Adolf Hitler

Feb. 12, 2015

Adolf Hitler with Gerdy Troost, widow of National Socialist Party architect Paul Troost, view works of art at the House of German Art in Munich. which was designed by Troost. Enlarge

Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the July 24-August 2, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h30m. Included in this episode:

• Hitler has faith that the Dutch can "improve" but the Italians without the Duce are hopelessly under the thumb of the Church and nobility;
• The need for oil from the Caucasus and the value of gas-driven over petrol-driven vehicles;
• Hitler discusses why government or military corruption must not be allowed to get a hold in Germany and tells of his experience with "swindlers";
• On Russians wanting to emigrate into the Crimea;
• The lack of superior weaponry in the first World War - developing and building such are of equal importance to soldiering;
• Praise for the annual exhibition and sale in the House of German Art in Munich;
• The credulity of the American and British public - German and American standard of living compared - the power of the Church to surpress scientific progress;

The edition of Hitler's Table Talk being used was translated by Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens, published by Enigma Books, New York, and can be found as a pdf here.

Adolf Hitler greets and decorates officers at his Wolfsschanze headquarters in East Prussia in 1943.

INTRODUCTION by Carolyn Yeager

This unrehearsed talk was taken down by stenographers at the time it was given by Adolf Hitler to his top officers. A single typed copy exists in the archives of the Institut für Zeitgeschichte in Munich, Germany. To obtain it, a Munich woman familiar with the Institute had to go there in person and request it, then make a copy on the premises, after which she mailed the copied pages to me for a fee. It consists of 70 typed, double-spaced pages, with some words on every page illegible because of fold marks.

I made 3 sets of copies and mailed them to 3 persons, one of which was Carlos Porter, who agreed to translate it--a really hard job considering the length and the poor quality of the original. I asked Carlos to do the translation in a more or less direct fashion, not concerning himself overmuch with the quality of the prose. I wanted the exact idea of what the Fuehrer said and meant. Since I'm not in the business of selling books for a profit,  the ease of readability for the general public is not my first concern. My first concern is a very clear rendition of the ideas Hitler was expressing to his audience.

Feb. 5, 2015

Martin Bormann said of Ukrainian children: "They are fair, with blue eyes, bonny and chubby-faced. In comparison, our children look like tottering little chicks." And of the adults: "They are bursting with good health." This photograph is from 1942.

Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the July 17-22, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h24m. Included in this episode:

• Goebbels failed to introduce wired-wireless radio control in Germany before the war to prevent foreign broadcasts;
• Roads are superior to railroads for unification--Hitler wants to create a network of autobahen from Berlin to the East Wall;
• Hitler agrees to an interview with a foreign journalist so he can respond to the persistent talk of a Second Front, i.e. Allied landing;
• Discussion of "seaman's yarns" and need to consider superstitions of the public when making decisions;
• The Channel Islands and how they could be used after the war;
• Hitler criticises lawyers again and makes some very good points
• Russia's strength and the Stakhanov system--Bormann tells of his tour of Ukraine;
• More on how to treat the local populations in the occupied territories (see Ukraine images here).

The edition of Hitler's Table Talk being used was translated by Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens, published by Enigma Books, New York, and can be found as a pdf here.

Jan. 29, 2015

Ernst Hanfstaengl, foreign press chief (on left) with Hitler and Göring discussing some party business in the early days.

Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the July 7-9, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h23m. Included in this episode:

• Unflattering stories told about Hitler's Foreign Press Chief Ernst Hanfstaengl's miserliness;
• The annual Party Rally at Nuremberg is on a scale that has no comparison anywhere in the world;
• German pre-Christian culture was not advanced - Nuremberg only 7 centuries old;
• Political situation in Spain: Franco, Serrano Suner and the Church - Spanish Reds - General Munoz Grande & the Blue Division;
• Blondi becoming more vegetarian;
• Germans hope for higher rations from a good Ukrainian harvest, but transportation is a problem;
• Events in Egypt - Rommel's name becoming hallowed - Suez Canal;
• Roads in the Eastern territories - Germans must not impose their own ideas and customs on local inhabitants.

The edition of Hitler's Table Talk being used was translated by Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens, published by Enigma Books, New York, and can be found as a pdf here

Jan. 22, 2015

Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the July 4-6, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h22m. Included in this episode:

• The Concordat with the Catholic Church is declared "obsolete" and Hitler discusses ways to end it;
• The hard-boiled diplomacy of the Vatican causes Hitler to shun direct contact with its representatives;
• A warning to Czech President Hacha and his government, following a memorial service for Reinhard Heydrich, of severe consequences if all Benes intrigues and all pro-Benes individuals are not stamped out;
• Frugality of southern Italians has its good and bad sides, and thoughts on a state-directed economy vs Jewish "Free Trade;
• The stupidity of kings;
• Britain has dominated Europe for 300 years because of their superior race and intelligence, but now NS Germany will fill that role;
• The importance of the Passion Play at Oberammergau for portraying so well the menace of Jewry.

