tightcollars

I really wanted to write fictional stories, but I’m just terrible at it, so I write thoroughly researched posts about Third Reich "golden boys" instead. Unfortunately for all of you, I know damn well what I’m doing.

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Good day/night everyone, here’s your guide.

The Life of Max Wünsche (#Max Wünsche)

MW (and the other SS officers I’m writing about) were, of course, completely uncritical toward the regime! Keep that in mind while reading!

· intro · intro II · the individual parts are below:

1914-1937: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4

1938: 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20

1939: 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 28 · 29 · 30 · 31 ·······

SS Adjutants & Ordonnanzoffiziere (#SS adjutants)

Who they were: Part 1 · Part 2

Snapshots: Prague 1939 · Headquarters 1941 · Wolf’s Gorge 1940 · Obersalzberg 1940 ·

Hansgeorg Schulze · intro · bio

Richard Schulze ·

Hans Pfeiffer · intro · bio

Kampfgruppe Peiper (#Kampfgruppe Peiper)

Werner Poetschke: intro · Part 1 · Part 2 · Part 3

Josef “Jupp” Diefenthal · profile

Heinz von Westernhagen · short bio

Poetschke’s biography serves as a bridge to the Ardennes Offensive — where we all know what lies ahead.

Part 1: Inside Kampfgruppe Peiper

Part 2: KG Peiper – 14 December

Part 3: Drunken Brawlers, Womanizers, Cowards, and Trouble-Makers! Meet the Spitze and Strafzug of KG Peiper 1/2

Part 4: Meet the Spitze and Strafzug of KG Peiper 2/2

Part 5: KG Peiper – 15 December

Links will be added over time as posts go up.

PS: I love you all — I’m still occasionally editing small details in older posts. 💙

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31/ Max Wünsche: Albert Speer (1939)

„I knew him personally very well, and I also knew what a close and personal relationship (Albert) Speer had with Hitler.“ – Max Wünsche

In the first days of May, the Führer withdrew to the Berghof with his usual entourage, seeking the comfort of his private retreat and taking a short holiday. He invited his dear guest again: Unity Mitford and introduced her to his inner circle, including Eva Braun. He also summoned his devoted admirer and confidant Albert Speer. On this occasion, architect Roderich Fick presented a model of the city of Linz at the Obersalzberg, where plans for a new opera house in the “Führer city” on the Danube were discussed. Linz was intended to become Hitler’s future residence, where he planned to retire with his companion.

On 4 May 1939, Cesare Orsenigo (Vatican’s representative in Berlin)  visited Adolf Hitler at the Obersalzberg. He was flown to Salzburg, lunched at the Grand Hotel in Berchtesgaden, and was then taken to Hitler’s residence. There, the two spoke privately for about an hour before taking tea with Ribbentrop and his aide.

At the same time, preparations for new alliances gradually began, as on 5 May the German press was instructed to cease all polemics against the Soviet Union and Bolshevism.

But who exactly was Albert Speer within the inner circle? His later interpretation of his own role in the 1960s is a different story, but that is not where we are here. Speer held a central position in this circle. He came from a well-educated upper-middle-class family of architects and, after training in architecture, rose rapidly after joining the Nazi Party, becoming Hitler’s chief architect and later Minister of Armaments. By the time Max Wünsche appeared in this environment, Speer had already been at Hitler’s side for nearly six years, if not more.

He designed the stage for the Nuremberg rallies, planned the New Reich Chancellery under strict secrecy, and created the award-winning German Pavilion at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris. That same year, Hitler appointed him General Building Inspector for the Reich capital and granted him the title of professor. In 1938, Speer received the Golden Party Badge and became a Prussian Privy Councillor—a distinction usually reserved for Gauleiters and prominent figures. Working closely with Hitler, who saw himself as an architect, and backed by Führer decrees, Speer soon took control of major decisions regarding the reconstruction of Berlin and other German cities.

 „I am of the opinion that Speer was one of Hitler’s most loyal followers, and that now (after war) he is trying to justify himself with his book. He is not the only one who has done this, many others have as well.“ – Max Wünsche

Main workrooms of Speer ware in the former palace of the Prussian Academy of Arts at Pariserplatz 4, near the Brandenburg Gate. He was also given a house and studio on the restricted Obersalzberg, close to the Berghof, where he could work away from Berlin with a small team. Located only about half a kilometre from Hitler’s residence, this proximity allowed Hitler to summon him at any time.

„He (Speer) had exceptional personal contact with Hitler and was one of those people who were able to absorb the Führer’s ideas and translate them into action. This applied especially to architecture, he could immediately put ideas on paper in the form of sketches, create models, and present them to Hitler, impressing him greatly… He was also one of the few who, with a relatively small staff, accomplished a great deal of work. I cannot see how he could suddenly have changed his opinion and refer to Hitler as a demagogue, that seems unlikely. I would not accuse him of lying; it is possible he had such a change of mind, but I cannot believe it.“ – Max Wünsche

For how close they once were, Wünsche later seemed deeply disappointed in Speer. Perhaps that is why he largely refrained from more extensive comments. And yet, in his own way, he still admired him—he considered him highly intelligent, a quality Max valued greatly in general. Still, there remains a certain gap, something unresolved. Perhaps, at the very least, they all genuinely enjoyed those long hours spent discussing plans and models.

