Office of Strategic Services Another comrade, Herr Max Amann, formerly
regimental clerk, adds that Hitler never wanted
a commission. He'd joined up in the ranks, and
in the ranks he wanted to remain. "Often", he
says "Hitler'd take another man's place, if he
could - preferably a family man's - and volunteer
for the extra dangerous job in his stead."
p. 67/68, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
On September 17th, 1917, they gave him the
Military Service Cross with swords; on May 8th,
1918 he got the regimental diploma for signal
bravery in attack; and on August 4th, 1918, he
received the Iron Cross, first class.
p. 68, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
Westenkirchner:
"I was a Meidenaenger, like Adolf Hitler ...
sometimes ... we had a game with "Tommy'.
We stuck a helmet on the point of a bayonet
and shoved it above the parapet, when it would
be sure to draw immediate fire. Even Hitler,
who was usually so serious, saw the fun of
this. He used to double himself up with laughter.
p. 74, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
"For the most part he was always on about politics.
Two things seemed to get his goat - what the papers
were saying at home about the war and all, and the
way the Government and particularly the Kaiser,
were hampered by the Marxists and the Jews."
p. 74, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
" ..... I can see Hitler before my eyes now, as he used
to tumble down back into the dug-out after just
such a race with death. He'd squat down in a corner
just as if nothing had happened, but he looked a
sketch - thin as a rake, hollow-eyed and waxy white."
p. 76, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
"One of our fellows had been hoping against hope for
a spell of leave. They said he could go on leave for a
fortnight if he could get anyone to work double times
and take his place. He didn't need to think that over
twice. He knew as Adolf Hitler'd do it for him.....
pp. 77/78, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
"We lived waterlogged ... When we weren't carrying
messages, Hitler and the rest and I, we were slopping
about on the duck boards baling with buckets. He'd
carry on with the job long after everyone else was
fed up with it, and had given up in despair..."
pp. 77, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
"Christmas came round .... and at least every man had
got letters or parcels from home...Everyone, that is,
except Hitler. Somehow Hitler never got a letter even!
It wasn't a thing that called for remark exactly, But
we all felt sorry, inside, and wanted him to share and
share alike with us. But he never would! Never accepted
so much as Kuchen! It was no use to keep all on at him.
Not that he wasn't free-handed enough when he had
anything of his own to share, a cigarette or bit of
sausage. The measly pay we got he'd spend on jam.
It was jam first and butter afterwards, that is
whenever the two things happened both to be within
reach at the same time. It was bread and scrape
anyhow, but Hitler he was a rare one for jam.
pp. 78, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
He owned up to me sometimes how stony broke
he was. Poor chap, he never had a cent! I blurted it
right out once: 'Haven't you got anyone back home?
Isn't there anyone to send you things?' 'No,' he answered,
'at least no one but a sister, and goodness only knows
where she is by this time.'
pp. 78, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
They dropped leaflets against the Prussians on us
Bavarian chaps...Hitler knew what they meant by that ....
He seemed to think that the English understood propaganda
better than we did ...... Hitler seemed to expect H.Q
would contradict it. But H. Q. never did......Hitler was
bitter over this.... But Hitler then was a nobody like
the rest of us ....
pp. 79, Heinz A. Heinz, Germany's H.
.... word had to be sent along .... on to the threatened
sector. Hitler and another trench runner got the order.
They set off in thee face of almost certain death, .....
Hitler's companion gave out. Buckled right up, unable
to stick it another step! Hitler hoisted him along
somehow, rather than leave him to his fate .....
p.. 80, Heinz, Germany's H.
Presently ... we marched into rest billets... There were
letters and parcels awaiting us there - all except for
Hitler. He just looked the other way and busied himself
knocking the mud off his boots and doing what he could
to clean his shirt.
p. 80, Heinz, Germany's H.
Once a shell dropped plump into the middle of our
dugout.. That was the first time Hitler caught one.
A splinter had gashed him in the face .... "
p. 81, Heinz. Germany's H.
.... he ran such a gauntlet between exploding mines
and burning houses, that for the most part his own
clothes singed on his back .....
p. 82 Heinz, Germany's H.
Our Lieutenant called for volunteers - only Hitler
responded, and a chap named Ernst Schmidt. The
thing was rank suicide. This time only Schmidt got
back. Hitler had been hit in the left leg. Later on the
regimental stretcher bearers brought him in.
...Hitler's wound was not too serious, but it would
incapacitate him for some months. He was sent to
the rear to the 'Sammellazarett' Hermies ....here
for the first time in all that while, he heard a German
woman's voice again. It was that of the Sister at
the Base Hospital. It gave him quite a shock.
pp. 82/83, Heinz, Germany's H.
The
original plaintext version
of this file is available via
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Hitler Source Book
Germany's Hitler
by Heinz A. Heinz
(Part 3 of 5)