Hitler's Fan Mail

Excerpts from Dr Eberle's book, Letters to Hitler – a People Writes to its Leader, were published yesterday in Germany's Bild newspaper. Although they were written only early in Hitler's career, shortly after he was released from jail in 1923, they show that he was already being deluged with fan mail.

Here are some examples:
"How does HE stand regarding the question of alcohol?" asks Alfred Barg, in a letter written to Hitler in May 1925. Dr Eberle notes in his book that Hitler rarely set eyes on any of the letters himself but relied primarily on Rudolf Hess, his deputy, to read and reply to them. To Barg's letter, Hess replies nine days later: "Herr Hitler does not drink any alcohol, except for a few drops on very special occasions. He does not smoke at all."

Another letter written by a loyal National Socialist baker asks for permission to bake a new variety of cake which would in future be honoured with the name "Hitler Cake". Hess sniffily refuses because Hitler's strategy is to strictly avoid "kitsch" publicity gimmicks. Likewise, to a woman devotee who has sent the Nazi leader handkerchiefs embroidered with his images, he writes: "I am returning the hand-sewn handkerchiefs. Herr Hitler does not give permission for the manufacture of handkerchiefs with his picture on them."

The letters used for the basis of Dr Eberle's book were kept in files in Hitler's Reich Chancellor's office in Berlin but removed by the Red Army and taken to Moscow at the end of the Second World War.

"Assuming that we are going to get a National Socialist Greater Germany some day, does the NSDAP (Nazi party) favour the colours black, white and red with a Swastika?" Hitler's deputy, Rudolf Hess, replies, "You should know that we will never betray the colours black, white, red nor the Swastika."

From R Niedermayer, a lawyer, on behalf of his client, the recently deceased Mrs Margarete Meindl, July 1925 "I have the honour to inform you that the deceased (Mrs Meindl), who was a great admirer of your political aims, expressed the wish that a large potted palm she kept in her apartment until her death, should be left to you." Hess replies, "I write to inform you that Herr Hitler would like to have the palm. I look forward to receiving details regarding its collection."

Further reading