National Socialism

Oct. 30, 2014

"Thanks to the presence of a regiment of the Leibstandarte, the countryside is abounding with jolly and healthy young children."

Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the April 12-24, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1hr24sec. Included in this episode:

• Cost/benefit of the Olympic Games in Berlin;
• Elementary schooling, schoolmasters vs schoolmistresses, "Reich Schools;
• Installing Dr. Schacht as head of the Reichsbank over Dr. Luther was a complicated processes;
• Why the Metropolitan Opera House in New York has just closed its doors;
• The SS contribution to good German blood and babies - the importance of who carries arms;
• Praise for the Duce, dislike of the Italian aristocracy;
• Decisive events of the war so far reveal the weakness of German High Command in 1st WW - the build-up of the new navy;
• No sanction for soldiers to marry foreign women - the importance for children of true affection between marriage partners - domestic trouble in marriages of National-Socialist leaders.

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.

Oct. 16, 2014

 Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the April 2-April 5, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1hr39m. Included in this episode:

• Hitler praises Tsar Ferdinand and his son Boris, Tsar of Bulgaria;

• Criticism of existing German protocols for visiting dignitaries -prefers the French and Italian way of treating visitors;

• Terrorism of the Jews - cowardice of our monarchs - laws of inheritance - the necessity of struggle - rulers should come from soldiers;

• Protecting German patents - lands of the North, Finland & Russia - Leningrad;

• Whether and how to incorporate Germanic peoples into the Reich - schools for political education - problems of the Poles, Czechs;

• The treachery in Germany after 1918 - getting around the disarmament diktat of the Versailles Treaty.

Image: Reichsfuehrer SS is dinner guest as they discuss the creation of Reich schools for children in Germanic countries.

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.

Sept. 18, 2014

Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the Feb. 22-27, 1942 dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by trusted aide, attorney Heinrich Heim. 1hr25min. Included in this episode:

• The success of the NSDAP newspaper empire;
• Importance of laughter and fun;
• How to carry out a revolution, and Hitler's dislike of Christian dogma;
• The weakness of King Michael of Romania and how to handle German minorities in the Balkans;
• Hitler expresses happiness the winter is over (soon) and admits the losses the Wehrmacht endured because of it;
• Long talk on God, religion and Truth;
• Govenors for the occupied west, and the nuisance of old monarchs;
• Thoughts on German expansion.

Image: Young King Michael of Romania meets Adolf Hitler at the Reichs Chancellery in Berlin during WWII.

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.

Sept. 11, 2014

Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the Feb. 17-22, 1942 dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by trusted aide Heinrich Heim. Included in this episode:

• Country estates in Hungary compared to  Wagner's Wahnfried and his own Berghof, and the stories of Karl May compared to American classics;
• Hitler's preference for Bavarian-Austrian lederhosen (leather shorts for men) and why he had to give them up;
• Wrong to shower too much care on colonial subjects, plus not enough theaters in Germany;
• Why Hitler plans for his great observatory to be built at Linz, and the importance of teaching the people the wonders of the physical universe;
• The privilege of playing the role of patron to the arts and sciences;
• Ferdinand Porsche is the greatest engineering genius in Germany at the time, and Hitler sees continued success for the Volkswagen;
• Praise for Schwartz and Amman as great talents who served the NSDAP, plus strong words against the "Jewish virus."

Image: Hitler liked wearing lederhosen during the 1920's, which he said was not considered acceptable attire in North German society.

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.