1: Stalking Hitler

Seriously, people. This is the front line, and it's a new Dutch line. The Spartan is a symbol of the new myself, and Dutch line, see you! Monday. The Führer makes one of the most wonderful speeches I have ever heard. Very moving. He is sweet. Unity Mithford, one of the most notorious women in British history, a high society debutante, who befriended Adolf Hitler as the threat of war loomed across Europe. The Führer comes about three. He is in a wonderful mood. He was heavily in his best mood and very gay. So excited because the Führer is coming. One's feelings for the Führer can never be explained. Kissed my hand five times today. Führer is so sweet the whole evening. He is an angel. So how did she become infatuated with the Führer? What did he see in this tall and slightly awkward 20-year-old from the English home counties? Was there a relationship intimate? Some believe they had a child. Most think that unity was just a reckless and frivolous socialite. A girl out to shock. Attracted to the dark spectacle of Nazism. Thursday. Stick Führer pictures in scrapbook. Twenty minutes behind on translating mind-camp. Must make it up tomorrow. Saturday. Austria about 145. I'm Sandra Parsons. I'm the literary editor at the Daily Mail. And over the last eight months we've been working on a top secret project. Publishing Unity Myth for Diary for the very first time. We received the diary from an anonymous source a year ago. And have had it authenticated by a leading forensic services company. Now in a world exclusive, the mail is able to give you access to Unity's secret diary for the very first time. Listeners should be warned. Much of her language is unrelentingly and chillingly anti-Semitic. But this is also the story of a confused young woman raised in a highly eccentric family. The mitfits were part of the English-landed gentry, cousins by marriage to Winston Churchill. Unity was not the most talented nor the prettiest of the famous mitford sisters. But she found a way to get noticed, no to rioty, seemingly oblivious to the dark path she was taking. And as her obsession with Hitler grew, she charted with meticulous discipline that every encounter in her leather-bound diary, covering the crucial years from 1935 to 1939, and the outbreak of war. Rarely, his Hitler received a more furbid welcome. Then was accorded him when he appeared an unexpected visitor at Saurbrcon, infusioned as him rained everywhere and reached his height as a furrowed her German scarred. As 1935 begins, Unity mitford has just one thing on her mind. She wants to meet Hitler. "When you are to see that we are this mere, we are true fragile." Since the first time she had seen him two years before at a Nuremberg rally attended by 400,000 Nazis, she has been enraptured. She forms a plan. She moves to Munich, learns German, and then, quite literally, she stalks him. Learning that he likes to frequent a small restaurant in Munich called the Astaria Bavaria, she befriends a number of handsome SS officers and waits for Hitler to turn up. Jan 19th, Saturday, lunch, Austria, the Fuhrer comes, sit at a little table where we can see him, the Fuhrer nods and smiles to me on the way out. Harry fetches me nine and we go to a room in a pension over Café Le Weepold, bed about 230 am, furious with Harry. Harry is one of two SS officers competing for her affection and unity is perhaps using them to help maneuver herself closer to Hitler. Why is she furious? We don't know, but it's probable that she and Harry were having intimate relations. This one night, Trist, is the first of many indications in the diary that she had an active love life. Monday, Eric fetches me at 10pm. We have a long talk, mostly about Harry and Café Pracing Palais. Thursday, letter from Harry. Eric rings up and asks me to go out with him. Eric fetches me eight. Café Le Weepold, Harry there, but we don't speak. Eric is the second SS officer in thrall to unity. On 25th January, unity talks to one of Hitler's junior-adjutants, Stadlman, and is told some shocking news about her German teacher, Ms. Baum. Stadlman rings up. Meet him at Café Harg 830. He tells me Baum has written about me to the secret police. He astonishes me by the amount he knows about me. Ms. Baum, a fanatical Nazi, is thought to have denounced unity as a spy. And she wasn't the only one having suspicions about the British socialite with a fascination for Adolf Hitler. Unity is causing a