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Hitler’s Table Talk

 Hitler’s Table Talk is amongst the many crucial books and documents of history that are very relevant in understanding the account of the past. The contents of this book are essential personal soundtracks of Hitler who was undeniably very authoritative and had irrefutable influence in the western world between 1941 and 1944. Hitler’s Table Talk also contains informal conversations of Hitler even during the meals or tea and the official conversations that he had with his top officials in Berlin. This book provides very important information about the leadership styles, characters, behaviours and opinions of Hitler. This article sums up part four of the Hitler’s table talk between 13th June and 24th June 1943 as well as giving personal opinions about Hitler and his leadership style.

Hitler talks of dangers of over centralization of cultural life, the future of technology, and the French painters. Hitler was opposed to centralization of museums for the arty masterwork for military trophies and weapons as a representation of the scientific brilliance. He instead supported judicious decentralization of the museums where the initiator would not claim consistency with the late Fuhrer. He supports the existence of the Deutsches Museum in Munich with twenty three kilometres of exhibits instead of bringing it to Berlin. Hitler devoted a section of military museum he found in Linz for fortified science so that the young people could be attracted to the works of fortification (Cameron & Stevens 702-705).

Hitler believed that technical science was crucial for development and that because it took time before human energy was developed into animal energy, motorization would also take time before achieving excellence. Hitler did not like the French paints because he did not understand them. He further admitted that the French paints were just the same as even the German paints were also complicated. He said that although the German artists initially started well by painting pictures of great merits, they were further taken away by pride thus making them to do extra ordinary works that resulted into unpleasant paint which the Germans. He believed that the German artists followed the evil styles of Jews painters.

He believed that Italian painters were the greatest in between 14th century to the 17th century but relaxed in the 18th century thus deteriorating their work. He thought that it was the law of averages that might have made the Italian art degenerate. However he said that the French and German artists were very excellent in 19th century but later deteriorated. Hitler believed in perfection and he proposed an excellent opera house that was better than any other opera house ever built. He compared the 19th century Munich with the Berlin of Fredrick the Great’s days which he said could not develop because of insufficient funds. He described the houses built in Munich as shoddy but asserts that The palace of justice in Munich was the most beautiful building in Munich. He loved artistic work so much that he said that defending artistic and the heritage of a nation was an issue that would plunge a true citizen into war (Cameron & Stevens 702-705).

He also defended the actions of Metternich and Bismarck by describing them as great patriots. He said that their actions were the best remedies for the circumstances that prevailed. Both Bismarck and Metternich did not wait for parliament approval or solutions. On 15th June, Hitler talked about several issues including intellectual and artistic poverty, bric-a-brac and chromium plate, Teutonic nostalgia and the fact that only decadent art was harmful. Hitler felt that economic and industrialization growth corresponded with the period of creative uncertainty and poverty. It was also associated with urban migration that was not attracted by the artistic work. He described permanent depravity as something that would instil permanent injury. He said that Germans were romantics because they constantly appreciated nature compared to other regions (Cameron & Stevens 705-708).

On 17th June, Hitler talked of the fact that experts’ opinions on the various ages in history have been contributed by the fear of the unknown. He said that the inability of facing reality was as a result of fear of unknown engrained in them. On 19th evening he talked about big battleships and the infantry of the seas. He recognised the fact that he left to build the most powerful squadron of battleships in the world because he could have been forced to use it. He asserts that it could have been a very bad idea. He thought it wise and timely to have the infantry of the sea which he said was relevant in the current warfare. He cited example of Japan that were unable to use their powerful battleships because of irrelevancy (Cameron & Stevens 707-708).

On 24th June, he appreciated the Berlin workforce due to their tremendous job such as construction of Reich Chancellery. He further commended Vienna as the imperial city that was the centre of attraction for the whole world thus offering wonderful scope and opportunity to artists. He attributed German’s success in music is due to the race’s geniuses. He felt anxious to create cultural centre in Austria so that he could do away with cultural monopoly in Vienna. He argued that cultural monopoly in Vienna would bring serious political consequences which were intolerable. He admitted that he loved the Germans equally and therefore the fact that Berlin was to remain a capital city was not based on any sentimental preference. He claimed that the Germans made heavy sacrifices for their countries was their duty and therefore should not cause tears (Cameron & Stevens 709-712).

Hitler was very patriotic man who despite fighting for his country, he believed that German was very unique in different ways. He supported wars engaged in by Bismarck by saying that he was driven by patriotism. Hitler called the Germans his brothers and urged them not to fight over internal issues such as development and awarding of capital cities. He seemed racist especially when he said that the German race comprised of genius people who could do tremendous things especially in arts. Hitler was so much concerned with the German culture and heritage. From the table talk, it can be concluded that Hitler was aesthetic mania.

He talked about most of the architectural works such as buildings by even comparing different cities structural appearance. He had interest in drawings and paintings. He even understood the trend of painting in different countries such as France and Italy. Throughout the section of the book, Hitler seem intelligent and wise especially considering the way he interpreted issues and analysed different things such as towns and artistic work. Hitler seamed critical and undemocratic especially on his support for Metternich and Bismarck actions. He did not care about the public negative opinions and involvement in war without seeking the parliamentary approval.

Works Cited

Cameron, Norman, Stevens, R. H. Hitler’s Table Talk, 1941-1944: His Private Conversations. New York: Enigma Books, 2000. Print.