A little episode, but Speer doesn’t really fit anywhere else for us—I doubt Max was writing to him from the front. See you next time!

Want to know more? Here’s the guide

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Do u know other historic blogs such as yours? I really like the details and effort u put here :)

That’s very kind of you, thank you :) There are honestly many wonderful history blogs and a lot of incredibly knowledgeable people out there! But I’ll say it directly: Tumblr is a terrible platform for this kind of more research-heavy and detailed historical posting. Most people doing long-form historical work are probably on others platforms like Axis History Forum, Traces of War,  The Third Reich in Ruins, Warfare History Network, etc...

 At the same time, I have to admit that I don’t really know many blogs that work quite like mine. My project is very chronological and narrowly focused, so instead of jumping between different years and topics, I’m slowly moving through one period step by step and trying to reconstruct the atmosphere around it! I also study the character very carefully and the way he was shaped over time. My approach has a fairly strong sociological and psychological dimension. (I’m saying this mainly because it might help you better find the kind of thing you’re looking for — not as a form of bragging.)

Don’t even try searching specifically for Waffen-SS blogs unless you’re insane enough for this niche like I apparently am. It’s a topic that constantly attracts extremists and accusations of glorification no matter how you approach it.

So in that sense the concept is a little unusual and somewhat solitary. I do know maybe two or three blogs that feel somewhat similar in spirit. A lot of blogs have been deleted, unfortunately. Most history blogs understandably work in a much broader or more flexible format. For me, just a photograph and a short caption are not enough. I’ll mention two @cakesforgermans and @bignaz8 that I personally follow here, but I’m also happy to take recommendations from others, because honestly a bit more of my time goes into writing posts than reading everyone else’s!

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30/ Max Wünsche: I Know Nothing About Politics! (1939)

Max Wünsche tried to create a certain impression, that not only did he make no decisions (we can concede he was not the one who planned the invasion of Poland), but also that he never knew anything, and that his duties consisted of ordering new socks for the Führer, carrying a diary, and combing his hair. That was not entirely true, although he did indeed do all of those things.

Because of his role as an adjutant, he was actually uncomfortably close to events, so only a few days after his own and the Führer’s birthdays, on 28 April, he heard yet another of his chief’s “legendary” speeches in person at the Reichstag

Adolf Hitler delivered a two-and-a-half-hour speech presenting a major foreign policy declaration. The central part of the speech consisted of 21 points, his response to the „The Appeal for Peace“ made by U.S. President Roosevelt on 15 April.  Franklin D. Roosevelt publicly called on Germany to guarantee that it would not attack Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, the USSR and another twenty-five countries on thepresident’s list since millions of people in these countries lived in constant fear of war, in an attempt to prevent further escalation after the occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.

In his speech, Adolf Hitler mocked Roosevelt’s proposal by reading the list of countries in an mocking tone and claiming that Germany posed no threat. Max Wünsche was almost in stitches laughing; he (and others) clearly enjoyed it and applauded too enthusiastically.

The foreign press was not nearly as amused. The Führer unilaterally terminated the German–Polish Non-Aggression Pact (1934), signaling that conflict was likely, and he also renounced the Anglo-German Naval Agreement (1935), thereby rejecting cooperation with Britain and opening the way for naval rearmament.

Tag der Nationalen Arbeit (National Labor Day), was the name given to 1 May in order to appropriate the workers, the NSDAP reinterpreted the former day of struggle of the international working class in national terms and declared a public holiday. From the very beginning, the celebration was linked to the destruction of the independent trade unions as on 2 May 1933, trade union offices were occupied by the NSBO, the Sturmabteilung (SA), and the Schutzstaffel (SS).

We didn’t give this event much attention last year, but this year it was a big one again. Adolf Hitler addressed more than 100,000 Hitler Youth in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

He declared that if the time ever came when another power attempted to seize German freedom, a united cry from the youth would arise so powerful that the world would understand that hopes for internal German division were over, and that National Socialist education had finally forged the German people into unity.

At midday, a state ceremony followed in the Lustgarten, complemented by a speech by Hitler to the “working people.” In the afternoon, he attended the usual ceremonial session of the „Reich Chamber of Culture and later hosted an honorary delegation of German workers.

Hitler also instituted several decorations, including the “Honor Badge for German Social Welfare,” the “Medal for the Return of the Memel Territory,” and the “Medal for 1 October 1938,” the latter of which was also awarded to those involved in the occupation of the remainder of Czechoslovakia on 15 March.

The ban on new NSDAP memberships was finally lifted, and Konrad Henlein became Reich Governor of the Sudetenland. The entire situation surrounding former Czechoslovakia was rather grim—besides the fact that foreign politicians strongly disapproved of its forced breakup, the internal situation was far from stable, and there were constant concerns about how to maintain order among the Czech population.

A Letter for Max arrived at the beginning of May (Already at Obersalzber). It should be read in the context of earlier correspondence from Wilhelm Stuckart. A senior official at the Reich Ministry of the Interior wrote to Hans Heinrich Lammers, providing a detailed internal assessment of the situation in the Protectorate. The report described worsening Czech attitudes, growing passive resistance, the spread of foreign-influenced propaganda, and increasing concerns about security and control. It also addressed the question of holding elections, warning that premature elections might reveal weak German support and strengthen Czech opposition.

As head of the Reich Chancellery, Lammers was coordinating these assessments and seeking a decision from Adolf Hitler. Max Wünsche’s task, therefore, was straightforward: to inform Hitler of the situation and obtain his position, put it into writing, and relay it as quickly as possible.

Max Wünsche answered that Hitler had not set any specific date for elections in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. He explained that Hitler first wanted a clearer understanding of the situation of the various population groups before making a decision. Only after this clarification would a date be determined. At the same time, Wünsche added that Hitler had emphasized that the matter should move forward as quickly as possible. This is significant because Wünsche later claimed he had no knowledge of political matters or such reports; however, this letter demonstrates that he was directly involved in transmitting high-level political information and was aware of internal discussions concerning governance (not only) in the Protectorate.

When questions about the Protectorate came up later after the war, Max’s wife preferred not to let him speak. Perhaps she knew why. We’ll find out in the autumn this year.

„The Sudeten Germans looked to the strong Reich, while the Czechs were disappointed by the Munich Agreement. The English, politically, tried to calm them by saying they should not take it so tragically. Meanwhile, the Germans demanded more and more freedom, and the conflicts between Germans and Czechs grew increasingly intense.“ Mrs. Wünsche

Look up the November events in Prague in 1939 if you’re curious! See you next time!

Want to know more? Here’s the guide

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Apparently someone once again completely misunderstood the point of my “blog”

No, I am not trying to run a “Waffen-SS aesthetic blog” (the term “Waffen-SS” did not even officially exist yet in April 1939). Post literally follows Max’s war chronologically and the early years looked very different from what we now know the ending would become.

War crimes, propaganda, brutality, and everything else will part of the posts too. Just not by magically skipping several years...

So I strongly recommend reading the posts in order. Chronology is a cruel thing. 🥴🥴

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29/ Max Wünsche: 20 April 1939: Hitler’s 50th and Wünsche’s 25th Birthday

„The historical Congress Hall which separated Hitler’s apartment on the first floor from the service rooms of the Reich Chancellery would have been cleared a few weeks before 20 April. The presents received would be stacked on the long negotiating table and additional tables brought in for the purpose if necessary. The scent of small almond trees, carnations and roses would perfume the room.

There was the widest range of presents imaginable, valuable, useful, beautiful, artistic. Paintings, sculptures, candelabras, carpets, old weapons, rare coins, clocks, accessories for the writing desk, briefcases, books, music scores and much more. Then the handicrafts, pillows and blankets with National Socialist symbols, or legends such as Heil mein Führer! (…) “ - Christa Schroeder

Already on the 19th in the afternoon, the celebrations for Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday began. The schedule was so packed that the adjutants had already been refusing any further requests to be included in the program for months.  Max Wünsche personally was assigned responsibility for distributing the reception program and coordinating preparations. He had to hand copies to key officials, ensure the honor guard was arranged through the Leibstandarte, and help organize the Führer’s receptions at the New Reich Chancellery, including adjustments for a visiting Italian delegation.

At 17:00, the presentation of the SS Junker School Braunschweig took place in the Mosaic Hall of the New Reich Chancellery, and Hitler delivered a speech, congratulations of 1,600 Political Leaderswhose presented him with 50 letters of Frederick the Great followed. At 20:00, members of the “Stoßtrupp Hitler” of 1923 and recipients of the Blood Order offered their congratulations.

One hour later Hitler set out on a drive along the newly completed 7-kilometre Tiergartenstraße, the so-called “East–West Axis,” where Albert Speer reported the completion of the road with words: “May the work speak for itself.” Speer and Hitler, standing in the car, drove along the seven-kilometre-long avenue, followed by around 50 other vehicles. A sea of lights, flags, and flames flooded the grand boulevard. On both sides of the 30-metre-wide roadway, Berliners stood in dense rows, cheering Hitler.

At 22:00, a grand military tattoo (Zapfenstreich) by the Wehrmacht took place on Wilhelmplatz, followed by a march-past and a torchlight procession of the Old Guard. At 23:00, a choir of the Leibstandarte sang in the Courtyard of Honour of the Reich Chancellery. To conclude, Hitler appeared on the balcony of the Reich Chancellery.

Meanwhile, in the rooms of the Führer’s residence, Hitler’s closest associates had gathered in full: the personal and military adjutants, secretaries, doctors, servants, flight crews, the leaders of the escort command, the criminal police, and the motor pool, the house steward with the household staff and orderlies with Max Wünsche, as well as Sepp Dietrich and Professors Speer and Hoffmann. In addition, only Bormann, Bouhler, and Dr. Dietrich were admitted.

At exactly midnight, the reception of congratulations began with the well-wishes of Hitler’s staff. This was followed by a long line of guests offering congratulations. Max was also celebrating his 25th birthday, alongside his chief, his role model—the man he saw as a father figure. As a gift for this occasion, he personally received a presentation copy of Mein Kampf from Adolf Hitler.

The book was a deluxe edition, bound in a light-colored (almost white) cover with the title Adolf Hitler – Mein Kampf in red Gothic script and a large golden swastika emblem on the front. Inside, on the title page, there was a very personal handwritten dedication by Adolf Hitler, (addressed to Max Wünsche, who at the time was serving as an adjutant). The inscription was dated in Berlin, 20. April 1939: “To SS-Obersturmführer Max Wünsche, with my warmest congratulations on your birthday today.“ A. Hitler

How did Max remember his chief?

“My first impression was, as it was for most others, a very good one, a sense of fascination. He radiated something that affected every human being, something you could not ignore. His presence, the blue, shining eyes, his friendly attitude, the way he treated even a soldier as a human being, made a strong impression. (…) He did not frighten me. I had very good contact with him, it was, if you like, almost a father–son relationship. I felt I could speak to him freely, even about personal problems.”

On 20 April the sequence of congratulations for Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday began at 8:00 with a musical salute by the band of the Leibstandarte. The band played Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, the Horst Wessel Song and Hitler's favourite piece, the Badenweiler March.

It was followed by the papal nuncio Cesare Orsenigo, President Emil Hácha from Prague, Prime Minister Jozef Tiso and Foreign Minister Ďurčanský from Slovakia. Only afterwards came the Reich Cabinet and the Wehrmacht leadership, as well as Mayor Julius Lippert and Gauleiter Albert Forster, who presented him with the honorary citizenship of the city of Danzig.

Hitler received as a gift from German industry various original scores, manuscripts, and orchestral sketches by Richard Wagner (valued at around 1 million Reichsmarks). As a further gift, he received a model of the Triumphal Arch and the Great Hall, the monumental main structures of the planned North–South Axis, designed according to Hitler’s own sketches.

After receiving his presents, Hitler left the Chancellery with his entourage and went to the Brandenburg Gate. His black, armour-plated limousine carried the Führer’s Standard, marked with a swastika and an eagle in each corner. Behind the Brandenburg Gate, troops were lined up on parade. Hitler stood in the car and, with his arm outstretched, drove past the troops assembled along the Tiergarten.

Tribunes had been built in the square in front of the Technical University. When Hitler got out of his car, the diplomats and military attachés present rose to their feet. Hitler, Göring, Hess, Goebbels, Ribbentrop, Neurath, Keitel, and the Führer’s adjutants including Wünsceh took their seats on a tribune covered by a red velvet baldachin with golden tassels. The parade began.

The more than four-hour military parade before the Führer served to intimidate the impressed diplomatic representatives of foreign countries. The three Western powers were not represented due to the recall of their ambassadors. The parade took place for the first time on the East–West Axis, which had been opened the previous day, and it was the largest military parade ever seen in Germany up to that point. On Hitler’s orders, the most modern weapons were displayed, especially new tanks and artillery. All branches of the armed forces took part.

Hitler was in the best of moods when he returned to the Chancellery and received more private well-wisher sincluding Leni Riefenstahl… and for Max, standing so close to the center of it all, this day must have felt like more than just a celebration. It was a moment of belonging, of recognition—and perhaps of aspiration. He surely longed to become one of the Reich’s “golden boys,” a favored figure, a future leader to be admired and followed.

This doesn’t need my commentary! See you next time!

Want to know more? Here’s the guide

[tightcollars]

28/ Max Wünsche: The Voyage of the KdF Ship Robert Ley (1939)

On the evening of March 31, the adjutants once again boarded the special train for a journey to Wilhelmshaven, where the second large battleship, Tirpitz, was to be launched.

During the trip, Adolf Hitler continuously received reports about a speech delivered that same day in the House of Commons by Neville Chamberlain: “In the event of any action which clearly threatened Polish independence … His Majesty's Government would feel themselves bound at once to lend the Polish Government all support in their power.”

During talks with the Polish government at the beginning of 1939, Hitler demanded the return of Danzig and the ‘Polish Corridor’ to the German Reich, and free access to the East Prussian provinces. In return he offered economic cooperation and an extension of the 1935 Non-Aggression Treaty, as well as Poland’s entry into an "Anti-Comintern Pact" directed against the Soviet Union.

Ribbentrop finally informed Hitler that the Polish government declined the offer: after the invasion of several states by German forces, nobody could now be under the illusion that the Nazi leadership was only interested in a peaceful understanding with regard to the German territories lost after the First World War.  Hitler concluded that such a rigid stance could only be explained by strong assurances of support from Britain. Chamberlain’s speech confirmed his belief that the British had indeed provided Poland with far-reaching guarantees. Among those present, there was concern that this would cast a shadow over Hitler’s planned speech in Wilhelmshaven.

For the time being, however, the naval program proceeded as scheduled: the visit to the Kriegsmarine shipyard, the christening of the battleship by Mrs. von Hassell, the daughter of Grand Admiral von Tirpitz, after whom the ship was named, and its launching. Afterwards, Hitler went aboard the Scharnhorst, where, in the presence of the assembled admirals, he promoted Erich Raeder to Grand Admiral and presented him with the ceremonial baton.

After breakfast in the officers’ mess aboard the Scharnhorst, Hitler drove to the town hall and delivered a forceful speech in the square, directed largely against Britain. He reiterated Germany’s right to determine matters within its own sphere without seeking approval from others. His warning about the Bolshevik world threat was linked to events in Spain, where, he claimed, Francisco Franco had succeeded in capturing Madrid and saving the country from the “Reds.”

Disturbed by this open attack on Britain, all staff accompanied their chief to the KdF ship Robert Ley.

Hitler had accepted an invitation from Dr. Robert Ley, head of the German Labour Front, for a three-day pleasure cruise. Kraft durch Freude (KdF), meaning “Strength Through Joy,” was a organization run by the German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront). Its purpose was to provide affordable leisure activities for German workers.

