SWAY OF HITLER

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 258, 13 November 1939, Page 1

SWAY OF HITLER

POSSIBLE WARNING ARREST OF LADY FRIEND IN FL FENCE: OF AY OMEN, The item of news published recently stating that the Gestapo-' had arrested Leni Riefenstahl, the film' star, although brief, was not without significance, writes “Kicyshaws” in the Dominion. Leni Riefenstahl, a German actress, lias called herself Hitler’s girl friend for very many years. Moreover, Hitler has made no secret of the fact ■ that he admires both lie.r talents and her looks. In 1939 he commissioned her to mil ke the official Nazi film of the Olympic Games. One cannot hut help I'eelino; that Hitler would, not permit the Gestapo to arrest this object of his affections had! lie the power to stop it. Certainly, in tinvis of peace; arrest would have been unthinkable. Straws often show which way blows the wind. Hitler’s power doeduiot- appear to he as gj eat as it was. It may ho of little moment that a-' German actress can no longer look to Hitler for protection. Nevertheless, little by little it will ■ become apparent to the German people that the Fuehrer they have been compelled to worship has feet of clay. Probably the greatest catastrophe if Europe is that Hitler never married. A wife would have restrained 'din from the vain-glorious dangers vliioh now beset the world. His earlier ideas wlien he came into power were ill ‘‘Kinde, Kirelie and Kuelie.” Hifler, however, has never admitted to a 'ove affair, and. those who knew him Ufirni tliis fact.

Name Linked With Several Nevertheless,, lie lies permitted! his mime to tie linked with several women, including, of course, the recently-aban-doned Leni R ielcnstahl. His capacity for admiration Of the fair sex, at any rate, caused him to describe Fran Gertrude Sclioltz-Klink, aged .‘3(5 years, as the perfect Nazi woman. An American dancing girl named Marion panicls seems also to have attiacted him. His admiration, at any rate, went so far as to charter a special aeroplane for her use, and an admitted gift of £250. Another American dancer, Miss -Miriam Verne, was engaged at Hitler’s special request to play the “Merry Widow” before him at Munich. !(■ 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 pieparing a .^speech. When Hitler was talking with Rositn Forbes* Im admitted on one occasion t hat 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 Rnubnl, his sister’s daughter. 'Phis girl lived in Hitler’s household for some time. Before Id's rise to power her mother kept house for him. w ' ‘ ■. A. A:

* Affection for Niece. His affection for liis niece did not pass unnoticed, and caused ail manner 01. gossip. (fret,a openly adored him. Gossip had quite a lot to say when in 193’!) Greta shot herself in her bedroom. .1 Hiller hurst into tears. Her death was a terrible shock to him. Far more of'a. shock than the death of his nearest friend, Roelmi, whom Hitler ordlered to he 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, wild than Hitler’s .sisters probably merit more space than has ever boon devoted to them. Ran la and Ida Hitler used-to live at Nod 52 Schonburggasse, 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 '3O 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 the drying room where lodgers aired their washing is a miserable garre't, with a tiny kitchen. In this garret there, lived for 20 years Adolf Hitler’s two sisters, Paula and id’a. Paula was only 14 years old when six l went to live in this garret. Her half-sister, Mrs. Ida Raupal, *lO 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 paintpr. During the Great War both brothers disappeared completely, and were given up as deadl Invitaticn to BBrchtesgaden At the end of the Great War Paula Hitler became a stenographer in Vienna, and her half-sister eked out a pov-erty-stricken existence on a small pen-' sion. When Adolf Hitler rose to pow- 1 or he wrote the following letter to his sisters:—“JVly dear Ida and Paula, As you certainly must already know, I have established a. residence at Berchtcsgadcn. I should like very much tp have both of ymi here to live. A governor’s household without women'' ; is not a. real household. As for Gustave, thank Cod!' he is content with his fate. Mis restaurant in Berlin is going well.” Paula refused point blank to help a who. had refused to help tlimn when they wanted help most. Moreover, after Ida left for Berclitesgadun Paula made public the fact that Adult’s father was originally lmmcj Aloys. .Sehuekolbn'tbor. and was 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. 'Pile breach widomdl subsequently'' and Paula re- * fused to have anything to do with her brother. Ho sent emissaries- and threats ordering her to maintain-an obsolete silence on his but - Paula flatly refused to obey.