SWAY OF HITLER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20073, 20 October 1939, Page 5

SWAY OF HITLER

POSSIBLE WARNING

ARREST OF LADY FRIEND INFLUENCE OF WOMEN SISTERS RECALLED The item of news published this week stating that the Gestapo had arrested Leni Riefenstahl. the film star, although brief, was not wßhoul significance, writes "Kickshaws” in the Dominion. Leni Riefenstahl. a German actress, has called herself Hitler's girl friend for very many years. Moreover. Hitler has made no secret of the fact that he admires both her talents and her looks.

In 1936 lie commissioned her to make the official Nazi film of the Olympic Games. One cannot but help feeling that Hitler would not permit the Gestapo to arrest this object of his affections had he the power to stop it. Certainly, in times of peace, arrest would have been unthinkable.

Straws of-an show which way blow; the wind. Hitler's power does not appear to be as great as it was. It may be of little moment that a German actress can no longer look to Hitler for protection. Nevertheless, little by little it wiil become apparent to the German people that the Fuehrer they have been compelled to worship has feet of clay.

Probably the greatest catastrophe of Europe is that Hitler never married. A wife would have restrained him from the vain-glorious dangers which now beset the world. Ills earlier ideas when he came into power were all “Kindc, Kirche and Kuche." Hitler, however, has never admitted to a love affair, and those who know him affirm this fact. Name Linked With Several Nevertheless, he lias permitted his name to be linked with several women, including, of course, the re-cently-abandoned Leni Riefenstahl. His capacity for admiration of the fair sex. at any rate, caused him to describe Frau Gertrude Scholtz-Klink.

aged 36 years, as the perfect Nazi woman.

An American dancing girl named Marion Daniels seems also to have attracted him. His admiration, at any rate, went so far as to charier a special aeroplane for her use, and an admitted gift of 1:250.

Another American dancer. Miss Miriam Verne, was engaged at Hitler's special request to play the "Merry Widow" before him at Munich. It is said that it caused him intense pleasure when this dancer twisted her body into the shape of a swastika. Flowers and sweets were sent her by Hitler even when he was busy preparing a speech.

When Hitler was talking with Ilosita Forbes he admitted on one occasion that the incident in his life which most moved him was the death of a woman. No names, however, were mentioned. There was, nevertheless, the tragic

ending of Greta Raubal, ids sister's daughter. This girl lived in Hitler's household for some time. Before his rise to power her mother kept house for him. Affection ' For Niece His affection for his niece did not pass unnoticed, and caused all manner of gossip. Greta openly adored him. Gossip had quite a lot to say when in 1930 Greta shot herself in her bedroom. Hitler burst into tears. Her death was a terrible shock to him. Far more of a shock than the death of his nearest friend. Roehm. whom Hitler ordered to be shot.

It would require, however, a superwoman to take on Hitler as a husband. He would have had as great a nuisance value in the home as out of it. Nevertheless one wonders if Hitler would not have been a less worry to the rest of ■ the world with a wife than without.

Hitler’s sisters probably merit more space than has ever been devoted to them. Paula and Ida Hitler used to live at No. 52 Schonburggas.se. Vienna. Paula received the shock of her life when dear Adolf turned up at the Imperial Hotel after the rape of Austria. She was then 35 years old. shy, modestly dressed, large blue eyes, and strikingly resembling Hitler in looks. Life in Garret She saw Adolf for a brief 30 minutes. Nobody knows what transpired. Her visit, however, brought to a close a quarrel of 20 years’ standing. Number 52, where she lived in a garret. is a huge apartment house. Directly under the roof beside Lie drying room where lodgers aired their washing is a miserable garret, with a tiny kitchen.

In this garret there lived for 20 years Adolf Hitler's two sisters. Paula and Ida. Paula was only 14 years old when she went to live in this garret. Her half-sister, Mrs. Ida Raupal, 10 years her senior, had lodged there with her husband. Raupal was killed at the front.

Their brother Gustave was a restaurant waiter, and Adolf a house painter. During the Great War both brothers disappeared completely, and were given up as dead. Invitation to I.ci-chtesgaden At the end of the Great War Paula Hitler became a stenographer in Vienna, and her half-sister eked out a poverty-stricken existence on a small pension. When Adolf Hitler rose to power he wrote the following letter to his sisters: —"My dear Ida and Paula, As you certainly must already know, I have established a residence at Berchtesgaden. I should like very much to have both of you here to live. A governor's household withou* women is not a real household. As for Gustave, thank God he is content witn his fate. His restaurant in Berlin is going well."

Paula refused point blank to help a brother who had refused to help them when they wanted help most. Moreover, after Ida left for Berchtesgaden Paula made public the fact that Adolf’s father was originally named Aloys Schuckelbruber, and was three times married.

Before he married his third wife his fiancee's family compelled him to change his name to Hitler, the maiden name of his wife's mother. The breach widened subsequently and Paula refused to have anything to do with her brother. He sent emissaries and threats ordering her to maintain an absolute silence on his antecedents, but Paula flatly refused to obey.