„Whether one believes it or not, Ley was such a man (idealist). He committed himself completely and acted out of genuine conviction. The head of the Reich Labor Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst) was also convinced he was doing the right thing—I know this from personal experience.” - MW

Nicolaus von Below complained bitterly about the trip, while Max, judging by photographs, appeared rather content—though it is hard to say whether he was more pleased by the presence of attractive young women or by his privileged position close to the Führer. Hitler himself greatly enjoyed the voyage aboard the Robert Ley, moving freely among the passengers and KdF holidaymakers.

At sea, an encounter with the battleship Scharnhorst was arranged; it fired a salute and passed close by with its crew drawn up in parade formation. A visit to the island of Heligoland on the second day provided further diversion. As everyone seemed to enjoy the trip, Hitler extended it by an additional day.

Hitler spoke in glowing terms about Ley and his social system for German workers, and both Max and his wife later recalled the experience with a certain nostalgia: „It was a complete upheaval of society. The people supported the new ideas and plans with great enthusiasm, so much so that almost anything seemed possible. But that, in itself, was also a danger.“ - MW

However, Hitler’s concept of “equality and freedom for all citizens” applied only to those who met his approval—namely, supporters of National Socialist ideology. For them, of course, such limitations were scarcely felt.

Remember the Deutsche Arbeitsfront — we’ll need that later! Max liked to brandish it quite a lot. Politics is deliberately kept somewhat in the background here, as everything was focused on another event.! See you next time!

Want to know more? Here’s the guide

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So today I received the book Auf den Straßen des Sieges: Erlebnisse mit dem Führer in Polen (On the Roads of Victory: Experiences with the Führer in Poland) by Press Chief Otto Dietrich. I knew it would be full of ideological nonsense, but I was interested in the photographs! But good lord… you can’t really use even a few paragraphs from it. The antisemitism just drips from every page. It’s very much a document of its time — and you do not want to know how massively it was printed. …so, yes. I’ll show you a few excerpts from it when I have time...

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27/ Max Wünsche: The Return of Memel Territory (1939)

Adolf Hitler was dreaming of acquiring new territories and the spring of 1939 proved successful for him. The people of Memel, too, now declared that it wished to return to the Reich!

The Memel territory, known as “Memelland” to the Germans and the Klaipėda Region to the Lithuanians, included the city of Memel and nearby former Prussian lands north of the Niemen River. It had belonged to Germany before World War I but was separated under the Treaty of Versailles. The area, with about 141,000 people, was at first managed by a weak organized council, intended to function somewhat like the League of Nations “free city” of Danzig and to give the newly created state of Lithuania access to a port. It didn’t function very well.

On March 22, 1939, news arrived from Kaunas to Berlin that the Lithuanian government had agreed to return the Memel territory to the Reich. Joachim von Ribbentrop immediately finalized the agreement with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Juozas Urbšys.

As was his habit whenever he acquired new territory, Adolf Hitler left Berlin immediately by special train and, accompanied by Navy Commander-in-Chief Erich Raeder, arrived in Swinemünde in the evening. There, he boarded the armored ship Deutschland, which then set sail for Memel with a large naval escort. During the journey, and on the following morning aboard the Deutschland, Hitler formally completed the annexation by issuing the law on the reunification of the Memel territory with the German Reich.

Around midday, they arrived in Memel and proceeded to Theater Square, where they were welcomed by Ernst Neumann, leader of the local Germans.

Hitler awarded him the Golden Party Badge and briefly addressed the population—before departing again just as quickly, seemingly unwilling to linger. German troops, however, would remain for much longer, entering the Memel territory in accordance with the agreement with Lithuania.

Meanwhile, Slovakia signed the necessary documents and could now finally present itself under its full name, the Slovak State, with its new president, Jozef Tiso. One of the first eastern allies had shown its “gratitude.”

Then the is also one rather curious case. A copy of Mein Kampf (1938 People’s Edition, possibly SS-owned) appeared at auction. It was dedicated to a “Harold” and signed as a gift by someone named “Alwin”, dated 21 March of 1939.

“To my dear friend Harold, dedicated as a memento from Germany, your friend Alvin, Marburg 1939.”

Inside, there was a loose note from 2008 stating that, according to Hal Miller (the book’s original owner), “Alwin is actually Max Wünsche.” The mystery, of course, is—why would Max sign the book under the name Alwin? Could it perhaps be a joke, since the name Alwin primarily means “elf friend” or “noble friend”? Was Max a “noble friend” after all?

On March 24, 1939, there were grand celebrations in the capital of the Reich, Hitler was returning. He was greeted with ovations, and Max Wünsche enjoyed the moment from car.

On March 26, 1939, Hitler attended Wagner’s funeral in Munich and laid a wreath, then continued on to the Obersalzberg, leaving political matters to his party colleagues. Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop received the Polish memorandum from Ambassador Józef Lipski. Poland rejected German demands (over Danzig and the so-called Polish Corridor). The Führer was only supposed to learn about it later, just like the adjutants.

