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Adolph Hitler


1922

 

 

 

We look back at the life and deeds of Adolph Hitler, and rightly see him as a monster of major proportions.

 

But what was it like meeting Hitler for the first time, and trying to peer ahead to what the future might have in store...for Germany, Europe and the world?

 

The FirstMention of Herr Hitler in the English-speaking world is this November 13, 1922 article from the Bridgeport Telegram in Connecticut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany must pay her debts!?  Hate abolished!?  The article even describes Hitler's desire for peaceful reconciliation with France.

 

Not exactly the image of Hitler we've come to expect. 

 

The headlines are a bit misleading, though, as some of Hitler's vitriol seeps through in the text itself.  The article, which is not the clearest image, can seen in its entirety with just a click

 

But the description of Hitler himself bears excerpting here:

 

 

Active Worker

Aged 34, medium tall, wiry, slender, dark hair, cropped tooth-brush mustache, eyes that spurt fire when in action, straight Grecian nose, finely chiselled features with complexion so remarkably delicate that many a woman would be proud to possess it -- withal a bearing that creates an impression of dynamic energy well under control.  Four years in the trenches of war, then back to the carpenter's trade and then "baumeister" or master builder.

That is Hitler, who aspires to become Germany's Mussollini. He is one of the most interesting characters I have met in many months.

With Apostolic fervor and gifted with convincing oratory and a magnetism which is drawing to him followers even out of the inner Communistic and Socialistic circles, Hitler has the earmarks of a leader whether it be merely a band or a great movement, only the future will reveal.

He believes firmly that his mission is to arouse and save Germany from its internal foes. he has rallied around himself perhaps 200,000 followers, of whom 20,000 are said to be well armed and organized. 

 

 

I truly don't know what more to say.

 

 

 

Here are some important links for learning more about the history and origins of Adolph Hitler and Nazism.

 

Wikipedia entry of Hitler 

Time Magazine -- The Time 100 Essay on Hitler

Jewish Virtual Library source materials by and about Hitler

Columbia Encyclopedia (Bartleby) entry on Hitler

Encyclopaedia Britannica entry on Hitler

 

 

And when you're done exploring history, you might find an interesting resource or two here...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Know of an earlier FirstMention?  Contact us at david@firstmention.com