Fact Check: "One-third of Germany's gold, 1,200 tonnes, remains in the US."
What We Know
The claim that "one-third of Germany's gold, 1,200 tonnes, remains in the US" refers to the amount of gold reserves that Germany has stored in foreign countries, particularly in the United States. As of recent reports, Germany's total gold reserves are approximately 3,366 tonnes, which means that 1,200 tonnes would indeed represent about one-third of its total reserves. This gold was stored in the US during the Cold War for security reasons, and the repatriation of these reserves has been a topic of discussion in German financial circles (source).
In 2013, the German central bank, Bundesbank, announced plans to repatriate a significant portion of its gold reserves held abroad. By 2017, they had successfully brought back around 674 tonnes from the US and France, but approximately 1,236 tonnes were still held in the US as of the last known reports (source).
Analysis
The claim is substantiated by the fact that Germany does have a substantial amount of its gold reserves stored in the US. However, the exact figure of 1,200 tonnes may be slightly misleading. As per the latest available data, the amount of gold stored in the US is approximately 1,236 tonnes, which aligns closely with the claim but does not match it exactly.
The Bundesbank's transparency regarding its gold reserves has been scrutinized, and while they have made efforts to repatriate gold, the process has been gradual and met with public interest and skepticism (source). The reliability of the sources discussing these figures is generally high, as they come from official financial institutions and reputable news outlets. However, the interpretation of these figures can vary, and some sources may emphasize different aspects of the gold storage debate, such as security or economic implications.
Conclusion
Needs Research. While the claim that one-third of Germany's gold remains in the US is based on factual data regarding the amount of gold reserves, the exact figure of 1,200 tonnes is not entirely accurate as it is slightly higher at approximately 1,236 tonnes. Additionally, the context surrounding the storage and repatriation of these reserves is complex and requires further investigation to fully understand the implications and current status of Germany's gold holdings.
