Hitler's Propaganda Pilgrimage

Bob Carruthers

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781473833500
• eBook ISBN: 9781473857551
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

The famous image of Hitler in Paris has become one of the most iconic images of the Second World War. However, Hitler only spent a few hours in Paris before heading to Flanders to re-visit the sites of the battlefields where he had served during the Great War. He was on a propaganda mission to publicize his own war service and a full photographic record of Hitler's visits to France and Flanders was produced by Heinrich Hoffman, Hitler's personal photographer. Those photographs from 1940 have now been collected together for the first time and are reproduced here along with all of the most important surviving images of Hitler in the Great War.Featuring rare and previously unpublished images of Hitler in France and Flanders from 1914 to 1940, this important photographic study documents a vital but often overlooked chapter in the story of Adolf Hitler.

Chapter One

The Return to Flanders

The controversy surrounding Hitler’s two visits to the Great War battlefields of northern France and Flanders has endured for over 70 years. The first visit took place on 1 June 1940, at the time of his visit the battle for France was continuing and the British were still fighting on the perimeter at Dunkirk only 40 miles away. Hitler, as supreme commander, made a routine visit to the Headquarters of von Richenau’s 6^th Army at Wevelgem, but the staff officers struggling with the logistics of the ongoing battle for Dunkirk must have been surprised to be required to suddenly make arrangements for the Führer to drive in a great loop through what was still a warzone. The sole purpose of the trip was to allow Hitler to visit some obscure towns and villages which no longer had strategic value in June 1940. The 1 June visit was unexpected and unnecessary, the circular trip was a frustrating diversion at a time when there were much more pressing calls on Hitler who, as supreme commander, was much in demand elsewhere especially with an undefeated French army still in the field.

The reason for Hitler’s diversionary journey was obvious to any German soldier. The itinerary included Menen, Gheluvelt, Ypres, Langemark, Poperinge, Kemel and Wervick. These seemingly unimportant places were actually the sites of the battles of the Great War. This was where the ageing warriors of the frontgemeinschaft (the informal brotherhood of the trenches) had served from 1914-18. These towns and villages were the former locations of the front line trenches which had formed the Ypres salient.

Amazingly Hitler took with him Germany’s most senior commanders. By 1 June 1940 it was apparent that the BEF was a beaten force and the withdrawal from Dunkirk was already underway. At a crucial time, with a strong French army still in the field, Generals Wilhelm Keitel and Alfred Jodl were required to join Hitler on what was little more than a glorified trip down memory lane. The RAF and the French Air Force were still operational and during his visit Hitler’s party travelled in armoured Mercedes six-wheel staff cars which were guarded by SS men mounting MG 34 machine guns. They were also escorted by a mobile Luftwaffe air defence detachment mounting a 2cm flak cannon in case of air attack.

Although he cultivated the impression that he had been ever present in the trenches, Hitler knew the uncomfortable truth behind the myths surrounding his service in the Great War.

On the morning of 10 May 1940. Assault infantry gather before the attack.

Across the border. Tank obstacles could not s...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Chapter One The Return to Flanders
• Chapter Two The 1 June Visit to Flanders
• Chapter Three Hitler in the Great War
• Chapter Four The Controversy
• Chapter Five Facts and Lies About Hitler
• Chapter Six Hitler in Paris
• Chapter Seven Hitler and Napoleon
• Chapter Eight Hitler’s Return to Flanders – 26 June 1940
• Chapter Nine In Conclusion