Gunrunner: Recent Episodes
Lorelei Alverson
Hanz Melchior was an extraordinary man- an arms dealer and close confidant of Chinese Warlords, a proud German anti-Nazi during WWII, a detainee in a British Internment Camp, and, most importantly, my great-grandfather. Join me on an exploration into my families complicated past, as we journey into the grey area of 20th century history through the eyes of one incredible human.
Join me for an interview with Marianne Alverson, my grandmother and the daughter of Otto Hanz Melchior. In this bonus episode, Marianne, the original translator of Melchior's story, speaks to her experiences as Melchior's daughter and presents her thoughts on his complex life story.
Melchior watches as Germany falls to Nazism, narrowly escapes internment by British forces, and flees communist China.
Melchior leaves Germany for China and forms connections with some of the most infamous warlords of his time, while dealing arms for the German manufacturer Carlowitz & Co.
Melchior embarks on three adventures in the throes of the Great War, culminating in a right wing coup.