Free Audiobook : The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel, by Douglas Brunt

The untold tale of one of history's most groundbreaking innovators, a visionary who disrupted convention and then seemingly vanished as the clouds of World War I gathered—this narrative delves into the long-standing enigma surrounding Rudolf Diesel's fate.

On September 29, 1913, the steamship Dresden journeys between Belgium and England. Rudolf Diesel, the acclaimed inventor of the groundbreaking internal combustion engine, is on board. This engine promises to reshape the industrial world. However, Diesel never reaches his intended port. His unexplained disappearance sparks global speculations: was it an unforeseen incident, a deliberate act, or foul play?

From humble European beginnings, Diesel rose to amass considerable wealth with his innovative engine that circumvented the need for costly petroleum fuel. This made him a global sensation and inadvertently pitted him against two formidable adversaries: Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II and the magnate of Standard Oil, John D. Rockefeller.

While the Kaiser envisioned Diesel's invention propelling his submarine fleet to challenge British naval supremacy, Diesel aimed for his engine to benefit humanity at large, refusing exclusivity to any one nation. For Rockefeller, Diesel's engine represented a direct challenge to his expansive oil empire, especially as the world transitioned from kerosene lamps to electric lights and increasingly depended on gasoline.

As Europe teetered on the brink of conflict and electrification took center stage, Diesel became deeply wary of Germany's aggressive nationalism and escalating defense budget. The genius was en route to London, intent on aiding the UK in upgrading its underperforming submarine fleet, when he mysteriously vanished.