00010465. GIF  Page 7

HEINZ A. HEINZ

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.

00010466.GIF  Page 8

HEINZ A. HEINZ 

"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.

00010467.GIF  Page 9

HEINZ A. HEINZ 

.... 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.

 

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