Franz Seraph Tausend, "Der Goldmacher" (July 5, 1884 – July 9, 1942) was a 20th-century Germanalchemist, who was able to raise significant funding from senior Nazi Party figures for his project. He was arrested in 1929 and convicted of misappropriation, serving a prison sentence. He died in prison in 1942, while serving a sentence for a separate crime.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Tausend said he had developed a process for extracting gold from base metals, a prospect of interest to the Nazi Party, which was desperate for funding in a Germany struggling with hyperinflation. The Nazis invested heavily in the project, through a number of Hitler's inner circle of friends introduced to Tausend.
Tausend, who had liquidated and invested his family's entire fortune into the venture, raised approximately half a million dollars (roughly $5.6 million in 2005 dollars) to fund five laboratories, one research institute and one mining operation. However, the process proved to be economically unfeasible and possibly fraudulent, and most of the money went instead to fund the extravagant lifestyles of the four main business partners. Many investors, including pensioners in Tausend's home village, lost their entire savings, while he purchased castles and country homes.
Tausend's three partners fled Germany: one each to South America, Spain and Russia. Tausend fled to a castle he had purchased in his wife's name in Appiano, South Tyrol. In January 1929, after being involved in a car accident, he was recognized by Italian authorities, arrested and extradited to Germany to face trial for conspiracy to commit fraud.
Following a highly sensationalized trial that required Tausend to demonstrate his gold-extraction process first hand, he was convicted and sentenced to prison, not because the process itself was proven to be fraudulent, but because of the misappropriation of venture capital invested in the project. Tausend's remaining property was confiscated by the German state.
Upon his release from prison after serving a four-year sentence, Tausend began promoting his next "get-rich-quick" scheme. He was arrested again in 1937 and sentenced to prison in 1938 for check and money fraud. He died in prison at Schwäbisch Hall on July 9, 1942.
Literatureedit
Wegener, Franz: Der Alchemist Franz Tausend. Alchemie und Nationalsozialismus. Kulturförderverein Ruhrgebiet e.V., Gladbeck 03/2006, ISBN3-931300-18-8.
Referencesedit
The New York Times, October 10, 1929; "German Produces Gold in Synthetic Test; Denies Swindling Ludendorff and Others"
The New York Times, October 11, 1929; "German's Alchemy Called Huge Hoax"
Time, October 21, 1929; "Thousand's Gold"
The New York Times, November 17, 1929; "Alchemy's Deceitful Trail"
Süddeutsche Zeitung, November 19, 1930; "Verhandlung gegen Goldmacher Tausend"
Süddeutsche Zeitung, January 31, 1931; "Verhandlung gegen Goldmacher Tausend"
The New York Times, February 5, 1931; "Transmuter of Metals Gets 3 Years"
Time, February 16, 1931; "Base Greed"
Südtirol Zeitung, March 21, 2001; "Der Goldmacher und Vaterlandretter"
Booksedit
180 Elemente, deren Atomgewichte und Eingliederung in das harmonisch periodische System by Franz Tausend
franz, tausend, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, november, 2013, learn, when,. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message Franz Seraph Tausend Der Goldmacher July 5 1884 July 9 1942 was a 20th century German alchemist who was able to raise significant funding from senior Nazi Party figures for his project He was arrested in 1929 and convicted of misappropriation serving a prison sentence He died in prison in 1942 while serving a sentence for a separate crime Contents 1 Biography 2 Literature 3 References 4 Books 5 External linksBiography editDuring the 1920s and 1930s Tausend said he had developed a process for extracting gold from base metals a prospect of interest to the Nazi Party which was desperate for funding in a Germany struggling with hyperinflation The Nazis invested heavily in the project through a number of Hitler s inner circle of friends introduced to Tausend Tausend who had liquidated and invested his family s entire fortune into the venture raised approximately half a million dollars roughly 5 6 million in 2005 dollars to fund five laboratories one research institute and one mining operation However the process proved to be economically unfeasible and possibly fraudulent and most of the money went instead to fund the extravagant lifestyles of the four main business partners Many investors including pensioners in Tausend s home village lost their entire savings while he purchased castles and country homes Tausend s three partners fled Germany one each to South America Spain and Russia Tausend fled to a castle he had purchased in his wife s name in Appiano South Tyrol In January 1929 after being involved in a car accident he was recognized by Italian authorities arrested and extradited to Germany to face trial for conspiracy to commit fraud Following a highly sensationalized trial that required Tausend to demonstrate his gold extraction process first hand he was convicted and sentenced to prison not because the process itself was proven to be fraudulent but because of the misappropriation of venture capital invested in the project Tausend s remaining property was confiscated by the German state Upon his release from prison after serving a four year sentence Tausend began promoting his next get rich quick scheme He was arrested again in 1937 and sentenced to prison in 1938 for check and money fraud He died in prison at Schwabisch Hall on July 9 1942 Literature editWegener Franz Der Alchemist Franz Tausend Alchemie und Nationalsozialismus Kulturforderverein Ruhrgebiet e V Gladbeck 03 2006 ISBN 3 931300 18 8 References editThe New York Times October 10 1929 German Produces Gold in Synthetic Test Denies Swindling Ludendorff and Others The New York Times October 11 1929 German s Alchemy Called Huge Hoax Time October 21 1929 Thousand s Gold The New York Times November 17 1929 Alchemy s Deceitful Trail Suddeutsche Zeitung November 19 1930 Verhandlung gegen Goldmacher Tausend Suddeutsche Zeitung January 31 1931 Verhandlung gegen Goldmacher Tausend The New York Times February 5 1931 Transmuter of Metals Gets 3 Years Time February 16 1931 Base Greed Sudtirol Zeitung March 21 2001 Der Goldmacher und Vaterlandretter Books edit180 Elemente deren Atomgewichte und Eingliederung in das harmonisch periodische System by Franz TausendExternal links editNewspaper clippings about Franz Tausend in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Franz Tausend amp oldid 1135330996, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
