James I. Gabbe: March
06. February 2009 17:18
Although he is still far removed from becoming Der Fuehrer and isunknown – except among right-wing zealots in Munich – he has alreadyformed many of the views that will soon become Mein Kampf and isunleashing and shaping his genius for mesmerizing and seducing.
The historical record shows that such a soiree did, in fact, occurseveral days before Hitler seized control of what would become known asthe Nazi party. History does not, however, tell us what transpired thatnight….
The scene is set for March.
BETTS: If you visit me in New York, I’ll show you a really great American symbol. The greatest of all.
HITLER: Wall Street? The capitalists are criminals. They exploit the masses.
BETTS: I meant the Statue of Liberty. And you sound like a communist.
HITLER: (Amused) Me, a communist? You call me a communist?! When Ivisit New York, you will show me the Statue of Liberty? I am to beimpressed by that? Me, a German soldier – impressed by a statue –created by a Frenchman?
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ECKART: Suddenly, this stranger is waving his fists and shouting,“What is Goethe or even Schiller or Shakespeare as compared with theheroes of the new German dramatic art! Old, worn-out, outlived – nay,conquered types!” His voice carried above everything. This strangerwas, of course, Adolf Hitler. As you see, he is a man of a distinctappearance and manner. He made an immediate impression. We became veryquiet – as if a teacher had raised his hand before an unruly class….
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VON BETHMANN: Magnetic forces…. That’s what drew the soldiers from the trenches into the killing fields….
HITLER: Now, you are seeing it! You are seeing how propaganda ruled a war! How it created reality! Created truth!
VON BETHMANN: Yes…yes – it did.
HITLER: If you give even a glimpse of right on the other side, ifyou admit to any truth but your own, the cause for doubting one’s ownright is laid. Vehemence! Passion! Fanaticism! These are the greatmagnetic forces that alone attract the masses!