The Last Train To Basel

In 1974, Fritz and Hans Schlumpf had reached the peak of their wealth, becoming the sixth richest family in France. Two years later, a bank refused to honor a cheque for a few hundred Francs from one of their business accounts. This triggered a series of events which resulted in the French government accusing the brothers of embezzlement, and threatening to seize their collection of 500 vintage cars. Rather than defend themselves in court, the brothers fled, taking the train to Basel, just over the Swiss border.Just a few weeks later - in the presence of a lawyer - the Schlumpfs were visited in Basel, by a delegation from Mulhouse. The group comprised senior officials from local government, banking and commerce. Briefed by Prince Michel Poniatowski, President Valery Giscard d’Estaing’s Minister of the Interior, the incumbent regime made its position clear: “Give us the cars, and this will all go away…”What was the Schlumpf Affair really about? Without a satisfactory answer, I resolved to find out for myself. Little did I expect a tug-of-war over a collection of vintage cars to involve the President of France, let alone tyre company Michelin, Joan of Arc, Marie Antoinette, Adolf Hitler, General Franco, French Indochina, Renault’s ambitions to win the Le Mans 24 Hour race, the Common Market, Opus Dei, the General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade, Cold War politics, the unsolved murders of French politicians, and the Bank of International Settlements in Basel…but it did.

Publisher: Andrew Brodie Engineering Ltd

Status: Forthcoming Items

Binding: HBD