April 9, 2015
Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the Sept. 5-7, 1942 and June 13-15, 1943 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by attorney Heinrich Heim. Included in this episode:
- The failings of monarchies and stupidity of Princes - human need for an idol - courageous Munoz Grande;
- Stalingrad so strongly defended because of its name - Dutch interbred with Malays - Church put religion over race - our soldiers marrying foreign girls ends in catastrophe;
- Britons have no concept of chivalry in war;
- No mercy on schoolmasters - discourages replicating museums in major German cities - plans a military museum in Linz;
- Nineteenth century was time of greatest German masterpieces in every branch of art - Munich lacked adequate money to build quality edifices - men fight for the artistic and intellectual heritage of their nation;
- In defence of Metternich - Bismarck needed the war in 1866;
- Natural wonders of landscape attract people more than art museums - poor taste in art can be tolerated but not depravity.
Image: German soldier with Russian machine gun. The Battle of Stalingrad and the surrender of the 6th Army took place during the 10-month break in the Table Talk text.
The edition of Hitler's Table Talk being used was translated by Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens, published by Enigma Books, New York, and can be found as a pdf here.