Hitler's Germany Displays Its Wealth, Strength

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Added: Wed. Aug 27, 2008 2:22pm
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In 1937, Ruth Hamilton traveled to Europe to visit family in Denmark and to embark on a fact-finding mission for her radio program in the States. Decades later, she wrote about her life-changing trip in her autobiography, "The Hamilton Saga."

GrowingBolder.com is bringing you exclusive excerpts from the book.

• In part 1, she came face-to-face with the son of a famous painter.
• In part 2, she was invited to watch him at work in his studio.
• In part 3, Ruth described her tense train ride into Nazi territory.
• In part 4, she begins to realize that the citizens of Berlin are living in terror.
  

Sunday, June 10, 1937 7:30 a.m.

Breakfast in the coffee shop. Not many Americans up yet. Had hoped to find O’Leary and thank him for the tip about the opera. I still can’t believe I was in Hitler’s opera house. So magnificent! All gorgeous red and white velvet with gilt gingerbread trimming everywhere. So elegant. People in glittering diamonds and furs around me. Ladies in gorgeous gowns and men in tails or military uniforms oozing power and might.

Germans always super in everything -- music, art and science. I felt like an ant among such elegance. My nice simple low-backed dress was OK, anyway they didn’t see me. All were watching for Hitler’s entrance to his gorgeous velvety draped box. (He didn’t get there to hear it.)



I sat entranced -- such music, such a star.  This 27-year-old Russian soprano sang like an angel.  Between acts, I watched the buzzing, heavenly thrills floating. I thought I was dreaming -- the huge chandeliers like none I had seen in kings’ palaces. La Traviata always will be my favorite. Several other of the Americans were also there. Walked back to my hotel on air and music. Ecstasy!

I keep thinking of what the artist told me -- wonder what will happen to him. Said Hitler is preparing for war.  Sure looks like it. At 10:00 I’m to be on a sightseeing bus. Good breakfast.

It is now 9:00 a.m. I’ll have time to walk down toward Brandenburg Gate where all the kings and Kaisers paraded in their heydays. Now all we see are names like Von Papen -- old Hindenburg died, he didn’t want Hitler to be Chancellor I read somewhere. What a mess WWI gave us. I remember it well back in my hometown in Iowa we burned the Kaiser in effigy on Armistice Day. Then we paraded and had a hearse with the Kaiser in it after he was hanged. How awful.

On top of the Brandenburg Gate is a chariot and four horses. Everything is so massive.

2:00 p.m. The bus trip was fantastic, filled with mostly German tourists.  I was the only American. Guess the others were sleeping after Saturday night binges. Beer drinking like it was water.

First stop was at Hitler’s Chancellery -- his government home in Berlin. A good look at three huge yellow buildings around a courtyard, barred windows and tall iron picket fence and two wide gate doors.  Looks like a prison. Everyone so silent. No questions. I wanted to ask but my German so rusty. Soldiers in brown shirts guarding the grounds -- no jackets. Funny. (Later I learned about the Brown Shirts.)

Next stop was Woolworth’s Five and Dime Store -- an American export! Took note to go back tomorrow and buy souvenirs.

Next to the Olympia Stadium for an hour.  So huge and filled with beautiful youngsters. Discus and javelins flying, runners panting -- a factory of human flesh. Gun fodder for sure. Fabulous. Martial music was playing. I sat entranced and wondering why none of this is in our news.

The Germans loved this, cheered and adored all of the activity. Our Jesse Owens was there last year (1936) at the Olympics, a great athlete. And Hitler snubbed him because he was black. I will sure rant and rave about all this when I get home. Hope Smith won’t delete my radio broadcasts. He is such an anti-FDR man. Of course FDR is my hero and Eleanor my idol.

Must read Mein Kampf again -- Hitler’s book.  Was so boring I didn’t finish it.

Passed Templehof Airport, and it's being enlarged. Also roads widened everywhere. Went by Potsdam, a suburb. Can’t remember anything but Stadium and kids. Queer emotions I have and have only been here two and a half days.

Coming Next Week: Ruth finds herself caught up in a mob outside of the Chancellery and comes within yards of Hitler himself!