[Page 7]

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.

[Page 8]

"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.

[Page 9]

.... 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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