National Socialism

The Platterhof Hotel accommodated National Socialist events and visitors of the Führer, including military officers, when he was staying at his private home on the Obersalzberg.

 Continued from Part 1:

Translated by Carlos Whitlock Porter

The Führer is speaking:

But first, of course, it’s not a pretty picture, I admit it. At first, we had all sorts of difficulties, and you can really get some white hair before you’ve put everything back in order again. But I always counted on one thing: the time will come when that will all have been worth it; then you’ll see that this selection process, which has been made one of the hard principles of the party, is correct. And really, that’s the most basic thing: the most decisive. Since today, when we speak of a national community, you can only do so on the condition of suitable leadership and people.

There are a lot of training courses being given today for officers, in the so-called Ordenburgen [fortresses built by the Teutonic Knights], not just because they’re suited for it but because that gives them an insight into the way we start out with our youth, building up their education. Of course, gentlemen, nothing is perfect. You ought not to forget: we came to power in 1933. The war began in 1939. So we had barely 6 years. During the war, there’s a limit to what we can do to continue building, but there’s no doubt about it: when our people have had 50 years of peace, then we’ll see something: the whole nation will be completely organized, and the leadership of the nation will consist of the best political leadership corps we’ve ever had, carefully selected from the best we’ve got. There’s no doubt about that.

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.

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. 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.