Summary
Adolf Hitler: Conversations at the table
Written by: Henry Picker
Henry Picker, finding himself, thanks to a lucky twist of fate, in the immediate vicinity of Hitler, still on the plane, on the way to the headquarters, decided to use the opportunity to observe the life and work of the Führer on a daily basis in order to leave his testimony to history and posterity about his efforts in wartime. (…)
It turned out that Henry Picker's father, an economic advisor from Wilhelmshaven, Daniel Picker, was an old acquaintance of Hitler's, his supporter and patron back in the 20s, and that he often received him in his home, and because of this, Hitler showed special affection for his son in the headquarters, out of gratitude to his father. This affection was manifested especially through the fact that he invited Picker to be a permanent guest at lunches and dinners, which he necessarily spent in the company of his close associates and subordinates. In addition to the permanent residents of the headquarters, the guests at the so-called private meals of the Führer were often high-ranking officials Goering, Goebbels, Himmler, Lej, Rosenberg, ministers - the entire National Socialist Olympus. The opportunity to attend these meals was an inestimable privilege for Picker. (...)
The specialty of these meals were the conversations at the table, which Hitler had with his closest collaborators, but which had, for the most part, a monologue character. However, whatever they look like, they are of great importance for the multidisciplinary study of a political phenomenon, then the personality of an autocratic statesman, and even an entire epoch, with all its specificities. (...)
Hitler's monologues belong to the category of ``you don't get bored'' texts. In any case, something else is indisputable: the transcripts of Heim and the notes of Picker are authentic. (…)
Biblos Newsletter
New titles, special copies and quiet recommendations from the antiquarian bookshop.