Gareth Jones

[bas relief by Oleh Lesiuk]

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Gareth's Diary Germany 1933

Gareth's Coverage of the Frankfurt Nazi Rally

On 23rd February 1933 after Hitler became Chancellor,

Below are five page of Gareth's dairy notes from attending a Nazi Rally of 25,000 hysterical supporters,  whilst sitting just a few feet from Hitler on the stage. Gareth's writes 2 newspaper articles


  1. Gareth  Flies with Hitler:

    Gareth describes Hitler as a middle-class grocer and Goebbels as a South Wales Miner:

    1. For Gareth's Diary Notes  CLICK HERE

    2. For Gareth's corresponding published newspaper article; entitled 'With Hitler Across Germany' (WHERE HE CHANGES THE  Click Here

  2. Gareth Attends a Nazi Rally at Frankfurt in Hitler's Entourage

    Here,  he describes Hitler's oratory with Lloyd George and the pandemonium & hysteria of  a 25,000 crowd

    1. For Gareth's Diary Notes SEE IMAGES BELOW

    2. For Corresponding Newspaper articles:

      1. For "Beginning of German Fascism" CLICK HERE

      2. For "Primitive Worship Of Hitler" CLICK HERE

  3. Gareth Private Interview at dinner with Goebbels after the Frankfurt rally

    Here, four days before the burning of the Reichstag, Gareth is informed that the Nazis will never give up power: (but, was is purely coincidental?)

    1. For Gareth's Diary Notes CLICK HERE

[For academic completeness (of all images of this diary), then  CLICK HERE  for untranscribed, preceding pages of the dairy]


For a full list of Gareth's German articles documenting the rise of Fascism articles between 1933 & 1934; including his incredulity at Hitler's anti-Semitic policies & his incisive take on the 'Night of the long Knives, the please  CLICK HERE


Gareth's Coverage of the Frankfurt Nazi Rally


 

.

[At Hotel before Nazi Rally]

Bodyguard marching outside the hotel.

Police surrounded.

Hitler chauffeur cried when Hanf. [Hanfstaengl] played Nazi Fu?? march [probably a musical score perhaps played on hotel room piano].

Hall has been full since 12 [For 8 hours].

???llian now that reality is here. Adventure is over. Engagement before; now wedding. [the First time that Hitler had spoken in Frankfurt, since his election.]

25,000 [in hall]


 

 

[TRANSCRIPT OF ALL DIARY PAGES ABOVE FROM NAZI RALLY AT FRANKFURT - 23/2/1933]

 

Bodyguard marching outside the hotel.

Police surrounded.

Hitler chauffeur cried when Hanf. [Hanfstaengl] played Nazi funeral? march [probably a musical score perhaps played on hotel room piano].

Hall has been full since 12 [For 8 hours].

Da???ithian now that reality is here. Adventure is over. Engagement before; now wedding. [the First time that Hitler had spoken in Frankfurt, since his election.]

25,000 [in hall]

 

[PAGE 2]

 

Meeting

Sat in car. Crowd outside in tumult– police gesperrt [spaced out]

Then the Fuhrer came out in a brown uniform.

Whistled full speed ahead – first Hitler’s car, then two open cars with bodyguard (black & silver); then our car. Rapidly through streets. Shouts; ‘Heil Hitler’.

Vast hall; we rush in - Swastikas outside illuminated - through crowds up the stairs to ante-chamber; photographs; Hitler there – now a different man

 

[PAGE 3]

…firm glare – determination, greets all. All around are in uniform.

From the hall gedampfle??? [Some Nazi song] bounds; shouting; one imagining what a crowd there must be there.

Hanfstengl, Delmer & I go inside. Never seen such a crowd.

Hundreds & hundreds of flags – red – red – tumultuous.

The storm troops are marching in with their banners. Shouts.

Then ‘Steel Helmets’ with old imperial banners; regimental banners. Every inch packed.

Nazi band underneath. Very high. Twice the size of Eisteddfod pavilion [traditional Welsh festival].

Notices.

Masses of young people waving little flags.

On the platform high up – black& silver bodyguards.

Then HITLER outstretches hands.

Pandemonium - five to ten minutes.

 

[PAGE 4]

 

HYSTERIA

I stand just a couple of feet away. Hitler flabbily waves his hand.

Young school girls shout – fair-haired.

On each side I have one of Hitler’s bodyguards.

Hitler begins – calm, deep voice – gets louder and louder, higher and higher.

Tremendous applause.

He gets excited.

His points are cleverer than I imagined

Something/sometimes[?]  Shrivels & then expands.

Completely false picture of past 14 years.

Complete lack of knowledge of the effect of world conditions. The old system is to blame for everything.

Imagine the enthusiasm of an Eisteddfod:

 

Add

+ National Passion

+ 14 Years defeat

+ Humiliation

+ Wants of Middle Classes

+ Inflation

+ War Guilt [Clause - i.e. Reparations]

 

Imagine LG [Lloyd George]:

  • without wit

  • without intellectual play [PAGE 5]

  • without gift of colour

  • without literary or biblical allusions

  • without the smile

  • without the twinkling eyes

  • without the hush & sudden drop of voice

 

But with the Fuehrer:

  • with more shouting

  • with more continued emotion

  • with more demagogy – less light & shade.

 

On the table 6 small pieces of paper with rough notes in pencil [next page], a silver watch; he rarely looks at the notes.

Folds arms, trembles.

Points out – right hand; tremblingly.

Less variation of gesture.

L.G [Lloyd George] is more of an artist (Mixture e.g. Macbeth – ‘Knocking at Hell's gate') [Shakespearean comic relief, Porter scene.]

Hitler – melodrama (Schiller [Robbers])

L.G. plays the whole scale of a Beethoven symphony

Hitler – Military march (Wagner)

However, irony; but not subtle

 

Transcription & Scans © 2008-09 Nigel Linsan Colley. All Rights Reserved.


Original Research, Content & Site Design by Nigel Linsan Colley. Copyright © 2001-09. All Rights Reserved Original document transcriptions by M.S. Colley.Click here for Legal Notices.  For all further details email:  Nigel Colley or Tel: +44 - 774  - 221- 9617