Hitler's 'bizarre' plan to 'rule the world' from Hollywood
In the '30s, Nazi sympathizers built a ritzy ranch, hoping that one day it would become the U.S. outpost from which Hitler could spread his hateful message

Back in the 1930s, Adolf Hitler's American sympathizers had big, "bizarre" dreams. They hoped that Germany would triumph in World War II, so they built him a swanky retreat in the hills above Hollywood, where they imagined he would one day mingle with movie stars ... and "rule the world." What would the fascist dictator's Tinseltown hideout have been like? Here, a brief guide:
Wait, Americans actually built Hitler's dream ranch?
Yes. A wealthy couple, Winona and Norman Stephens, who were followers of the Silver Shirts, American supporters of Hitler, had purchased the 55-acre property in 1933 from screen cowboy Will Rogers. Then they struck up correspondence with a German man they knew only as Herr Schmidt. Schmidt, as it turns out, was Hitler's agent in America, who eventually convinced the Stephenses to invest $4 million to turn the property into a fortified palace for Hitler. "This was supposed to be the seat of American fascism from where Hitler would one day rule the United States," says historian Randy Young.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What is the property like?
Today, it's a graffiti-stained ruin. But in the 1930s, it was outfitted with a diesel power plant, a 375,000-gallon concrete water tank, and a giant meat locker — everything a community of Hollywood Nazi sympathisizers figured they'd need to ride out the war and await Hitler's arrival. The property also had a bomb shelter and guards all around. Eventually, the plan was to add libraries, a swimming pool, a gym, and elegant dining rooms. "They may have been Nazis, but they were Nazis with taste," says Young. But the plans fell apart before the U.S. even entered the war.
What happened?
The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked, police raided the bunker. There were about 50 Silver Shirts living there, and they were all arrested. Local authorities now plan to tear down the ruins — located about a mile from Schindler's List director Steven Spielberg's home — and turn the spot into a picnic area for hikers.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Sources: Daily Mail, Daily News & Analysis, Express, Huffington Post, The Mary Sue
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's opposition
The Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff