Could Hitler speak English?
df
It's hard to prove a negative proposition, but in a rather thorough
book about Hitler to 1936, Ian Kershaw nowhere mentions any language
skills (other than the obvious one about his use of German before an
audience). He was talented at drawing, and even made a rough living
for a time by selling his drawings in the street, but he was an
indolent student and had none (or displayed none) of the academic
skills. And he grew up in a small town. I don't think he could have
learned any language but his native German.
All the best - Dan Ford
See "Nothing New About Death" at http://www.danford.net
and the message board at http://www.delphi.com/annals/
JSTONE9352
guess that makes sense). Could Hitler speak any English and did he need
someone to translate when he was having private meetings with Chamberlin etc.?
Marc David Miller
+speak" as we had a long discussion a few months back on this very topic. The
general consensus, which I agree with, was that he had no language skills
besides, of course, German.
Marc David Miller
New York, NY
Gord McFee
I don't remember all the places I have read it, but I have read many
times that Hitler could not understand English. One example is in
Wheeler-Bennett's _Munich: Prologue to Tragedy_, where he cites Hitler's
annoyance at not being able to follow the discussions at the Munich
Conference, which Mussolini for example could since he spoke French and
some English. Hitler used an interpreter at all of his meetings with
Chamberlain, Dr. Paul Otto Schmidt, who was fluent in German, English
and French. IIRC Schmidt said the same thing in his book _Hitler's
Interpreter_. As near as I recall, Hitler spoke no foreign languages.
--
Gord McFee
I'll write no line before its time
Donald Phillipson
> Any newsreel I have seen he is speaking German (before a German audience so I
> guess that makes sense). Could Hitler speak any English and did he need
> someone to translate when he was having private meetings with Chamberlin etc.?
Historians seem to agree Hitler spoke no foreign
languages. Except in combat in WW1 he never visited
any country outside German-speaking Austria and Germany
before gaining power in 1933. The other languages he
probably have heard in youth were Czech, Hungarian, Yiddish and
Italian -- not English or French.
--
| Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs, |
| Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734 |
E.F.Schelby
>Any newsreel I have seen he is speaking German (before a German audience so I
>guess that makes sense). Could Hitler speak any English and did he need
>someone to translate when he was having private meetings with Chamberlin etc.?
It is amusing that English speakers take it for granted that
everyone should be able to speak their language. Politically correct
persons would call this cultural imperialism. I will not. But as an
exercise one could try to reverse the situation and ask the question
as follows: could Chamberlain speak German or did he need a
translator during private meetings? As for today, monolingualism may
be a disadvantage in international relations despite the fact that
English serves a the world's lingua franca. People appreciate it
if someone at least attempts to speak their language.
Cheers,
ES
HCALTMANN
HCAl...@aol.com (Heinz Altmann)
"I have no desire to win, only to get things right." A.J.P. Taylor
Peter Reiher
>
> jston...@aol.com (JSTONE9352) wrote:
>
> >Any newsreel I have seen he is speaking German (before a German audience so I> >guess that makes sense). Could Hitler speak any English and did he need
> >someone to translate when he was having private meetings with Chamberlin etc.?
>
> It is amusing that English speakers take it for granted that
> everyone should be able to speak their language. Politically correct
> persons would call this cultural imperialism. I will not. But as an
> exercise one could try to reverse the situation and ask the question
> as follows: could Chamberlain speak German or did he need a
> translator during private meetings?
But I am quite confident that Chamberlain could speak French at
least passably. For the British, French was the foreign language
of choice, for at least two obvious reasons. First, France was just
across the channel, the closest large and powerful nation. Second,
at that time French was the language of international diplomacy,
and anyone dealing with foreign diplomats who didn't speak French was
at a big disadvantage. A man aspiring to political leadership in
Britain would be almost certain to pick up some French during his
education.
I imagine Chamberlain spoke a smattering of Classical Greek and Latin,
as well, since English public school educations of the day would have
ensured that he did. In a pinch, he could probably communicate in a
halting, half-assed way with most other well-educated Europeans of his
time in Latin. I imagine this annoyed the hell out of less
well-educated
Europeans whenever they heard their "betters" lapse into Latin.
--
Peter Reiher
rei...@cs.ucla.edu
<http://fmg-www.cs.ucla.edu/reiher>
Alan Allport
>It is amusing that English speakers take it for granted that
>everyone should be able to speak their language. Politically correct
>persons would call this cultural imperialism. I will not. But as an
>exercise one could try to reverse the situation and ask the question
>as follows: could Chamberlain speak German or did he need a
>translator during private meetings?
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, a working knowledge of French
was considered virtually essential to a career in the British diplomatic
service. (German would have been less widespread, but was certainly required
for certain technical niches eg. advanced study in science and engineering).
Elected politicians were not always held to the same standards, though. This
caused problems for those whose grasp of the language was slippery at best -
Churchill's Gallic accent was notoriously awful. Lloyd George remembered an
early meeting between the French and British War Cabinets in 1914. Earl
Kitchener, the War Minister, spoke fluent French; the other members of the
Anglophone delegation were much less able, particularly Foreign Minister Sir
Edward Grey. Afterwards LG pulled Grey aside and admitted that "yours was
the only French I could understand in there".
Alan.
--
*********************************************
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~allport/
*********************************************
Kettenhunde
documentaries that have interviewed Hitler's English interpreter. I don't
recall his name, but he is interviewed in several episodes of World at War.
JSTONE9352 wrote in message <376ffd93...@news.curie.dialix.com.au>...
Osmo Ronkanen
JSTONE9352 <jston...@aol.com> wrote:
> Could Hitler speak any English and did he need
>someone to translate when he was having private meetings with Chamberlin etc.?
>
I do not think he spoke English. I see no reason why. English was not
especially important language when he was at school. Even if he did I
would not see why he would not have used an interpreter. Using your
opponent's language is giving half way in.
Osmo
Jud Ketvirtis
one who had a common language with any of the others.
casita
>learned any language but his native German.
He had power or persuasion, but so did FDR and WSC. They were both older
than Hitler and much wiser in the ways of the world. I don't mean that as a
put down, but ready the pre-war experiences of these men, they were much
better educated and had seen more of the world.
When we look at Hitlers resume as a world leader, he comes out as an
amateur compared to those two.
John McGinley
"Kettenhunde" <byf...@att.net> wrote:
> I believe that he could not speak English. I have seen various
> documentaries that have interviewed Hitler's English interpreter. I
don't
> recall his name, but he is interviewed in several episodes of World
at War.
>
Germany after his abdication, Hitler refused to converse directly with
him in German, though Windsor spoke perfect German. (A friend of
Windsor claimed that he called it his 'Muttersprache'). Windsor had to
use English along with interpreters. Wonder why? Perhaps Hitler
trusted his English interpreter more than he trusted Windsor's German.
John
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Gord McFee
sch...@kitsune.swcp.com (E.F.Schelby) wrote:
> jston...@aol.com (JSTONE9352) wrote:
>
> >Any newsreel I have seen he is speaking German (before a German audience so I
> >guess that makes sense). Could Hitler speak any English and did he need
> >someone to translate when he was having private meetings with Chamberlin etc.?
>
> It is amusing that English speakers take it for granted that
> everyone should be able to speak their language. Politically correct
> persons would call this cultural imperialism. I will not. But as an
> exercise one could try to reverse the situation and ask the question
> as follows: could Chamberlain speak German or did he need a
> translator during private meetings? As for today, monolingualism may
> be a disadvantage in international relations despite the fact that
> English serves a the world's lingua franca. People appreciate it
> if someone at least attempts to speak their language.
That is very well put. I remember years ago, when I was in a small town
in Germany, seeing a group of tourists enter a small, definitely not
fancy restaurant and express some annoyance because the waiter could not
speak English. It seemed so petty to me since this was a small
out-of-the-way place and the expectation that everyone in the service
industry in Germany ought to be able to speak English struck me as
somewhat presumptuous.
On Chamberlain, he did not speak German and required an interpreter at
his meetings with Hitler.
Interestingly enough though, many of the leading Nazis spoke English.
Goering and Ribbentrop come to mind.
E.F.Schelby
>Reportedly when the Duke of Windsor made his controversial visit to
>Germany after his abdication, Hitler refused to converse directly with
>him in German, though Windsor spoke perfect German. (A friend of
>Windsor claimed that he called it his 'Muttersprache'). Windsor had to
>use English along with interpreters. Wonder why? Perhaps Hitler
>trusted his English interpreter more than he trusted Windsor's German.
Many educated people in Britain spoke German, and not only members
of the House of Hanover.
I will take the risk of suggesting that Hitler, a man of humble
origin, may have had some qualities like tact, a willingness to use
the right conduct, and an acquired knowledge of diplomatic decorum.
Well-off or highborn people can take such niceties for granted,
while self-made men like Napoleon, AH, and Stalin had to learn, and
fast. Of course once they were in office, professionals familiar
with protocol were available to assist.
In any case, perhaps the reason for conversing in English, even with
the help of an interpreter, may have been simple courtesy and
diplomatic decorum shown to a guest.
Only guessing,
ES
E.F.Schelby
>In <7k7aqr$3...@dgs.dgsys.com>, on 16 Jun 1999 00:56:59 -0400,
>sch...@kitsune.swcp.com (E.F.Schelby) wrote:
>> It is amusing that English speakers take it for granted that
>> everyone should be able to speak their language. Politically correct
>> persons would call this cultural imperialism. I will not. [...]