bit of a stir in Munich. Friday, wash stockings, clean out rat, etc. Yes, unity has a pet rat. She often carried it around in her handbag. Hairdress at 930. Visit Brian at the Continental Hotel. Tell him he must leave Germany. Stadlman has told me to warn him and to advise him to go. Brian, a gay British poet, is one of many young Englishmen pitching up in pre-war Munich. Many of them fascinated by Nazism. Brian has been critical of fascism, and he's now on a Nazi list of undesirables. He ignores unity's warning that he should return to England. Monday. Harry fetches me 1030 in uniform. He is very passionate, but I am still determined not to see him alone again. Tuesday. Hairdresser. Meet SS Stadlman at Café Hague. We talk about Bound, Brian, etc. He tells me I am watched by the Gestapo and that he receives reports on me. Home 1215. Wednesday. Eric fetches me 8 to dance. Home 1 in a taxi. He makes love to me in the taxi. I give him photo. Monday. With Eric to pracing Palais. He tells me he has promised Harry not to go out with me again. He is very weak with Harry. I don't think he will keep his promise. Feb 6. Wednesday. Toshfarbal on ball. Eric and Harry there. Managed to make Eric dance with me. And after that, he doesn't leave me. Very drunk. Walk home with him through the snow 545 AM. Unity now has a network of lovers and friends and focuses on her main task. Catching Hitler's eye at the Osteria Bavaria. At nearly 6 foot, Unity is more than 3 inches taller than Hitler. She is also blonde, blue-eyed and utterly devoted to her hero. In fact, she is just Hitler's type. Although she doesn't know that yet. Saturday. Lunch Osteria. 230. The "Fiora" capital letters comes 315. After about 10 minutes, he sends the matrede to ask me to go to his table. I go there and sit next to him while he eats his lunch and we talk. The most wonderful day of my life. All capital letters. He writes on a postcard for me. After he goes, Rose of the waitress tells me he has never invited anyone like that before. In their first meeting, Hitler and Unity talk for about half an hour about London. Films they've seen. His favourite is Cavalcade. A film based on a no-alcoward play about the English upper classes and their servants. Sunday. Can still hardly believe in yesterday. I am so happy. Monday. I'm asked to speak to the English-speaking society on Wednesday. I say I will speak on fascism in England. Wake Mary to tell her about yesterday. She was away for the weekend skiing. She is thrilled. Start preparing speech. Tuesday. German lesson. Tell Ms. Baum about Saturday. She pretends she knew it was going to happen. Also pretends she is pleased. Wednesday. Give speech on fascism in England to about 30 members of society. Saturday. Hairdresser. Eric and I go to Urifri and Ball. Dance there till five. Lovely fun. Very drunk. Harry there, don't speak. Back to Austria, 6 a.m. Monday. Lunch, Austria. All capital letters, the Fuhrer invites us to his table. Sit and talk to him from six. 15 to 815. He talks wonderfully. Invites me to visit him in Berlin if I go and compliments me on my German. Wednesday, lunch Osteria with Mary and Bound. We attack Bound about what she did. She tries to defend herself. Saturday, hairdresser, Osteria. The Fuhrer comes. He shakes hands with us on the way out. T. at the Colton. The Fuhrer is there. He doesn't see me. From now on, Unity capitalises him and he when referring to Hitler. Three months later, her sister Jessica, nicknamed Decker, writes in a letter to their older sister Diana. Did she tell you how she saw the Fuhrer of whom she writes as him with a capital H? As for Christ or God, I love my boot. Her nickname for Unity. In spite of it all. Sunday, Osteria, too, with Mary. Quite full, lots of the SS. The Fuhrer comes about three. She shakes hands with us on the way out. He looks very happy and smiles. Lovely day. Monday, Osteria with Mary. The Fuhrer comes to thirty. Leaves about four. Colton, T. house, four thirty. Eight thirty. The Fuhrer comes. She shakes hands on his way out. Thursday, Cafe Hague with Mary. New Airman friend. Tels us the Fuhrer arrives at airport at seven. Home. With Mary to Flugplot's airport at seven thirty. No one there. Unity is constantly on the lookout for anyone who can help her discover Hitler's movements, hence the befriending of an airman. March 1st. Friday. Out 12. Munich. A sea of flags. Mary and I march with SS for two hours through the