Description:

ADOLF HITLER PREPARES TO MEET WITH HERBERT HOOVER
An important grouping of twelve letters, documents and press clippings documenting Nazi preparations for the visit of ex-president Herbert Hoover with Nazi Chancellor Adolf Hitler. A retained copy of the March 2, 1938 letter by State Secretary OTTO MEISSNER to Hitler's adjutant, Obergruppenfuhrer-SS Wilhelm Bruckner mentions Hoover's upcoming visit and suggests the Hitler and the ex-president meet at Hitler's personal residence. On March 4, VICCO VON BULOW-SCHWANTE (1891-1970), Chief of Protocol and later Ambassador to Belgium, sends a signed letter from the Foreign Ministry back to Meissner advising the Hoover will be picked up at the Adlon Hotel and brought to the 'Reich's Chancellor's House'. He asks that a car be provided and its license plate number disclosed. Arrival time will be 11:40 AM on the 8th. There is a retained copy of a letter sent by Otto Meissner to NSKK Brigadefuhrer and Adjutant FRITZ WIEDEMANN advising that he, Meissner, will also attend the meeting and asks that Wiedemann meet him there. He adds: 'I shall then, in company with you, welcome Hoover, from whom I received an invitation to the White House in 1929, and whom I therefore know personally...On Monday, I shall submit to the Fuhrer a note to use during the reception...' There follows an initialed retained copy of a March 7 memo by WERNER KIEWITZ (1891-1965), German diplomat later punished with assignment to the murderous Dirlewanger Brigade. Kiewitz sets forth details on the car and driver to be used to bring Hoover to the meeting. Of great interest are two sets of (one signed), prepared for use by Hitler and Meissner by one 'Freytag Legation Counsellor (Research)' In the first, Freytag describes Hoover's European travels before arriving in Germany, and plans following the visit. He mentions the ex-president's 'Quaker family with origins in the Rhineland Palatinate' and his service in the government. He continues: '...The external political relations of Germany with the United States are unsatisfactory...[and have] become more difficult in recent years. The stance of the United States on foreign policy is determined chiefly by American public opinion...Several factors have influenced this public opinion against Germany...Germany...seems to be proceeding in closer concert than before with the 'aggressor' nations, Italy...and Japan...The Americans fear that these 'aggressor' nations will continue further along that course...peace of the world could be under permanent threat...isolationists - want under all circumstances to remain aloof from all world affairs...activists - at the head of which are President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Hull, believe that isolationism is utopian, and therefore...a position must be taken up...more clear-cut accentuation of ideological factors, (on this side, democracy - on that, the totalitarian state; here, so-called freedom - there, so-called despotism; here, allegedly Christendom - there allegedly new paganism, and so on)...Commercial relations with the United States are likewise unsatisfactory...All efforts by Germany to reach a trade agreement...have so far foundered...Subject of conversation: Some friendly remarks about Wilson, the new American ambassador...His evaluation of President Roosevelt's 'new deal...Intensification of social conflicts...radical trend of the trade unions...Policy of the USA towards East Asia...' In his second submission, Freytag elaborates on suggested talking points. He again mentions FDR's New Deal, stating: 'Heavy industry and banks, in particular, criticize the heavy public expenditure...and claim that the American economic depression has been overcome purely as a consequence of global economic conditions...Since Hoover is a political opponent of Roosevelt, it seems likely he will criticize Roosevelt's planned economy...' Freytag mentions the AFL and the CIO, and continues: '...American public opinion accuses Germany of interfering in internal American affairs...intervention in...political struggles by...the German National Association of America...We have no contacts with such organizations...' Also included are typed drafts of two press releases briefly announcing Hoover's visit, one heavily edited in Meissner's hand, and a longer, untranslated newspaper article on Hoover's visit. With a few other supporting documents. A few marginal file holes and dockets, else very good. Largely translated. Five years after his presidency, Herbert Hoover toured Europe, mostly to pick up awards for his humanitarian effort to feed the war-ravaged continent in the 1920s. In Berlin, Hoover had a 40-minute chat with Hitler at the Reich Chancellery in March 1938, then dined with Nazi minister Hermann Goring at his hunting lodge. In his conversation with Hitler, Hoover spoke up for personal liberty. The Fuhrer replied that Germany, unlike resource-rich America, could not afford such liberties. Back home, Hoover denounced the Nazis' 'disregard for both life and justice', but he argued the United States should stay out of European conflicts with Germany. He thought Hitler posed a bigger threat to Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union than the West.

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August 24, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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