>> As for today, monolingualism may be a disadvantage in international
>> relations despite the fact that English serves a the world's lingua
>> franca. People appreciate it if someone at least attempts to speak
>> their language.
Incidentally, I saw today that 8 percent of the world's population
has English as its native language.
>That is very well put. I remember years ago, when I was in a small town
>in Germany, seeing a group of tourists enter a small, definitely not
>fancy restaurant and express some annoyance because the waiter could not
>speak English.
Thank you for the anecdote. I think we can find similar examples for
other languages, too. Some tourists behave like that regardless of
their country of origin.
>On Chamberlain, he did not speak German and required an interpreter at
>his meetings with Hitler.
>
>Interestingly enough though, many of the leading Nazis spoke English.
>Goering and Ribbentrop come to mind.
Perhaps we can enlarge on this: educated people in Europe (Goering
and von Ribbentrop belonged to that group) usually acquired fluency
in two languages, in addition to Latin, or Greek. I think this was
true for Americans, too. My husband learned two modern languages
(French and German), plus Latin, before he left high school. He then
continued in college.
Just a small detour: did you notice how many supposedly backward
Albanians speak a fairly good English when being interviewed by
western reporters? It's a pity that too few American kids learn
another tongue.
Best regards,
ES
HCALTMANN
> I think Hitler must have studied English >while in school.
No. Hitler went to basic school (Volkschule) in Austria, then not exactly a
modern country. The Volkschule did not, repeat not, teach foreign languages.
I firmly believe that all those who think he even had a smattering of knowledge
of English are speculating. I would like to see proof.
inter...@aol.com
sch...@kitsune.swcp.com (E.F.Schelby) wrote:
> Just a small detour: did you notice how many supposedly backward
> Albanians speak a fairly good English when being interviewed by
> western reporters? It's a pity that too few American kids learn
> another tongue.
>
You know that always amazes me. I deal with foreign technicians
occasionally and they can speak English well even though they don't get
any practice at home. I'm trying to think back when I learned English
in a German school and what I can remember is that it was an easy
language to learn. Not too much complicated grammar to wrestle with
and those peculiar word endings depending on case and gender don't
apply. Maybe it is the 'natural' universal language. BTW, I think
Hitler must have studied English while in school. His preference for
translators gives him a tactical advantage as it allows for time to
carefully formulate a response according to the agenda and gives him an
instant second opinion (the interpreters). Even though I speak several
languages fluently I've always found translation a chore and mentally
tiring exercise and negotiating in a foreign language would definitely
be a handicap for my language abilities.
inter...@aol.com
hcal...@aol.com (HCALTMANN) wrote:
> No. Hitler went to basic school (Volkschule) in Austria, then not
exactly a
> modern country. The Volkschule did not, repeat not, teach foreign
languages.
>
> I firmly believe that all those who think he even had a smattering of
knowledge
> of English are speculating. I would like to see proof.
It rarely happens, but it happened here, you're wrong. Hitler's
biography says he graduated from a Realschule (Linz?). That gives him
six years of English study. I know you know what the curriculum of the
Realschule entails as it is basically identical to yours, except that
AH studied in peace time and didn't get time off for flak duty. A
peace time German speaking school of the turn of the turn was a
rigorous deal. Austria a modern country in education? Sure, better
quality than most today.
Does that prove he could 'speak' it? No it doesn't especially if he
hasn't practiced it after school, but I think the question was more did
he have an understanding of English and could he communicate basics. I
too doubt he spoke it fluently. But I bet he read Shakespeare in
school and read English literature in its native language.
casita
Interesting post.
I don't know about AH's education, but almost every student studies a
second language. In Canada, French and English.
Although, few become fluently bi-lingual.
Heinz, was a student during wartime. Would not his studies be a bit
modified to include training.
Gord McFee
hcal...@aol.com (HCALTMANN) wrote:
> inter...@aol.com wrote:
> > I think Hitler must have studied English >while in school.
> No. Hitler went to basic school (Volkschule) in Austria, then not exactly a
> modern country. The Volkschule did not, repeat not, teach foreign languages.
> I firmly believe that all those who think he even had a smattering of knowledge
> of English are speculating. I would like to see proof.
You won't because he didn't speak English. That has been confirmed by
people who should know, amongst others his interpreter Paul Otto Schmidt
in his book _Statist auf diplomatischer B=FChne_. In addition, Konrad
Heiden in _Der Fuehrer_ reproduces his marks from his last year in the
Staatsrealschule in Steyr (September 16, 1905, when he would have been
16). No foreign languages are listed among the subjects, which were:
moral conduct, diligence, religion, German language, geography and
history, mathematics, chemistry, physics, geometry and geometrical
drawing, free-hand drawing, gymnastics, stenography, singing, and
external form of work.
casita
>modern country.