There wasn’t much said about Memel within the inner circle. Everything had gone almost too smoothly. Questions concerning the former Czechoslovakia were far more uncomfortable, and there was considerable whispering among the adjutants. Ribbentrop was once again launching his “famous” negotiations, but reports from London suggested that the Poles were seeking guarantees from the British for closer cooperation between the two countries. Details were yet unclear to adjutant—only that Neville Chamberlain had spoken rather cryptically in the House of Commons about certain discussions. It was evident from Joachim von Ribbentrop that things were not developing as they had hoped…

It should be Max’s handwriting, but what was he doing in Marburg? And why on earth did he sign himself as Alwin? See you next time!

Want to know more? Here’s the guide

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With the blog deletions, it’s not possible anymore—where is everyone moving to? 👀

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26/ Max Wünsche: The Seizure of Prague (1939)

It seems very unlikely that Max Wünsche did not travel to Prague, as Hitler’s close entourage for such events did not change and usually consisted of the following: SS-Obergruppenführer Brückner, SS-Gruppenführer Schaub, Reichsleiter Bormann, Reichsführer SS Himmler, Professor Hoffmann, Professor Dr. Morell, SS Sturmbannführer Dr. Brandt, SS-Obersturmführer Wünsche, SS-Obersturmführer Bahls, an adjutant of the Reichsführer SS, Christa Schröder and Miss Daranowski. Of course there were others as well, but these individuals regularly appeared on similar lists, even just a few weeks later.

By 9 a.m. on the 16th of March, German troops had already entered Prague.  Hitler also issued a “Wehrmacht report,” the first of his rule, beginning with the words “The High Command of the Armed Forces announces,” a format that would be used thousands of times during the Second World War.

Hitler followed the Wehrmacht in his special train. Adjutants also traveled through the night, and there was lively discussion over breakfast. Von Below later recalled: “At breakfast in the dining car, I learned more. The Wehrmacht had crossed the borders and was advancing everywhere without encountering resistance. The Czech army had been ordered to remain in the barracks and to hand over its weapons there to the German Wehrmacht. A bitter fate for an army that had not been defeated in battle.”

While Hácha was still in Berlin, Hitler was already nearing his destination in the heart of Europe. After leaving the train, he transferred to his off-road vehicles. The weather was miserable, with heavy snowfall, and German troops of various branches were marching along the country roads.

By the time (8 p.m.) they arrived, it was already dark. No one knew the access road to Prague Castle through Hradčany, so the cars ended up driving into a courtyard behind a small building. The courtyard was completely crowded with German soldiers and vehicles.

Only after considerable effort was it possible to find an official who led Hitler and his entourage through a passage into the Hradčany complex. The troops were very surprised at how quickly Hitler had arrived in Prague. A room had to be prepared for the “Belowed Führer of the German people” with difficulty—no one had expected him, and in truth, no one wanted him there. His companions lay on the floor in various rooms; it resembled a Wallenstein camp. Christa Schröder recalled: „Something was not right. The great wrought-iron gates were shut, and the SS bodyguard had to get out and open them, for me a clear sign that we were not welcome.” The Czechs didn’t even provide them with food—scandalous! So at two in the morning, the SS aides went to the Deutsches Haus to look for some. The prepared food had already been eaten by his own officers long before the Führer arrived.

Erich Kempka also chimed in: „This military occupation of Prague had been effected by an invasion force consisting of Hitler, his military escort and one company of an SS engineer battalion. This battalion had been formed in Dresden from a training unit under instruction and was so poorly armed that the men of the Führer's SS bodyguard had to lend them half their stock of machine pistols!“

On the other hand, Czech journalists found admiration for the “slender and tall figures of the SS members,” noting approvingly that “the vast majority of the soldiers have light hair and healthy, round faces.”

Early on the morning of the 17th, the sky was a clear, bright blue.

After discussing the constitutional consequences of the occupation in Prague with Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick, Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop announced by radio the decree establishing the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and its incorporation into the German Reich. With this occupation and annexation, Germany violated the Munich Agreement, which it had itself concluded on September 30, 1938.

Around midday, President Emil Hácha arrived, completely astonished to find Hitler already at the Hradschin. After receiving the entire cabinet, headed by the Czech prime minister, Hitler departed from Prague, having spent not even 24 hours there.

The Prussians among his entourage didn’t really understand all the fuss. Bohemia (and Moravia) meant nothing to them—they had no real history with it. But Hitler, as an Austrian, felt almost at home. They spent the night in the special train on Sudeten German territory. During their subsequent tour through the Protectorate, Adolf Hitler visited Olomouc (Olmütz) and Brno (Brünn). In Brno, they reviewed the 2nd Panzer Division, were received at the town hall, and Hitler delivered a speech addressing those present as “the new citizens of the Greater German Reich.” According to a confidential press directive, the term “Greater German World Reich” was not to be used, as it was “reserved for later occasions.”

They then continued by special train to Vienna, arriving at the North Station at around 5 p.m., where they took up quarters at the Hotel Imperial. In Vienna, Hitler appointed former Foreign Minister Konstantin von Neurath as Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia, based in Prague. To assist him, the Deputy Gauleiter of the Sudeten region, Karl Hermann Frank, was assigned.

After drafting a protection treaty for Slovakia, they returned to Berlin by special train. In Berlin, the celebrations were in full swing. They arrived in the evening at Görlitz Station, where Hermann Göring greeted Hitler with a bombastic speech, hailing him as a “heroic soldier.” According to von Below, however, the scene was, this time, truly embarrassing.

