"Hitler's Table Talk" Study Hour

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Jan. 1, 2015

Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the June 5-8, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h28m. Included in this episode:

• The negative effect of studying the Jewish Old Testament - Hitler wants to help Germans avoid religious mania;
• Hitler disapproves of giving military titles to saints of the Church, as is done in Spain;
• The Catholic Church strives for power and cannot recognize any organization other than its own;
• Hungarian Regent Horthy makes some requests through his Prime Minister Kallay;
• Hitler speaks brilliantly and at some length on treason and why it requires severe punishment;
• Hitler now considers his failure to create a Bishop of the Reich a stroke of luck, considering what is happening in Spain;
• The education of the youth, teacher training, and the press.

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.

Jan. 8, 2015

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Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the June 21-27, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h25m. Included in this episode: 

• Why Rommel and Dietl are the most popular generals in Germany -- the Volkswagen and desert warfare;
• Scrutiny of the people's activities by the security police and regulation by the federal ministries should follow the rule of less, rather than more;
• Problems with transportation of fruits and vegetables, and other items, must be dealt with;
• Importance of good, strong leadership in the Gaus and newly added territories,
• Hitler: Nothing more harmful to the organization of a State than over-centralization and limitation of local power;
• Best method for electing heads of state, including that a son should never succeed his father;
• Hitler commends Leon Degrelle (even though he was a Royalist) and the  "Flamands", then speaks of the importance of road construction in Russia to begin immediately;
• The coalition between Great Britain and the United States, Russia and China requires a miracle to hold together.

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.

Jan. 15, 2015

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Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the June 28-July 3, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h22m. Included in this episode: 

• The Danube is a German River that needs be under the control of Germany for the "new Europe" to work;
• The welding together of Europe has not been accomplished by statesmen, but by force of arms;
• Hitler says war is the current inspiration for artists, and questions the value of the academies for art training;
• Responsibility of the family for individual members' bad behavior - Japanese are a model;
• A warning about half-castes, that Germany cannot afford to burden its blood-stream with foreign elements;
• Collapse of British domination in Egypt - Hitler correctly predicts their propaganda will downplay it;
• The fall of Sebastopol brings comments on the Turks and Japanese, who are cunning diplomats;
• Hitler compliments the Habsburg monarchy for upholding the Pan-Germanic ideal, and calls Jean d'Arc a great heroine in the cause for freedom;
• As predicted, Britain writes off the loss of Egypt, saying it's a bigger difficulty for the German High Command than for themselves;
• Churchill survives a censure motion in Parliament.

Jan. 22, 2015

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Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the July 4-6, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h22m. Included in this episode:

• The Concordat with the Catholic Church is declared "obsolete" and Hitler discusses ways to end it;
• The hard-boiled diplomacy of the Vatican causes Hitler to shun direct contact with its representatives;
• A warning to Czech President Hacha and his government, following a memorial service for Reinhard Heydrich, of severe consequences if all Benes intrigues and all pro-Benes individuals are not stamped out;
• Frugality of southern Italians has its good and bad sides, and thoughts on a state-directed economy vs Jewish "Free Trade;"
• The stupidity of kings;
• Britain has dominated Europe for 300 years because of their superior race and intelligence, but now NS Germany will fill that role;
• The importance of the Passion Play at Oberammergau for portraying so well the menace of Jewry.

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.

Jan. 29, 2015

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Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the July 7-9, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h23m. Included in this episode:

• Unflattering stories told about Hitler's Foreign Press Chief Ernst Hanfstaengl's miserliness;
• The annual Party Rally at Nuremberg is on a scale that has no comparison anywhere in the world;
• German pre-Christian culture was not advanced - Nuremberg only 7 centuries old;
• Political situation in Spain: Franco, Serrano Suner and the Church - Spanish Reds - General Munoz Grande & the Blue Division;
• Blondi becoming more vegetarian;
• Germans hope for higher rations from a good Ukrainian harvest, but transportation is a problem;
• Events in Egypt - Rommel's name becoming hallowed - Suez Canal;
• Roads in the Eastern territories - Germans must not impose their own ideas and customs on local inhabitants.