Hitler did not lack intelligence and was a good soldier.
But......as leader of a first-class military - industrial power like
Germany?
Men with education, worldly sophistication, language and statesmanship
skills as well as high ranking military experience were available.
Instead, they stood behind a little Bohemian Corporal.
In the 1930's, surely he was not the best that Germany had to offer.
HCALTMANN
>It rarely happens, but it happened here, you're wrong. Hitler's
>biography says he graduated from a Realschule (Linz?). That gives him
>six years of English study.
Indeed, Hitler attended Realschule, at first in Linz and then in Steyr, until
age 16 (see John Toland, Adolf Hitler, Vol. 1, pp. 14-20). Toland says that
Hitler failed in his "first form" (fifth grade) due to "deficiencies in
mathematics and natural history." He successfully repeated the grade, and
being a year older than his classmates, he became a leader and "passed all
subjects successfully." He again failed a grade, the second, but passed a
special examination and was allowed to advance into third. "His most difficult
subject was French," and he failed the subject. A make-up exam was successful,
but he was not re-admitted to Realschule in Linz and entered a similar school
in Steyr, 25 miles away. There, in the fourth and final grade of that type of
school, he "was 'adequate' in history and geography", failed in mathematics and
German, and was "excellent" in gymnastics and "good" in drawing. He had to
stand for a special make-up exam on 16 September 1905 to receive his graduation
certificate.
No mention is made of English as a subject in an Austrian Realschule at the
time, though French was taught, apparently in the final second grades.
Realschule was different from the Realgymnasium. I attended the latter, in
Germany, and was taught English as my first foreign language, starting at age
ten, until we we became flak auxiliaries.
So, while I was wrong when I wrote that Hitler attended Volksschule, I may not
have been wrong when I implied that Hitler did not learn English in school.
Best regards, and thank you for your correction -- Heinz
Mensch Meyer
>No mention is made of English as a subject in an Austrian Realschule at
the
>time, though French was taught, apparently in the final second grades..
I agree with your observation concerning as to what foreign languages
were being taught in Realschulen in both Austria and Germany.
It appears that there is a consistent pattern when few Austrians and
Germans of Hitler's generation - native German speakers - born before
the turn of the century - spoke English. One reason was: French was the
language of the arts and international DIPLOMACY until and through
WWI - and those were the education times of Hitler's generation.
The few Students who became proficient in French were students of
Humanistische Gymnasium, a system of 8 years (high)-school, which
concentrated on classic languages - mandatory Latin and Greek - and
French as the mandatory modern language. The Gymnasium prepared
for university in the disciplines of the arts, literature, theology,
philology,
etc. In contrast Realschule is to this day preparatory for trade and
technology, where foreign languages give way to those subjects. Only
since the 1940s has English become a mandatory MODERN language in
the Realschule due to world TRADE and TECHNOLOGY. Since Hitler's
Realschule was in a rural area, it is conceivable that he was taught
French in a very rudimentary level.
>Realschule was different from the Realgymnasium. I attended the latter,
in
>Germany, and was taught English as my first foreign language
What could be added is that Realschule was mandatory until age 16
(for 6 years) without reaching the coveted "Abitur." The latter is
attainable
only after 8 years of gymnasium (beginning at age 10,) when the 18-
year
old graduate "makes his Abitur" - which in this country is (at least)
equal
to a 2-year Junior college certificate.
This might explain some of the Europe system and that Hitler's
Realschule back-ground served mostly to prepare students for
"apprenticeship" in
various skills / crafts / trades, and was NOT PREPARATORY for admission
to university.
Mostly Hitler's generation simply did not speak English for all these
reasons.
Later generations were being taught English routinely as it became
important in Europe during the 1940s - and since the 1950s English as a
foreign language, even in Realschule, has grown in importance to the
degree that NEW GENERATIONS of native German speakers - even
cabbies and plumbers speak relatively good English for reasons of trade.
Of course high technology has given English even more importance in
more
recent years.
We tend to forget that Hitler would be over 100 years old - and
educational
trends change !!
Shane Hedegard
German. In all negotations, he always had an interpreter. This included
his face to face dealings with Franco, and the French surrender of 1940.
HCALTMANN wrote in message <7kgg09$11c4$1...@nntp6.u.washington.edu>...
> inter...@aol.com wrote:
>> I think Hitler must have studied English >while in school.
>No. Hitler went to basic school (Volkschule) in Austria, then not
>exactly a modern country. The Volkschule did not, repeat not, teach
>foreign anguages.