By decree, the Protectorate was declared autonomous and was thus formally supposed to have the right to self-government. In reality, however, it had to exercise its authority in accordance with Germany’s political, military, and economic needs. Autonomy therefore remained largely on paper—Germany could restrict it and in some areas eliminated it entirely. From the perspective of international and Czechoslovak law, this was a disguised form of illegal annexation. The legitimate government was the (later established and Allied-recognized) government-in-exile in London, led by President Edvard Beneš. The grim years had begun!

We will still need the Protectorate quite a lot—especially since even MW, despite his remarkable tendency to forget things about the critical developments that were to unfold in the country later that same year. But the thought of MW, after a long trip, scrambling to get his boss something to eat at 2 a.m. made me laugh… By the way, this terrible idea of Hitler’s, going to Prague in the worst possible weather, with minimal protection and absolutely no preparation, was remembered at length in just about every memoir (von Below, Schroder, Kempka, Schaub, Himmler). See you next time!

Want to know more? Here’s the guide

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42 pages into 1939, and ‘finally’ the war can begin! Do you have any special requests for that three-week Polish campaign?

P.S. Jochen was there too! But he and Max could only wave at each other from the windows, because each of them was on a different train!

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Okay, what’s been your favorite part of the Max life series so far?? 👀 🌞🌞

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25/ Max Wünsche: Occupation of Bohemia and Moravia (1939)

On March 7, 1939, Arthur Seyss-Inquart met Slovak leaders to push for Slovak independence. The Czechoslovak government responded with a military and political intervention. Jozef Tiso, a Slovak priest and politician aligned with Nazi Germany, was summoned to Berlin on March 13, where Hitler forced him to choose between Slovak independence or a Hungarian invasion.

Tiso agreed, and on March 14 Slovakia declared independence, breaking away from Czechoslovakia, which then ceased to exist. Meanwhile, Hungary occupied Subcarpathian Ruthenia, the easternmost region of Slovakia.

A lot was going on in Berlin. Hitler was enthusiastic about the collapse of the state and eager to see his new territories as soon as possible. Officially, nothing had happened yet—but he was certain. Completely certain that everything would turn out in his favor.

On the afternoon of March 14, an operational briefing was held with Rommel. It was decided that Hitler should travel by train as far as Česká Lípa in the Sudetenland, close to the Czech border, and that motorized units were to be set in motion there the same evening. Hitler agreed with the proposal, but reserved the right to make further decisions depending on how the situation developed, and only once he had reached Lípa. The special train was to be prepared for departure at short notice from Anhalter Bahnhof from midnight onward.

Later that evening, Hitler even watched a film. His adjutants had never seen him so calm before a military action as he was on this occasion. Keitel arrived during the course of the evening, and shortly afterward, the arrival of „Czechoslovak“ President Emil Hácha was reported, while German troops were already crossing the Czechoslovak border.

Ribbentrop arranged for the meeting to begin at midnight on March 15. At the appointed time, the adjutants accompanied Hitler to the new Reich Chancellery. He was once again certain that Hácha would give in. Czechoslovakia had been abandoned by its former allies—there would be no second Munich. In a confident mood, he greeted Göring, Ribbentrop, and Weizsäcker, and awaited his guest at the entrance in the courtyard of honor.

A notably large group of people took part in the discussion. The adjutants saw Göring, Keitel, Ribbentrop, Meißner, Weizsäcker, Dr. Dietrich, and Hewel acting as record-keeper. Hácha had brought with him the Czechoslovak Foreign Minister Chvalkovský and his chief of cabinet. The doors were closed, and the usual waiting period for adjutants began. After a nearly hour-long monologue, Hitler declared that a German invasion was unavoidable. Hermann Göring and Joachim von Ribbentrop then continued to pressure and wear down the Czech delegation. President Hácha eventually collapsed and had to be treated by Hitler’s personal physician. Göring threatened the bombing of Prague.

Von Below later recalled it something like this; Max Wünsche, who was sitting there with him, may have thought the same: ‘We observed frequent comings and goings in Hitler’s study. Each time, it was possible to learn something about the progress of the talks. From this, it was clear that the negotiation was an unequal struggle. We felt pity for the old gentleman. Professor Morell appeared with his medical case and disappeared into the conference room. After some time, he returned and reported that Hácha had recovered after a heart attack and an injection. Around 2 a.m., the conference was interrupted.”

Hácha withdrew with his foreign minister and his chief of cabinet to telephone Prague and order that no resistance be offered. After about an hour and a half, Hitler returned, and around 4 a.m., the Czech representatives agreed to sign a prepared declaration of submission, placing “the fate of the Czech people and country with full confidence in the hands of the Führer of the German Reich.”

Hitler’s adjutants and secretaries then found their Chief standing in his study, surrounded by the conference participants. In a confident mood, he told his (famale) staff: “So, children, now here and here,” pointing to his left and right cheeks, “each of you give me a kiss.” As he had never made such a request before, they were taken aback, but quickly composed themselves and complied with his wish. “This is the finest day of my life,” he continued. “I have achieved something that has been striven for in vain for centuries. I have succeeded in unifying Czechoslovakia with the Reich—Hácha has signed the treaty. I shall go down in history as the greatest German.”

At around 6 a.m., Joseph Goebbels published the “Agreement on the Protection of the Czech People by the German Reich,” while Hitler informed the German public of the occupation. He justified it by claiming that Czechoslovakia was collapsing and that intolerable terror against ethnic Germans prevailed in Bohemia and Moravia.

