"Hitler's Table Talk" Study Hour

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.

Dec. 4, 2014

Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the May 14-20, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h29m.  Included in this episode:

• The importance to the rise of National-Socialism of having its own national press;
• The people want a leader - leadership is a masculine trait;
• Lax patriotic standards during the First World War and the issue of handing out decorations to both Germans and foreigners;
• Danger of arming small nations, and the faults of diplomats;
• Usefulness of Japanese alliance and necessity of swift decisions toward Russia;
• Why National-Socialism is not for export and the special qualities of and decorations for the German worker;
• The new Man and the accomplishments of the National-Socialist revolution (this is some very inspiring prose);
• Good relations with the Czechs.
  

Image: Poster reads "Fight for Fuhrer and Folk" on the team of the NSD-Student Association.

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.

Nov. 20, 2014

Hitler gets a tumultous welcome from the 95% German population of Danzig after the port city was liberated from the illegal control of the Poles in 1939.

Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the May 12-13, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h26m. Included in this episode:

• Sane economic and racial principles, and racial problems in Prussia must be addressed;
• Discussion with Danzig Gauleiter Forster and Reichsleiter Bormann on germanizing Poles ... or not;
• Hitler says the origin of the Czechs is Mongolian, the Bulagrians are Turkoman, and each case of potential germanization must be examined on its own merits;
• Marriage is sanctified by the birth of a child, and it is the duty of men to marry;
• Frederick the Great's racial policy was on a par with the National Socialist policy;
• The choices France now faces, Marshal Petain is honorable but too old to lead, German construction on the French Channel coast.

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.