town. Saturday. Osteria with Mary. Goebbels comes. Later, the Fuhrer. Doctor Goebbels wanted to meet me. I sit next to the Fuhrer. Opposite Goebbels. Talk to them for about twenty minutes. Goebbels very gay. Laughs a lot. Joseph Goebbels' Hitler's propaganda chief is less taken by Unity. In his own diary, he calls her "charmless and narrow-eyed". Tuesday. Fetch Hay for Rat. Clean Out Rat. Eric fetches me eight fifteen. Quarrel with Eric. He says I have spoiled it all. I can't forgive him for going to the Carnival Ball without me last night and staying till six a.m. Unhappy. Wednesday. Lunch Osteria at two. Talk to waitress about Miss Baum. Her German teacher, Eva Baum, a dedicated Nazi, has now reported Unity to the SS, claiming that she's bloodthirsty, has a hysterical passion for Hitler, and is having a real affair with SS officer, Eric Fiedmann. Sunday. Diana arrives unexpectedly. Sea crowd outside Carlton. The Fuhrer is sitting there with others. I go up and shake hands and introduce Diana. We sit at other side of room. The Fuhrer goes about eight thirty and gives us a special smile and salute. Monday. Lunch Osteria with Diana. The Fuhrer comes later. Brookner comes to us at once and invites us to his table. We sit there about one and a half hours. The Fuhrer invites us to the Wagner Opera Festival at Beiruth. Brookmer, Hitler's chief-adjutant, tells a friend of Unites. We are hypnotised by Unity and Diana because they are the portrait of Germanism. Hitler thinks they're from a very good family he says, adding, "And that was enough for him." Wednesday. Pick up Stadleman and drive to Animal Shop. Buy Monkey. Go to Carlton with Monkey for tea. Stadleman, Monkey, Diana and I drive to Isatel for dinner. Back to Munich. Give Monkey back to former owner and get money back. Monday. Osteria. The Fuhrer comes. Invites us to his table about three. Diana sits next to him. I next to Diana. We sit and talk to him until 430. Very nice and gay. Sends out for record of De Elter Peter for me in return for record I got him. A few days later Unity travels to London and she and her sister Jessica known as Decker head to the HQ of the British Union of Fascists. As children Decker and Unity made up a complete language called Budle-Ditch and nicknamed each other Bud. Decker will soon become a communist but says later, "I still loved Bud for her huge glittering personality, for her rare brand of eccentricity, for a kind of loyalty to me which she preserved in spite of our very real differences of outlook." Sunday. With Diana for great meeting in the Albert Hall, leaders speak marvelously. Diana and I follow the black shirt boys marching to black house. When Unity refers to the leader, she means Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists, who is Diana's lover and future husband. Sunday. Decker and I drive to White Horse Hill, Farringdon, and wish on the eye of the White Horse. I thanked the horse for making my last wish come true. Unity's last wish was meeting Hitler. Sunday. Nancy and Decker said to my room before we go to bed and talk about Nancy's novel. I say she can't publish it. Nancy Mittford's satirical third novel, Wigs on the Green, lamppumes the rise of British Fascism. It will be published later in the year. Characters within it were heavily based on Oswald Mosley and Unity. Always fond of cruel jokes, Nancy was surprised when Diana and Unity took offense to the book's mocking tone, and it caused a rift between the sisters. On April the 20th, 1935, Unity returns to Munich just in time for Hitler's birthday. Saturday. Decker Boots Tog des Führers. All flags out. Cafe brawn to hear global speech on radio. Monday, Mav and I to Austria. Unity refers to her mother, Lady Reeddale, as Mav. The Führer had just arrived about 815. I go and say how do you do, and then go and sit with the others. He leaves about nine, and on his way out I introduce Mav. Great crowds in and outside Austria. Tuesday, Austria. At 2.30, have to move our places as the Führer is coming. He comes about three, goes about four, shakes hands with us, coming and going, bows to Mav, home. I walk to Austria to fetch umbrella. The Führer there. I sit next to the Führer. Hitler talks wonderfully. He goes after about three quarters of an hour. Wednesday, Austria. The Führer invites Mav and I to have tea with him. We change and go to Carlton tea rooms. Mav sits next to the Führer. I sit next to her. Mav goes 715. I stay on and talk to the