CBS

Max Amann was born in Munich, on February 9, 1902. He served in the German Army during World War I and was wounded, losing his arm as a result. While in the army, Amann met Hitler and later joined the National Socialist German Workers' ("Nazi") Party. An educated and skilled businessman, Amann became the Party's business manager and the publisher of its propaganda materials, including its newspaper. Amann took part in the attempted Beer Hall Putsch, or coup d'etat against the Bavarian government, in 1923. Like Hitler and other coup conspirators, Amann was convicted of treason and sent to Landsberg Prison. After he was released, Amann published Mein Kampf ("My Struggle"), the book Hitler had written while in prison, which outlined Hitler's policies and vision for a new Germany. In 1933, Amann became a member of the Reichstag, or German Legislature. He used his influence to gain control over other publications in Germany, closing down any that opposed Hitler or the Nazi Party. Amann successfully used his political capital for his own financial gain. However, though he survived World War II, he was arrested by the Allies in 1945 and brought before the military tribunal at Nuremberg. Amann was convicted of war crimes and forced to relinquish all of his assets, but was only sentenced to ten years in prison. He died penniless in March 1957.