[Page 16]

Gottfried Schmitt, old Storm Trooper: "Then this man Hitler got up to speak .... I saw at once this wass't no common or garden tub-thumper .... Everything he said was just common sense and sound. Although I wasn' t one to be won over all in a moment, it didn't take me no longer than that first meeting to realize that Hitler was straight as a die, and a safe one to put your shirt on.

I went to every one of his meetings after that. Bit by bit he won me round ......knocked the Red nonsense out of me....

pp. 145/146, Heinz, Germany's H.

In September 1922 the Storm Troops had our first propaganda outing ..... Hitler rode in front, as usual in his old trench coat and black velours hat. In fact I don't suppose he had any other. Not that he could have worn another if he had owned it. For years he clung to that old hat.

pp. 149/150, Heinz, Germany's H.

Drexler on Hitler:

"We used to meet, he and I, three and four times at least, every week, and we'd sit up yo one o'clock in the morning working out our plans and ideas. Hitler would have come even oftener, but I lived some way out of the city ... and he couldn't always afford the tram fare. We'd get to work the moment he'd turn up, and grind right on until my wife called us to table for supper....My little girl used to climb on Hitler's knee; she knew as she was always welcome, and as he'd share all he'd got with her. He was "Uncle Hitler" to her - she was only three then-....

p. 160, Heinz, Germany's H.

Joseph Berchtold, editor of the Voelkischer Beobachter:

"HItler had his own method of attaching each and man to himself. He would appear unannounced in our quarters, here in these offices in the Schellingstrasse, on a drill night, and after a word or two with me, he would address the men in the most comradely way possible. Then he'd inspect the Company, but not so much like an officer as like a friend. He would shake each man's hand, and look him squarely in the eys [sic]. It was this glance, more than anything which made every trooper Hitler's man to the death. p.173, Heinz, Germany's H.

[Page 17]

Drexler:

"They incarcerated Hitler ... to await trial in the fortress at Landsberg, and I made a point of going to see him there at the earliest opportunity. I found him sitting like a frozen thing at the barred window of his cell. He seemed done, almost broken up over the deaths of those sixteen of our men on the Odeonsplatz. Everything seemed all to have been in vain ...... i discovered he'd started a hunger-strike right from the first. Every time I went it was still going on. He'd got thinner and thinner and weaker and whiter, every time. Over a fortnight he carried on this hunger strike until it was hard to recognize him. The Medical Officer told me....if no one could persuade him to take a drop or a mouthful anyhow he'd soon be past saving ..... I determined to do my utmost to make him call it off ..... I begged and prayed of him ..... But I couldn't make any impression .... He was utterly in despair....at last I said .... without Hitler and his movement Germany was doomed. ...That seemed to rouse him .... Anyway I won him round somehow.

Finally he broke his fast and reconsidered things. He picked up when he got some solid food inside him and his old spirit reasserted itself. In fact three months afterwards he was brought back to Munich to stand his trial ..... Hitler was so full of force and resolution as ever....

pp. 189/190, Heinz, Germany's H.

Oberwachtsmeister [unreadable] about H. in Landsberg. (identical in most details to [unreadable)

" .... Prisoners had to fetch their own parcels from the parcel room ana all had to be opened and unpacked in my presence ..... Kriebel .... had a way of wrenchlng off the wrappings.... Weber... would undo every... knot ....

Now Hitler, again he did differently. It depended whether the parcel came from a known or unknown source. In the one case it might have contained sausage, and in the other, an infernal machine. Hitler'd look them over very carefully himself before he cut the string. With the other sort he just took the line of least resistance. If there were a lot of knots he'd cut the string without more ado; if there were few he'd undo them.'"

p. 200/201. Heinz, Germany's H.

