Frontline Season 15 Episode 18 Nazi Gold
- June 17, 1997
In season 15, episode 18 of Frontline, entitled "Nazi Gold," the investigative team delves into the controversial issue of Switzerland's role in hoarding and profiting from stolen Jewish assets during World War II. The episode focuses on the Swiss banking system and how it helped Nazi officials launder their stolen riches through Swiss accounts.
The team interviews survivors and historians to piece together the grim reality of how Switzerland and Swiss banks were complicit in the Nazi plunder of Jewish assets. They follow the Swiss government as it faces mounting pressure to reveal information and return assets that rightfully belong to Holocaust victims and their families.
The episode also examines the role of the Bank of International Settlements, which sent gold to the Nazis through Switzerland during the war, and how it continued to profit from Nazi looted gold even after the end of the conflict.
Frontline's investigative team travels to Berlin, Geneva, Washington, and Jerusalem to uncover the truth behind the Swiss banks' participation in the Nazi gold trade and their attempts to keep it secret even decades later.
Through rare archival footage, previously classified documents, and intense interviews with key players, "Nazi Gold" uncovers the shadowy history of one of the world's leading banking systems and its connection to one of the darkest periods of human history. The episode raises important ethical questions about the culpability of individuals and institutions in crimes against humanity and the responsibility of governments to right historical wrongs.
Overall, "Nazi Gold" is a riveting exploration of the intersection of money, power, and morality in wartime and the lasting effects of evil on society. The episode challenges viewers to think critically about the past and the present and to consider the role of institutions and individuals in creating a just and equitable world for all.