88
Berchtesgaden, the Berghof
Bavarian Alps
“IT’S NOT ENOUGH!”
Chancellor Adolf Hitler looked out over the Bavarian Alps from his vacation home, which he had recently purchased after renting it for years. The majestic view typically brought him peace, a momentary distraction from his rage. But not today.
He held in his hands copies of The New York Times, The London Times, and Le Figaro.
“These attacks from these foreign so-called journalists are merciless! They are never-ending! They are patently unfair! What have I done to deserve this, I ask you, other than try to restore pride and greatness to my country?”
“You’re quite right, mein Führer,” said Hermann Goring.
“Patently unfair,” agreed Martin Bormann.
“Is there nothing we can do?” Hitler cried, throwing the newspapers down on the veranda. “No other law we can pass?”
Five months earlier, they’d put into effect a law that placed the German press under the direct control of Joseph Goebbels.
The so-called Editor’s Law barred all “non-Aryans” from journalism, required journalists to be licensed, and forbade the publication of any information that “tends to weaken the strength of the German Reich, outwardly or inwardly.” Whether newspapers followed that directive was entirely at the discretion of Goebbels, who could pull a journalist’s license at any time.
“Unfortunately, we cannot control the foreign press,” said Goebbels. “They are free to print this rubbish.”
“Excuse me, mein Führer.” One of Hitler’s house servants stood with his hands together on the veranda. “Fr?ulein Braun was hoping you’d accompany her on a walk.”
Hitler turned his head away in disgust. “Tell Eva I’m busy. Open another bottle of champagne. That should occupy her awhile.” Then he turned back to Bormann. “What are they saying about me specifically, Martin? I can’t bear to read these articles past the headlines anymore.”
Bormann bowed his head, hands clasped behind his back. Delivering bad news to the Führer was never enjoyable. “They are digging up rumors about Geli,” he said. “They are suggesting you two had an improper relationship.”
“And?” Hitler closed in on Bormann. “That can’t be all.”
“And that you killed her because she was going to break off your relationship.”
“This again!” Hitler drilled a finger in the air. “What else, Martin?”
Bormann cleared his throat. “They claim you drew pornographic images of her. And you paid ransom to retrieve them after they were lost.”
“Do you hear this?” Hitler said to Goring. “They will resort to anything to stop me! Dredging up long-forgotten, debunked fantasies!”
Goring nodded. “It makes one wonder who is talking to these foreign reporters.”
Hitler wagged his finger at Goring. “Yes, it does. My enemies, of course. The people who spread these vicious lies in the first place.”
“They are liabilities, clearly,” said Bormann.
“Perhaps I have been too lenient.” Hitler turned again toward his view of the Alps. “Perhaps I have been far too lenient.”