Klaus Veltjens

Seppl: a Step Ahead of Politics Klaus Veltjens

Many events in Seppl's life where shrouded in secrecy, because they were in conflict with the Treaty of Versailles or Hitler's specific prohibitions. Their disclosure could well have resulted in his persecution and even death. His patriotic convictions and dislike of Bolshevism influenced all his commercial decisions in providing arms to troubled nations in their revolutionary battles or defence against oppressive neighbours. He helped Turkey, Morocco, China, Spain and Finland always a step ahead of politics. There is no doubt that his actions influenced the outcomes. His personal confrontation with Hitler in 1931 stirred the Gestapo and SS into pursuing him for the rest of his life, and without the protection of his first world war comrade if not friend, Hermann Göring, they would have succeeded to get him earlier than they did.