Führer till 845. At first Mav's meeting with Hitler was very embarrassing as no one could think of anything to say, Unity later writes to Diana. After Mav left, of course all went swimmingly, I fear the whole thing was wasted on Mav. She is just the same about him as before. Having so little feeling she doesn't feel his goodness and wonderfulness radiating out like we do. She says things like, "Well, I'm sure he is very good for Germany, but." And then she enumerates the thing she disproves of. The most she will admit is that he has a very nice face. Friday. Carr takes me to the Führer's flat in Prince Rangentenplatz. We all go into the Führer's room where he is with the Mosley. Horrid wet day, but wonderful. Unity's friend Mary Woodis will later tell the biographer Price Jones. Perhaps Hitler thought Unity had a certain influence. After that a phone call would come from Brooknau to say, "Will you have tea with the Führer?" And in case it rang Bobo, Unity's nickname would sit by the telephone until about two o'clock. That became the pattern of her day, first the tension, then the anticlimax, or the frenzy of getting ready. Monday. More comb with Stardleman. He tells me that Faust thinks I am a spy. Gerhard Engel, a Hitler agent who represents the army, tells Unity's biographer Price Jones. She had a shadow on her. The Abwehr, German military intelligence. They found Unity an enigma. Did she have an assignment from the British Secret Service? Or from Winston Churchill, who was after all her relation? We thought frankly that she must be an agent. There were sound reasons for our belief. She was too thoroughly briefed about Hitler's life, and in particular his timetable. She knew. everything about his meetings, conferences, intentions, private life. For example, he'd decide to have five o'clock tea in the house they're cooked and lo and behold, five minutes before he turned up, unit he was there. Hitler would be flabbergasted. But Hitler didn't think she was a paid agent. In fact, unity stalking is so dedicated, many of those close to the Fuhrer think she's a spy. May 7th, Osteria. Waitress tells me the Fuhrer is coming. Taxi home, change. The Fuhrer comes 145. Doesn't see me on way in and asks where I am, and when he hears I am there, sends Brookner to invite me. I sit next to the Fuhrer and talk to him until 330. He invites me to Berlin. Hoffman gives me new photo of the Fuhrer which the Fuhrer writes on for me. The Fuhrer goes 330. Thursday, meet Eric at Cracing Palais about 1130, after sit in English a garden. Home 145. On the same day, Ava Brown, Hitler's girlfriend since 1933, and formerly an assistant in Heinrich Hoffman's photography shop in Munich, writes in her diary, "Her Hoffman tactlessly informs me that Hitler has found a replacement for me. She is known as the Valkyrie. Unity's middle name is Valkyrie, after the war maidens in Valkyrie's operas. And looks the part, including her legs. But these are the dimensions he prefers. If this is true though, he will soon make her loose 30 pounds through worry, unless she has a gift for growing fat in adversity." Unity then travels back to England to attend a court ball at Buckingham Palace. She's constantly shuttling back and forth. Tuesday, I lunch with Sir Horace. Talk about Hitler most of lunch. Go to Peter Jones to buy gloves for court ball at Buck Palais. Ends 1am. Ball unbelievably beautiful. Sir Horace Rumble, British ambassador to Berlin 1928-33, has warned the British government of the dangers of Nazi Germany, concluding, "I have the impression that the persons directing the policy of the Hitler government are not normal." Saturday, convert two-building young men in train about Hitler, smuggle cigarettes for Eric over German frontier by hanging them on my suspenders. Diana and Unity have traveled together to Germany by train and ferry. Monday, lovely sunny day. Diana and I go to the Regina Hotel hairdresser and both have our hair cut short and straight with fringes. Saturday, give interview to journalist about fascism. Mary and I lunch Austria, Eric and I to English-agartan, home to 15am. Monday, Mary and I to Austria about two. The furor comes about four straight from Berlin. I sit on his right. He says he is staying here eight days. I tell him I'm going to Berlin tomorrow. Ring up Diana London 745. We decide not to go to Berlin as the furor is here. Diana tells me about our mission from the leader. The so-called leader, Oswald