00010412.GIF  Page 58

Dodd, Martha, Through Embassy Eyes

Hanfstaengl had been calling up and wanting to arrange for 
me to meet Hitler. Hanfstaengl spluttered and ranted grandiosely: 
"Hitler needs a woman. Hitler should have an American woman -- a 
lovely woman could change the whole destiny of Europe. 
Martha you are the woman.                                                          
p. 63

..We went to the Kaiserhof and met the young Polish singer 
Jan Kiepura. The three of us sat talking and drinking tea for 
a time. Hitler came in with several men, bodyguards and his 
well-loved chauffeur (who was given almost a state funeral 
when he died recently.) He sat down unostentatiously at the 
table next to us. After a few minutes Jan Kiepura was taken 
over to Hitler to talk music to him, and then Putzi left me for 
a moment, leaned over the Leader's ear, and returned in a great 
state of nervous agitation. He had consented to be introduced 
to me. I went over and remained standing as he stood up and 
took my hand. He kissed it very politely and murmured a few 
words. I knew very little German, as I have indicated at the 
time, so I didn't linger long. I shook hands again and he kissed 
my hand again, and I went back to the adjoining table with Putzi 
and stayed for some time listening to the conversation of the 
two music-Iovers and receiving curious, embarrassed stares 
from time to time from the Leader.

 The first glance left me with a picture of s weak, soft face, 
with pouches under the eyes, full lips and very little bony 
facial structure. The moustache didn't seem as ridiculous 
as it appeared in pictures - in fact, I scarcely noticed it; 
but I imagine that is because I was pretty well conditioned 
to such things by that time. As has often been said, Hitler's 
eyes were startling and unforgetable - they seemed pale blue 
in color, were intense, unwavering, hypnotic.

Certainly the eyes were his only distinctive feature. They 
could contain fury and fanaticism and cruelty; they could be 
mystic and tearful and challenging. This particular afternoon 
he was excessive, informal, he had a certain quiet charm, 
almost a tenderness of speech and glance. He talked soberly 
to Kiepura and seemed very interested and absorbed in meeting 
both of us. The curious embarrassment he showed in meeting me, 
his somewhat apologetic, nervous manner, my father tells me 
and other diplomats as well- are always present when he meets 
the diplomatic corps en masse ..... He seemed modest, middle 
class, rather dull and self-conscious--yet with this strange 
tenderness and, appealing helplessness.                                        
p. 64-65

At Olympic Games:

    However, if a German would win, his enthusiasm and good 
humor were boundless and he would spring to his feet with 
wild and childish joy. In him, in his face and bearing, there 
was not the slightest indication that he knew what good 
sportsmanship meant, or had any appreciation or understanding 
of sport for its own sake ....
p. 211-212


00010413.GIF  Page 59

...My mother several times sat very near to him and observed 
that in social gatherings he was either glum and wordless or 
quite charming and informal. On various occasions he was more 
than cordial to young movie stars who hovered around him. A 
friend of mine, a rather sensational, sport-loving feminist, 
had an informal lunch with him in Munich. She said that he 
talked quite like a normal man for the first third of the lunch, 
then suddenly got off in a frenzy on a pet subject of his, and 
continued in a long and impassioned monologue, scarcely 
touching his meager vegetable fare but giving his guests an 
opportunity to eat their food leisurely ..... .
p. 211

00010414.GIF  Page 60

..It is idle pastime to try to distinguish between the true 
and false legends about Hitler's private life. He loved his 
mother, hated his father, had no connection at all with his 
brothers and sisters--his half-sister, about whom Hitler 
never speaks, was found as a cook in a Jewish Household. 
A woman cousin killed herself in his apartment. .... strangely 
enough there has been no proof that Hitler has ever slept 
with a woman ....
..In diplomatic circles, in salon gossip, there was complete 
bafflement about Hitler's private life. Names fly back and 
forth, of both men and women, but the association with 
his name lasts only a few days or weeks.                                            
p. 214

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