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

Feb. 5, 2015

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Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the July 17-22, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h24m. Included in this episode:

• Goebbels failed to introduce wired-wireless radio control in Germany before the war to prevent foreign broadcasts;
• Roads are superior to railroads for unification--Hitler wants to create a network of autobahen from Berlin to the East Wall;
• Hitler agrees to an interview with a foreign journalist so he can respond to the persistent talk of a Second Front, i.e. Allied landing;
• Discussion of "seaman's yarns" and need to consider superstitions of the public when making decisions;
• The Channel Islands and how they could be used after the war;
• Hitler criticises lawyers again and makes some very good points
• Russia's strength and the Stakhanov system--Bormann tells of his tour of Ukraine;
• More on how to treat the local populations in the occupied territories (see Ukraine images here).

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.

Feb. 12, 2015

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Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the July 24-August 2, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Henry Picker. 1h30m. Included in this episode:

• Hitler has faith that the Dutch can "improve" but the Italians without the Duce are hopelessly under the thumb of the Church and nobility;
• The need for oil from the Caucasus and the value of gas-driven over petrol-driven vehicles;
• Hitler discusses why government or military corruption must not be allowed to get a hold in Germany and tells of his experience with "swindlers";
• On Russians wanting to emigrate into the Crimea;
• The lack of superior weaponry in the first World War - developing and building such are of equal importance to soldiering;
• Praise for the annual exhibition and sale in the House of German Art in Munich;
• The credulity of the American and British public - German and American standard of living compared - the power of the Church to surpress scientific progress;

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. 

Feb. 19, 2015

Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the Aug. 3-6, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Heinrich Heim, who has returned. 1h19m. Included in this episode:

• Hitler uses the instinctual behaviors within bee and ant colonies to explain the value of merciless perseverence when its a question of survival;
• American military courts established in Britain - Poor military decision-making influenced by Jews;
• Food and food supply - stories of Prince Arenberg;
• Praise plus criticism for the Italians -more on ruling the Eastern territories;
• Living in open rather than crowded spaces gives one a wider view - St. Petersburg and Moscow must be destroyed - creating markets in the occupied East;
• Mistreatment of the peasant class led to migration of some of the best of Germans - France and Italy both have strong peasantry which stabilizes a nation.

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.

Feb. 26, 2015

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Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the August 7-16, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by attorney Heinrich Heim. 1h23m. Included in this episode:

• Churchill to visit Stalin, Hitler is intrigued as to why;
• Germans are in Crimea to stay, says AH, and winning over the peasantry;
• British have no rights to decide anything in Europe - Rumanians vs Hungarians, and the Viennese;
• Riches of Ukraine - Reichsmarks and Ostmarks - the parson class are enemies of the state;
• Very interesting account of Hitler visiting the National Club and the Officers' Club in Berlin in 1921, meeting Admiral Schröder, an important early supporter;
• Hitler on Dance as artistic expression: most beautiful is the waltz, impressive is the Bavarian Schuhplattler done by men;
• Some of the diplomats he's known in Berlin - comments on Stalin - Churchill and the Malta situation.

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

March 5, 2015

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Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the Aug. 16-20, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide Heinrich Heim, who has returned. 1h20m. Included in this episode:

• Churchill decided on war years before 1939 - praise for the French workman - obstruction from the Wehrmacht's niggardly ways;
• Hitler recalls how he imposed his will and used all his powers against the Army, Navy and his own ministers in order to prepare Germany for war in spite of the cost;
• Crimes against animals vs people - judges and national morale - different treatment of criminals during peacetime and wartime;
• Function of law is to safeguard the public - Hitler's own experience with lawyers - officers of the judiciary must be the best a country has.

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

March 12-2015

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Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the August 20-22, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by attorney Heinrich Heim. 1h26m. Included in this episode:

• Maximum mechanisation of an army does not defeat greater man-power - Hitler expresses strong criticism of Wilhelm II and praise for Ferdinand of Bulgaria;
• Alfred Rosenberg and the Völkischer Beobachter - after the Reichstag fire Hitler and Goebbels put out the next day's edition;
• Baltic Germans - Hitler a "non-family man" - women's peccadillos bring fresh blood into a family - Bavarian girls are not virgins - rural custom of matrimonial trial;
• Dialects vs standard German - stenographers and secretaries;
• British gained their sense of superiority in India - India a source of great income for Britain - Indians and Mexicans engaged in human sacrifice before the White man came;
• Hitler not fond of local crafts, including German - Don't try to change native peoples - Stalin and the Jews - Lloyd George a wise man - some war comments.