Image: Cartoon from Der Sturmer (May 1938)-"The Devil prompting a Catholic priest to write his anti-Nazi slogans." Enlarge

The edition of Hitler's Table Talk being used was translated by Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens, published by Enigma Books, New York, and can be found as a pdf here.

Jan. 15, 2015

The Danube River originates in Germany and runs through the heart of the European continent, emptying into the Black Sea. Enlarge

Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the June 28-July 3, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h22m. Included in this episode:

• The Danube is a German River that needs be under the control of Germany for the "new Europe" to work;
• The welding together of Europe has not been accomplished by statesmen, but by force of arms;
• Hitler says war is the current inspiration for artists, and questions the value of the academies for art training;
• Responsibility of the family for individual members' bad behavior - Japanese are a model;
• A warning about half-castes, that Germany cannot afford to burden its blood-stream with foreign elements;
• Collapse of British domination in Egypt - Hitler correctly predicts their propaganda will downplay it;
• The fall of Sebastopol brings comments on the Turks and Japanese, who are cunning diplomats;
• Hitler compliments the Habsburg monarchy for upholding the Pan-Germanic ideal, and calls Jean d'Arc a great heroine in the cause for freedom;
• As predicted, Britain writes off the loss of Egypt, saying it's a bigger difficulty for the German High Command than for themselves;
• Churchill survives a censure motion in Parliament.
  

Jan. 8, 2015

Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the June 21-27, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h25m. Included in this episode:

• Why Rommel and Dietl are the most popular generals in Germany -- the Volkswagen and desert warfare;
• Scrutiny of the people's activities by the security police and regulation by the federal ministries should follow the rule of less, rather than more;
• Problems with transportation of fruits and vegetables, and other items, must be dealt with;
• Importance of good, strong leadership in the Gaus and newly added territories,
• Hitler: Nothing more harmful to the organization of a State than over-centralization and limitation of local power;
• Best method for electing heads of state, including that a son should never succeed his father;
• Hitler commends Leon Degrelle (even though he was a Royalist) and the  "Flamands", then speaks of the importance of road construction in Russia to begin immediately;
• The coalition between Great Britain and the United States, Russia and China requires a miracle to hold together.

Image: Erwin Rommel, "the Desert Fox," is awarded the rank and symbolic baton of Field Marshal for his taking of Tobruk on June 21, 1942. Enlarge

The edition of Hitler's Table Talk being used was translated by Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens, published by Enigma Books, New York, and can be found as a pdf here.

Germany's Peoples' Court (Volksgerichtshof) in session, where treason was handled without sentiment, with the toughest penalties, according to Adolf Hitler's way of thinking.

Jan. 1, 2015

Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the June 5-8, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h28m. Included in this episode:

• The negative effect of studying the Jewish Old Testament - Hitler wants to help Germans avoid religious mania;
• Hitler disapproves of giving military titles to saints of the Church, as is done in Spain;
• The Catholic Church strives for power and cannot recognize any organization other than its own;
• Hungarian Regent Horthy makes some requests through his Prime Minister Kallay;
• Hitler speaks brilliantly and at some length on treason and why it requires severe punishment;
• Hitler now considers his failure to create a Bishop of the Reich a stroke of luck, considering what is happening in Spain;
• The education of the youth, teacher training, and the press.

The edition of Hitler's Table Talk being used was translated by Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens, published by Enigma Books, New York, and can be found as a pdf here.

Dec. 11, 2014

President Paul Hindenburg, Minister-General Werner von Blomberg and Chancellor Adolf Hitler at the Garrison Church on the 'Day of Potsdam,' March 1933.

Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the May 20-June 4, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h46m. Included in this episode:

• Hitler explains how he raised the standard of living for showgirls in Berlin;
• He describes in detail his assumption of power, including negotiations with Von Papen, Generals Schleicher and Hammerstein, and the "Old Gentleman" Hindenburg;
• How his relationship with Hindenburg became very warm and close;
• Treatment of spies and war-time criminals must be the most severe--compares them to the idealist at the Front;
• Approves of a movie film about Lola Montez and Ludwig 1 of Bavaria;
• Artists should be recognized in their lifetimes--Mozart, Bruckner and Haydn--Vienna compared to Munich as art capitals;
• Hitler advises to follow nature in designing aircraft and ships--the importance and difficulty of invention;
• Murder in Prague--Hitler reacts angrily to the assassination death of the "irreplaceable" Reinhard Heydrich and orders that all must obey regulations intended to ensure their safety.
  

The edition of Hitler's Table Talk being used was translated by Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens, published by Enigma Books, New York, and can be found as a pdf here.