Bibliograph

The devil's Mercedes, the bizarre and disturbing adventures of Hitler's limousine in America, Robert Klara

Type

Label

The devil's Mercedes, the bizarre and disturbing adventures of Hitler's limousine in America, Robert Klara

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages [245]-334) and index

resource.biographical

contains biographical information

Illustrations

platesillustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The devil's Mercedes

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

947146118

Responsibility statement

Robert Klara

Sub title

the bizarre and disturbing adventures of Hitler's limousine in America

Summary

"In 1938, Mercedes-Benz began production of the largest, most luxurious limousine in the world. A machine of frightening power and sinister beauty, the Grosser 770K Model 150 Offener Tourenwagen was 20 feet long, seven feet wide, and tipped the scales at 5 tons. Its supercharged, 230-horsepower engine propelled the beast to speeds over 100 m.p.h. while its occupants reclined on glove-leather seats stuffed with goose down. Armor plated and equipped with hidden compartments for Luger pistols, the 770K was a sumptuous monster with a monstrous patron: Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party. Deployed mainly for propaganda purposes before the war, the hand-built limousines--in which Hitler rode standing in the front seat--motored through elaborate rallies and appeared in countless newsreels, swiftly becoming the Nazi party's most durable symbol of wealth and power. Had Hitler not so thoroughly dominated the scene with his own megalomania, his opulent limousine could easily have eclipsed him. Most of the 770Ks didn't make it out of the rubble of World War II. But several of them did. And two of them found their way, secretly and separately, to the United States. In The Devil's Mercedes, author Robert Klara uncovers the forgotten story of how Americans responded to these rolling relics of fascism on their soil"--Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

The Stockholm deal -- The screwball of Winnetka -- The great Mercedes -- "The Göring special" -- The Finnish connection -- Men with cars -- Running off to Canada -- The big tent -- Suspicions -- Dutch wonderland -- Stalemate in Ottawa -- Like marrying a movie star -- The sleuth -- The cult of a car -- California -- Epilogue

Classification