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

March 19, 2015

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Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the Aug. 25-28, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by aide, attorney Heinrich Heim. 1h21m. Included in this episode:

• Schacht the Freemason - more individual responsibility - overcoming crises - French & Italians, Swiss, Swedes and Danes;
• Stalin has remade Russia - British hesitancy to advance - Peace of Westphalia - benefits from Dieppe raid - railroads beat river traffic but Danube will be great traffic artery;
• Resources of Ukraine and Crimea -Spain and Latin bloc - Russian powers of resistance - Charles Martel prevented Germans becoming Muslim - Hungarians and Austrians - Budapest most beautiful city in Europe;
• Air raids and anti-artilliary guns - New weapons must be given a fair chance.

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

March 26, 2015

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Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager read and comment on the August 28-31, 1942 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by attorney Heinrich Heim. 1h25m. Included in this episode:

• Divide and conquer - The blood of our race - Austrian Empire and British Empire run by minority - perpetual warfare;
• Criticism of instructional method in secondary schools - too much study not healthy - introduction of universal military service one of greatest events in history;
• Germany land of poets and thinkers? - Sharnhorst brought us back to sanity - value of perseverance supported by enthusiasm;
• Bolsheviks and prostitution - Lloyd George at Versailles -destruction of Duke of Windsor - Jews in Britain - Churchill an unprincipled swine.

Atten: There was a volume problem during the first 30 min. of this episode which I rectified fairly well with Audacity but it's still uneven. Apologies.

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

April 2, 2015

April 9, 2015

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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 and another aide. 1h25m. 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.

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.

April 16, 2015

This Episode #55 brings us almost to the end of the conversations recorded in Table Talk. Next week will be our final program of this series, when Ray and I will give our personal views of its authenticity, meaning and value -- after which we will take phone calls from listeners. If you want to weigh in, be sure to listen to the live show next week, April 23 at 7pm Central (8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific) at Blogtalk. 
 

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Carolyn Yeager and Ray Goodwin read and comment on the June 17, 1943 - May 16, 1944 lunch and dinner table monologues by the German Leader, as taken down in shorthand by an aide. 1h25m. Included in this episode:

• Fear of the unknown - Great battleships no longer useful;
• Long discussion of Berlin compared to Vienna, Munich, Linz - Interests of the Reich are paramount;
• Finding film actors among the Arbeitsdienst - Art critics can be disregarded for the most part;
• Hitler's first sight of the Rhine on way to Western Front in 1914 - Getting away from the crowds that always followed him - the beauties of Austria and Bohemia-Moravia;
• Failure of German state to found a German National Church independent of Rome - The 'Modernist' period -Power of the Church to extract obedience;
• Differences between research and instruction - Research should be completely unrestricted - German philosophers above British, French and American - Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche;
• Hitler argues with leading economist Zwiedineck - After taking power, Hitler's "theories" became sound economy.

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

April 23, 2015

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Ray Goodwin and Carolyn Yeager bring you the final reading from the night of Nov. 29-30, 1944 between Adolf Hitler and Martin Bormann. 
 

Following this short reading, we discuss the general content of these Führer monologues that spanned 1941 to 1944. 1h56m. Discussion includes:

• Hitler and Bormann agree on the "fatal relationship" between Communism and Christianity;
• Ray gives a personal overview of the contents of Table Talk;
• Carolyn describes how TT shifted her thinking about Hitler in a number of areas, but mainly Christianity;
• Overview of Hitler's highly controversial criticisms of the Christian Churches in Germany and Christian doctrine;
• Richard Carrier is the main source of the reports that Table Talk is untrustworthy and the Trevor-Roper edition translated by Cameron and Stevens is "not what Hitler actually said."
• More controversial quotes from Hitler about "Russians, Slavs and Stalin" and "Race and Jews";
• Where we are today considering the subjects addressed in Table Talk.

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