is the loss of the rest of their family members, and they are only left with each other. The horrendous days and the atrocious treatment they receive at camp Auschwitz bring them closer as they learn to depend on one another for their mere survival. They develop a strong connection, and support one another as they go through hard times in the camp. For instance, while at the camp after his father is deemed too weak to work and taken to the side of those to go the crematorium Eliezer runs to him and in the confusion that ensue both slip back to the safe side. Furthermore, his father learns to value his son and show him affection as he tells his son not to worry and go to sleep, Do n’t be afraid, son. Sleep- I’ll look after you myself† (Weisel 85). Eliezer has learned to depend on his father and will do anything to keep him by his side. He even prays to God despite of his loss of faith in a God who seems quiet in the midst of their suffering the prisoners are going through in the camp, for the strength never to leave his father as he had sons do to their fathers. He asks God to enable him stay with his father as he had seen Rabbi abandon his father, â€Å"My God, Lord of the Universe, give me the strength never to do what Rabbi Eliahou’s son has done† (Wiesel 87). Father and son strive to survive for the sake of one another as none can imagine how life would be for the other if they died.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Eliezer protects his father and does not sacrifice him for his own survival as so many s ons had done to their sons for their own survival. However, as days pass by he starts to feel some resentment toward his father especially when he is unable to protect himself from the cruelty of the guards instead of pitying him. Moreover, towards the end of the book on their way to Buchenwald, his father becomes very weak and cannot move maybe because of fatigue or lose of hope. He leaves his father and sleeps deeply and when he wakes up, he cannot find him and searches for him half-heartedly because a thought tells him maybe he can increase his chance of survival if he were alone. Fortunately, he finds him, Father! I’ve been looking for you for so long†¦Where were you? Did you sleep?How do you feel?† (Wiesel 101). He still cares about his father and guilt eats him for his behavior especially when he considers eating the food instead of sharing it with his father. Eliezer is slowly becoming estranged from his father due to the harsh situation but he stands by his father who suffers from dysentery. Finally, his father passes on, and he feels a sign of relief and does not cry. However, the experience at the camp and their deep concern for one another that develops overtime helps them to survive and not fall into the temptation of self-preservation that makes a son turn against his father and kill him. Their relationship grows strong albeit Eliezer’s thoughts that he would be better off without his father as the two experience a deep bond that changes both of their lives as they struggle to survive. Work Cited Wiesel, Elie. Night. MacGibbon Kee: New York, 1982.

Project Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Project Management - Research Paper Example The project management institute defines project management as application of skills and knowledge along with tools and techniques to meet the project requirement (Barkley, 2006). Hamilton, (2004) divided project management into 5 components i.e. initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control and lastly closure of project. This report discusses some of the most important concepts related to project management. The report starts with defining the project life cycle management and its benefits. Then the report discusses about project organizations and project team building. Moreover, important concepts such as project scope, work breakdown structure and contingency planning have been discussed. Also the report analyzes the importance of reviewing the project and need for an integrated project management software for project management organizations. Then the researcher shares his own experience about a project in which he was involved. Project life-cycle indicates all the project phases that a project has to go through in order to be completed. In other words, it is a collection of project phases that are divided so that the project can be controlled and managed accordingly. According to Kerzner (2009) project life-cycle is divided into four phases that indicates the beginning and ending point of a project. Furthermore, according to Kerzner (2009), the first phase of project life-cycle is the initiation phase followed by project planning, project execution and project closure. Each of the phases mentioned by Kerzner (2009) is further divided into activities which need to be done to accomplish the goal of project management. In order to further elaborate the project life-cycle, each of the phases is separately presented along with the activities involved within the particular phase. The aim of this phase is to identify the problems along with the opportunities that the business could focus upon. This phase also includes solutions to the

Engineering Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Engineering Ethics - Essay Example ether to tell the vice president about the revolving condition he feel blame worth for not seeing the problem at much earlier date which could have helped to counter the problem at an earlier date. Though it shall be a sign of incapability Tim should take the obligation and take the issue to the vice president of the company for more help. Tim should wait for the right material to be availed to the company so that he can start the manufacturing here he should assume no deadline exist within the order. Through diverting other resources to the said venture it becomes possible to have the supply in shortest time possible (Graham, 2008). In the case where Tim calls Arnold and he says that it’s his duty to take care of things Tim should weigh option he has at hand, Tim should use the old components instead of new ones. He shall have something to deliver though it’s not fair to the customers its just having in mind on the urgency of the situation Tim should be bold enough to call the customers end explain to them that due to unforeseen machine supply shortage, they should expect a slight delay. After the agreement is reached between him and the customers, to avoid the impurities that would have been there if the work was done on much higher speed, Tim should instruct the process to be done with the appropriate speed to eliminate impurities (Wallace, 1998). In the case where Arnold learns that Tim substituted the old components he should explain that it was an unintentional negligence which did arise due to shortage in machine supply, additionally the customer was very clear on the time factor which was a must to be meet. Tim should say that he has taken matters to have periodic inspections to avoid such future happenings. Tim should be ready to take the blame of giving the wrong materials without consulting others; he should argue that he is not morally responsible for it was not his fault that the machine failed to work since if it would have worked he would

