"Hitler's Table Talk" Study Hour: Episode 42

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.