Shortly before twelve o'clock...dinner in the common room,.....Consisted of but one dish. Everyone waited for Hitler, each standing erect behind his own chair. When the Leader appeared there was a cry of 'tenshun!' and he strode to the top of the table, and remained standing, until every man in turn came forward with his table-greeting. Then all sat down .....there was seldom any talk of politics...Hitler himself chatted with his right and left-hand neighbors about .... the

[Page 17]

Landsberg

Shortly before twelve o'clock...dinner in the common room,.....Consisted of but one dish. Everyone waited for Hitler, each standing erect behind his own chair. When the Leader appeared there was a cry of 'tenshun!' and he strode to the top of the table, and remained standing, until every man in turn came forward with his table-greeting. Then all sat down .....there was seldom any talk of politics...Hitler himself chatted with his right and left-hand neighbors about such things as the theatre, or art, or even technical matters....

pp. 221/202, Heinz, Germany's H.

He was quite an adept in mechanics, especially motor mechanics. He was always getting plans and specificatlons from motor works, new designs for the chassis, and sketched out a few himself. (It is well known, of course, that he invented two jolly useful motor gadgets, and patented them. One was for a rearward reflector which would allow the car to travel backwardss with facility; and the other was an adjustable lamp at the driving seat for reading route maps, etc. He made use of both these contrivances later when touring the country at night on his political campaigns.).

p. 202, Heinz, Germany's H.

At the end of the meal Hitler would give the signal 'Mahlzeit" answered by the rest, and then all would sit about ...... Perhaps somebody would make a little present of some fruit - always gratefully accepted by Hitler.

p 202, Heinz, Germany's H.

Hitler's fine personality, in which no trace of personal vanity was to be detected, made an impression on all around him. He had a remarkable love of order and neatness. He possessed an unquenchable spring of energy within, which, despite his accustomed urbanity, flashed in his eyes whenever a decision had to be made. ... Hitler's over-ruling influence and his sense of soldierly discipline...

The uniform politeness with which he treated everyone here... from the Governor to the man who cleaned his cell, excited universal appreciation. He knew, too, what sort of a job we warders had, and understood it..his word simply went with our Politicals ....

p. 211, Heinz, Germany's H.

[Page 18]

Landsberg

He was entirely unassuming, and he had few personal requirements. He took a real pleasure on all those things people contrived to do to show their loyalty and sympathy. He gave away the contents of parcels sent to him.... He bore himself in just that comradely way ... which takes no account of difference in position and upbringing.... As a rule, he was singularly cheerful and did his best to make evenings in the common room go with a swing. He even got Hess to make out a list of ...... birthdays, so that whenever one of these came round, the individual in question would be invited to coffee with him in his room, and they'd sit and talk and Hitler'd dish up some little present or other."

p. 212, Heinz, Germany's H.

Landsburg

Stormy weather ... made a difference ... when it poured and howled outside, .... Hitler grew a trifle thoughtful and anxious. So did he, too, when bad news came. It knocked him pretty hard to realize how things had gone to bits in the Party since his imprisonment... At first he tried ... to keep things going.... but....he gave up the vain attempt and withdrew himself altogether from politics ....

pp. 212/213, Heinz, Germany's H.

Landsberg

I .... can affirm without the least hesitation that he was an exceptionally truthful man. He never lied or prevaricated in any way. He'd even avoid the least dubiousness in what he said .......

p. 223, Heinz. Germany's H.

From 1919 - 1929 Hitler lived in No. 41, Thierschstrasse, in Munich:

A Herr Erlanger is the landlord.... He observes:

"I hadn't much to do with him myself, since ... his room was a sub-let. And since I am a Jew, I concerned myself as little as possible with the activities of my lodger.... I admit I liked Hitler well enough. I often encountered him on the stairway and at the door - he was generally scribbling something in a noteboo.- when he would pass the time of day with me pleasantly enough.

Often he had his dog with him, a lovely Wolfshund. He never made me feel he regarded me differently from other people....

p, 276, Heinz, Germany's H.

[Page 19]

Herr Erlanger:"He lodged in my house from ....1919 to 1929. First he took a little back room, and then an equally small one in the front to serve as a sort of office and study. The back room, in which he slept is only 8 by 15 feet. It is the coldest room in the house .... Some lodgers who've rented it since got ill. Now we only use it as a lumber room....

The only 'comfort' Hitler treated himself to when he was here, was a hand basin with cold water laid on. The room to the front was a bit bigger, but the small high-set window left much to be desired. It was very scantily furnished."

pp. 276/277, Heinz, Germany's H.

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