Dorothy and the Tree Essay Example for Free

Dorothy and the Tree Essay Stanley Fish discusses how we in society base our lives off of assumptions. Using the example of Dorothy and the tree, Fish is able to show how with our assumptions, we as people categorize others and things into what we believe to be correct. Whether or not we have actually taken the time to figure out if we are right is irrelevant. He notes that we should just â€Å"keep trying to expand our sense of ‘us’ as far as we can†, so we can avoid judgments and isolating ourselves from the rest of society. Even though Dorothy realizes her mistake, she doesn’t realize that it is not a failure, but her consciousness assuming the classification of things in the world. Fish later on defines thought as the â€Å"structure that at once enables perception†, meaning that within categories things emerge, limiting perception and nothing can allow one to see everything because that is God’s job. Fish uses many Bible allusions to create justification for his assertions. He uses Genesis 1:26, and Paul’s road to Damascus to show that people can be persuaded to change their placement of things in society. Despite all of his valid points, Fish states that it is nearly impossible for one to change just on realizations. He believes it takes practice to accept the fact that there are things that we cannot comprehend because there is no limit on the conceptual trappings of society.

Ancient River Civilizations :: essays research papers

Approximately 5500 years ago four of the worlds' most prestigious ancient river civilizations had emerged. Our world has been left in astonishment and awe wondering how these civilizations were developed. Egypt and Mesopotamia were the first ancient river civilizations to create cities and their own ways of living. Society, geography, and religion played an enormous role in the development of the ancient cities. Although there is evidence of early Sumerian contact with the Egyptians, Egypt's civilization was largely self-generated and its history and cultural patterns differed from Mesopotamia. The early Dynastic Period was Egypt?s era of initial unification and state building under the guidelines of its first three royal dynasties. In the years between 2660 and 2180 B. C. the basic marks of the cultures of Egypt arose. Egypt was one kingdom and it was divided into provinces, or the names of provinces. Ruling over the kingdom was a pharaoh, who was not only a king but was also seen as a god. Provinces were ruled by nomarchs better known as provincial governors. The Egyptians devised themselves into classes, upper class, middle class, and a lower class. The pharaoh and his family were at the top of the Egyptian class system. People could move from one class to another depending on their situations. Mesopotamian civilization exercised profound and cultural influence throughout west Asia and beyond for about 3,000 years. Mesopotamia had many independent city-states with its own government and ruler. Priests ruled these city-states with other administrators such as organizers and managers. Since turmoil and tension would often arise between the city-states, Mesopotamian Political Unification was rarely achieved. Mesopotamia was constantly invaded by foreigners who would incorporate their culture into newly society and form a new one by force. The Mesopotamian geography affected their society because Mesopotamia was located on an open plain without protection from foreign intrusions. Egypt, on the other hand, was centered on the Nile River ad protected by natural boundaries. This allowed Egypt?s kingdom for prosper and last for thousands of years. Mesopotamia was not considered a nation or country, it was considered a region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers that established a number of highly organized city-states. Since each city-state was independent there was no capital of Mesopotamia. Religion was very important to the ancient Egyptians the believed in many gods, meaning they were polytheistic.

