"Hitler's Table Talk" Study Hour: Episode 55

April 16, 2015

This Episode #55 brings us almost to the end of the conversations recorded in Table Talk. Next week will be our final program of this series, when Ray and I will give our personal views of its authenticiy, meaning and value -- after which we will take phone calls from listeners. If you want to weigh in, be sure to listen to the live show next week, April 23 at 7pm Central (8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific) at Blogtalk.

Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the June 17, 1943 - May 16, 1944 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by an aide. 1h25m. Included in this episode:

• Fear of the unknown - Great battleships no longer useful;
• Long discussion of Berlin compared to Vienna, Munich, Linz - Interests of the Reich are paramount;
• Finding film actors among the Arbeitsdienst - Art critics can be disregarded for the most part;
• Hitler's first sight of the Rhine on way to Western Front in 1914 - Getting away from the crowds that always followed him - the beauties of Austria and Bohemia-Moravia;
• Failure of German state to found a German National Church independent of Rome - The 'Modernist' period -Power of the Church to extract obedience;
• Differences between research and instruction - Research should be completely unrestricted - German philosophers above British, French and American - Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche;
• Hitler argues with leading economist Zwiedineck - After taking power, Hitler's "theories" became sound economy.

Image: Scenic view in the Rhine River that Hitler appreciated so much. 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