Mosley, his mission is to appeal for money from Hitler for the British Union of Fascists. Wednesday. Diana and I at Austria about two. The furor comes about two forty-five. Immediately asks us to his table in garden. He is very sweet and gay. Says fascism must come to England. Goes about four forty-five. June 1st, Saturday, hairdresser with Diana, both have our hair put back. Monday, Diana and Mary to the furor's flat. Princeregartan plots in a taxi have lunch there, leave about two forty-five. Theor has to go to a funeral. The assassination of German diplomat Ernst von Rath in Paris by a Jewish teenager will lead to appalling reprisals against German Jewish citizens. Unity's friend, Mary Woodis, tells Price Jones. We went a lot to Hitler's flat in the Prince Regenton Strasse. It was round the corner. The curtains would be drawn. It was always dark, lovely flowers everywhere. He ordered lots of cream cakes, which had been disappointed if we left. He talked for an hour. He wanted to discuss music, education, social services. For Bobo, Unity's nickname, it was the highlight of her week. Her eyes would brighten and shine. Some of his staff were always present. I heard him say time and again, "I have no time for marriage. You see how I live. No woman could stand five minutes of this. My life I gave to Germany long ago." At this stage in her diary, Unity has yet to spend time alone with Hitler in the small hours. Those hours she spends with Eric. Friday, meet Eric in uniform onto English regarding about 1230, home to 15. Eric and I are to Austria. Stryker's representative comes. Invites Mary and me to go to Nuremberg for rally. Julius Stryker, then 50, is one of the most coarse and repulsive Nazis. Publisher of the virulently anti-Semitic newspaper, Der Sturmö. A small squat man with a shave and a head, he often boasts of his cruelties, such as making Jews lie down and eat grass. After the war, he'll be found guilty of inciting genocide and hanged. Lady Fipps, wife of the British ambassador to Germany, remembers Unity telling her that Stryker is her favourite among the senior Nazis. But Unity's friend Mary Woodis says, "Unity adored being singled out. It was some kind of insecurity. She liked Stryker because it was a surefire way of putting up the backs of all decent people." So, does Unity actually hate all Jewish people? The only one she knows, at all well, is her friend Nika Rothschild, whose ball she recently attended in London. Saturday. Arrived Nuremberg 1110. Stryker comes, sit with him and his staff. Wonderful torchlight demonstration by Hitler youth and League of German girls. Huge bonfire. Stryker calls Unity to the microphone on the spur of the moment. A German newspaper reports that she affirmed in some wonderful words her solidarity with the German people and the struggle of Julius Stryker. Afterwards, she gives the paper an interview, saying, A few days later, her sister Nancy mockingly comments on this in a letter to Unity. Darling's stony heart. Good gracious. That interview you sent us, Fantasia Fantasia. Monday. Lunch with Stryker. Trained to Munich. To dinner with Paul and Brenda Wilhutt. Paul Willert, a Guardian newspaper reporter, was at Eton with Unity's brother Tom. He recalls, "I tried to argue with Unity on an intellectual basis, but she was a stupid girl illiterate. She had mocked up everything in the Nazi paper stumer. Clearly, Unity is enjoying her notoriety, and her fascist sympathies are now causing headlines in the British press. She's also two-timing her lover Eric with the bespect called Fritz Stadlman, one of Hitler's SS Agitans. Thursday. Eric Berrycross. July 1st. Monday. Osterdea 130. The Fuhrer comes. 2-10. Says goodbye to me. Turns round three times to look at me and again in his car, sadly, without smiling. I am miserable. Home. Cry till I fall asleep." The July issue of Stryker's virulently anti-Semitic stumer newspaper carries a letter from Unity, along with a large photo of her in a black shirt. Her letter says, "Dear Sturmer, if only we had such papers in England, ordinary people in England have no idea of the Jewish danger. It is to be hoped that in England too, we shall be victorious over the world enemy in spite of his cunning. We look forward to the day on which we shall declare with full power and might, England for the English, Jews out, Hile Hitler, Unity Mittford." "P.S., please print my name in full for everyone should know that I am a