The Jungle Essay

The Jungle Throughout Upton Sinclair’s novel, The Jungle, the inhumane and disgusting treatment the working men and women was shown to the eyes of the American people. Although what the book is most recognized for is creating the Pure Food and Drug Act, an act that gave consumers protection from dangerous and impure foods, the many various horrors the lower working class had to go through was something that deserved more recognition. Upton Sinclair’s novel, The Jungle, gives an insight on how it was nearly impossible for someone of lower class to work and survive in the various big cities in America. The Jungle is about a family from Lithuania who travels to America in hope of a better life. When they first arrive things immediately begin to go downhill. The fist place they stop is a hotel, they stay for a night, but unfortunately are unable to read English and sleep there without knowing there will be a very large fine for their stay. â€Å"The law says that a rate card shall be on the door of a hotel, but it does not say that it shall be in Lithuanian. †(23) The next morning they’re devastated and quickly pay and leave, learning that the people in this country will do anything for a quick buck. Soon they reach their destination, Chicago, and Jurgis and his family began to search for a home, and jobs. They buy a house, but soon find out there is a lot more to the house than what meets the eye, such as interest and the fact that the house is only rented until they can pay it off. After moving in Jurgis begins a job at the meat factory, and it was anything but pleasant. Jurgis’ job is to sweep the entrails and calves from cows into a trapdoor in the floor. Many people are at risk of injury every day, working with sharp knives and there was always almost a foot of blood on the floor. It is disgusting and horrible work, but Jurgis does it with a smile on his face because he thinks â€Å"at least I have a job,† but as the story goes on, Jurgis’ opinion begins to change drastically. Jurgis’ father, Antanas wanted to get a job, and he finally did at the meat factory, as â€Å"A squeedgie man. † â€Å"His job was to go about all day with a long handled mop, swabbing up the floor. †(60) After one day he comes back complaining about how he had to clean out the trapdoors and then shove all the junk in with the rest of the meat! HE also works with chemicals and they are very bad for him. â€Å"†¦he worked in a place where his feet were soaked in chemicals, and it was not long before they had eaten through his new boots. Then sores began to break out on his feet and grew worse and worse. †(76) Soon he dies and the family must prepare a funeral for him, Jurgis can’t even find the time to grieve because he is too busy trying to barter the funeral man for a lower price. It is a horrible loss, and winter just continues to bring more hardships for the family. First, with the horrible and huge quantities of snow, it is almost impossible to do the two mile trek every day to get to their job, but even when they get there the horrible conditions don’t end. â€Å"There was no heat upon the killing beds; the men might exactly as well have worked out of doors all winter†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"On the killing beds you were apt to be covered with blood, and it would freeze solid; if you leaned against a pillar, you would freeze to that, and if you put your hand upon the blade of your knife, you would run a chance of leaving your skin on it. The men would tie up their feet in newspapers and old sacks, and these would be soaked in blood and frozen, and then soaked again, and so on, until by nighttime a man would be walking on great lumps the size of the feet of an elephant. Now and then, when the bosses were not looking, you would see them plunging their feet and ankles into the steaming hot carcass of the steer, or darting across the room to the hot-water jets. The cruelest thing of all was that nearly all of them – all of those who used knives – were unable to wear gloves, and their arms would be white with frost and their hands would grow numb, and then of course there would be accidents. † (80) The men had to work in those horrible conditions day after day until winter was over, but none of them would quit, they needed the money and if they quit or demanded better conditions, there were thousands outside just waiting to take their place. Mister Sinclair shows that even though the working conditions were so dreadful, not one man would stop coming to work. They would rather risk dying in the factories, or dying from frostbite as they trekked through the snow than stop coming to work and allow someone else to take their job, because back then that was suicide. If you didn’t go to work you were allowing your family the possibility of not being able to survive the winter, because it’s just less money to fill more mouths. The horrible hardships the family faces in the winter is merely the beginning of their problems. As the book goes on things seem like they’re looking up, Ona has her baby, which they name Antanas, and the family is working hard to make money. Then Jurgis breaks his ankle and cannot return to work for months. â€Å"in leaping out of the way he turned his ankle. There was a twinge of pain, but Jurgis was used to pain, and did not coddle himself. When he came to walk home, however, he realized that it was hurting him a great deal; and in the morning his ankle was swollen out nearly double its size, and he could not get his foot into his shoe. (114) Jurgis is laid up for a couple weeks and tries to return to work, but in doing this he injures himself more and has to stay out of work for much longer and when he returns there is no job left for him. Jurgis faced many other hardships in his life, such as being put in jail, his wife dying in childbirth and his son dying as well. His story was horrific, but he was unfortunately, not alone. The horrible conditions Jurgis faced and went through were the problems of thousands of men, women and even children all over America in the early 1900s. Upton Sinclair shines a bright light on how horrible the people had it and how the upper class people didn’t even notice or care. The main issue was to generate as much product as they could for as small of a cost as possible. Then people from various countries didn’t know anything about rights and things like they, they just craved any job they could get, no matter how bad. Many of their family members also died from work, or other things like starvation, childbirth or simply like Antanas died; by downing in the rivers of water that flowed through the streets in the spring. Mr. Sinclair did an amazing job giving the people insight on how horrible the conditions really were, although people mainly focused on the disgusting conditions of the meat packing industry. Upton Sinclair definitely focused on how horrible the lower class had it, but his horrific details about what is really put into everyday meat, was quite disturbing and the people must have been more shocked about what they were putting into their mouths, than who was working to do it. The Jungle is a book about hardships, the American dream and the struggle for survival. Jurgis was an example of what almost everyone who came over to America experienced. A lucky few went on to do great things, such as Andrew Carnegie, a man from Scotland who went on to create the largest steel factory in the world, but the latter ended up like Jurgis. Risking it all, and ending up with nearly nothing. Jurgis came over with ten people, and in the end there were five. Half of his family had died, and coping with it was hard, but in the end he decided to buck up, and try and make the best of it. Upton Sinclair allows the human race to reflect on what is really important in life, by showing that there are people in this world who have to go through every day without knowing if they will make enough money to keep themselves and their family alive into tomorrow. He truly captured and chronicled how horrific and devastating the conditions back then really were, and being able to reflect on the things of they past can truly give insight for the future.