Jew hater." Unity returns to England, where she is invited by Paul Willett, the guardian journalist, to stay with his family in Hailing Island Hampshire. During the weekend, Willett's father hears the sound of gunfire. He finds Unity firing at targets with a pistol. When he asks what she's doing, she replies, "I am practicing to kill Jews." She returns to Germany, determined to get even closer to her idol, Adolf Hitler, to whom she now appears to have unlimited access. Saturday, Munich, hairdresser, "I'm in a drifter's room, I'm in a drifter's room." The fearer is in a wonderful mood. Talks about Jews, Italy, Abbasinia, etc. Laughter lot. Gerhard Engel, Hitler's agitant, says the fearer saw unity, who was impossibly indiscreet, as sure she would hand onto the English, especially Churchill, whatever information he preselected. And with good reason, Unity's father was a first cousin of Churchill's wife, and the families knew each other well. Monday, car. To labour camp in Dachau, sea over living quarters, then drive to field where men work. Hot sunny day. Stay a long time. At this stage, Dachau concentration camp has Jewish, homosexual and political prisoners. The regime is brutal, but it isn't yet a death camp. A mit-ford friend in Munich recalls Unity and Diana making endless jokes about Dachau. "If somebody does anything bad," they said. "We'll send them to Dachau." In September 1935, Unity and Diana are guests of honour at the Congress of Nazi groups abroad, at Erlangan in Bavaria. Unity's father, Lord Riedstale, is furious. He writes to Diana that he and Mav are absolutely horrified, that they have accepted hospitality from people we regard as a murderous gang of pests. Unity returns to England. November 1st, Friday. Diana and I change into British Union of Fascist uniform, tram to clubbing. The leader speaks 815 to 1015. Saturday. Diana to hairdresser. I sit in car and read sex and cyclopedia. Thursday. Hulling day. The national government is going to the country. Mr. Baldwin is leading his followers face to all sides by opposing party. We desire to go on working to maintain world peace and strengthen the League of Nations. Mr. Atlet. We are the Labour Party, say, that if this is the best that can be done, then the present system must go. And another one is substandard. Diana and I stand outside polling station in uniform, yelling black shirts and giving pamphlets, cold, windy, rainy day. Tuesday. Meet Mary. We have hot chocolate fudge in self-reaches. Juherse attacks me. I buy belts. As Unity travels to France, her growing anti-Semitism becomes even more apparent. December 1. Sunday. Diana and I to dinner with Madame de Neuée, 830. Large party. Lots of Jews. Wednesday. Decker and I to Sean's Alise. Decker and I sing Nazi songs walking home. Sunday. Start thorough study of mine camp. Monday. Back in Munich. Austria. The Fuhrer comes about 2.30. Invites me at once himself to come and sit with him. Stays 2 hours in wonderful mood. Unity writes to Diana. The Fuhrer was heavenly. In his best mood and very gay. There's a choice of two soups and he tossed a coin to see which one he would have. And he was so sweet doing it. He talked a lot about Jews, which was lovely. News from Abyssinia and Egypt kept on coming through the telephone, which was rather exciting. The most amazing piece of news of all is Bound is out of the party. According to Stadlman, she was discovered to be a half-udon. Isn't it amazing? I am really sorry for her. As the party and her hate for the Jews were really all she had. Unity spends Christmas Day 1935 in Munich with Eric. A goal of catching Hitler's eye has been achieved. December 29th, Sunday, Austria. The Fuhrer sends for me. I go and sit by him. He is in a very good mood. He notices I have a cough and makes me drink a snap in a glass of mild wine. I manage to become quite drunk. New Year's Eve. It has been a wonderful year. I thank my Fuhrer. It made me feel like I was born in 1935. I was happy to have done it. Thank you, my Fuhrer. For making the year 1935 so incredible for me. As 1936 begins, Unity puts her romps and late nights with SS officers aside. In the next episode, it's as if Unity has made a New Year's resolution to be a fitting girlfriend. Perhaps even a wife for the Fuhrer. Wednesday. I sit on sofa arm in arm with the Fuhrer. He tells me about the first years of the Nazi party. Then about the 1934 night of the Long Knives. Hitler is very gay. (Music)