This was originally meant to be a long post, but in the end it has been split up. MW was present; he simply never commented on Czechoslovakia in his interview, even when asked. Given that he continued to dutifully sign documents in the personal adjutant’s office, he cannot really excuse himself from it. So I can’t spare you from it either! See you next time in Prague!

Want to know more? Here’s the guide

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24/ Max Wünsche: Cultural Politics (1939)

Before a busy March, Max Wünsche managed to take care of another duties with his chief during the last winter weeks. On February 13 at midday, Hitler received the German military attachés stationed abroad at the New Reich Chancellery, followed by a “breakfast” in the Führer’s residence. He then left Berlin, traveled to Friedrichsruh, and laid a laurel wreath at the grave of Otto von Bismarck. Afterwards, he stayed as a guest of Prince and Princess Bismarck at Friedrichsruh Castle. In the evening, he arrived in Hamburg and stayed at the Hotel Atlantic Hamburg.

The program for the following day was: Hitler personally delivered the christening speech at the launching of the battleship German battleship Bismarck at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. All prominent figures from the party, state, and military were present. Grand Admiral Erich Raeder expressed his thanks, and the christening was performed by Dorothee von Loewenfeld, a granddaughter of Otto von Bismarck. From the balcony of the town hall, Hitler addressed the crowd before departing Hamburg for Berlin.

On February 17, the Führer opened the International Automobile and Motorcycle Exhibition in Berlin and Max, could not be absent either.

On the evening of February 25, a formal gathering for party leaders and their wives was held, including another speech.

The New Reich Chancellery was in need of constantly being shown off; the Führer clearly wanted to display it as much as possible. A full program addressed to Max Wünsche had just arrived, the demanding organization of which fell to him and his colleagues. It consisted of a tightly scheduled series of high-profile events.

Dear Mr. Wünsche!

With reference to our telephone conversation yesterday, I hereby submit the proposals ordered by the Führer for this year’s dinners and receptions.

Building Councillor Piepenburg has informed me that by the end of February the (temporary) cloakroom facilities will be completed, so that from 28 February onwards it will certainly be possible to schedule the events. I propose the following dates…“

On 28 February, at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, the exhibition “Ancient Japanese Art” was opened as a demonstration of German-Japanese friendship. Führer also received in the New Reich Chancellery the credentials of the envoys of Lithuania (Kazys Skirpa), Bolivia (Hugo Ernst-Rivera), and Siam (Phra Prasasna) and delivered the customary welcoming speech.

On 1 March, the Führer received diplomats and their wives for a dinner, and the organizers had their hands full. “To be invited were all heads of mission, all Reich ministers, the Deputy of the Führer, selected Reich leaders (Dr. Rosenberg, Dr. Dietrich, Bouhler), the state secretaries and the senior officials of the Foreign Office, as well as the chiefs of the three branches of the armed forces. In total about 180 persons, with ladies.“

On 2 March, the Führer received Prince Franz Joseph II of Liechtenstein with full honors for a discussion, and in the evening he hosted leading figures of the economy and their wives, while well-known artists gave a concert in support of the Winter Relief Organization. 2 million Reichsmarks in ‘voluntary donations’ were collected, and afterwards the guests were shown the new rooms. „ As in the previous year, about 450 persons were to be invited.”

On 4 March, the Führer received leading figures of German cultural life in the evening, and they too were to admire the new government rooms. “About 450 persons were to be invited to a reception for German artists, including a performance, scheduled on a Saturday as particularly suitable for the artistic community.” Here Max Wünsche even danced (in 1940) for a bit! Probably as a reward!

On 7 March, the Führer received the commanders-in-chief and commanding generals and admirals for dinner, and once again the guests were required to tour the new premises. “Whereas in previous years all officers of general rank in Berlin and the surrounding area had been invited, this year the group commanders and commanding generals of the three branches of the armed forces from across the Reich, together with gentlemen of corresponding rank in Berlin, were invited with their wives.”

On 8 March, the Führer hosted an evening reception for the leading figures of state, party, and judiciary from the Reich and the Länder, all invited with their wives. “To be invited were all Reich ministers, Reich leaders, state secretaries, Reich governors and Gauleiters, as well as the leading representatives of the judiciary and government.”

On 10 March, the Führer received the German naval attachés, assembled in Berlin for a conference, and they too were allowed to admire the new premises...and then, “fortunately,” it was time to start dealing with more serious problems again…

Haha, that would be something—surely you don’t think they would have let Max spend his whole life dealing with the Führer’s invoices! He was an ideal, a prototype. If he had remained somewhat in the background until then, by 1939 he could already be seen everywhere, always behind his chief, always eager for attention, enjoying life to the fullest. See you next time!

Want to know more? Here’s the guide

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Not that writing about 1939 is going any faster! I already have 16 pages of text and I’m still not even at the end of May!!

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23/ Max Wünsche: The Case of Fritz Wiedemann (1939)

We already know Fritz Wiedemann, he had once been Hitler’s immediate superior as regimental adjutant of the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment, in which Adolf Hitler served as a dispatch runner.

After leaving the Reichswehr in 1919, he studied political economics in Munich. In the 1920s, the two met again at a regimental reunion, where Wiedemann was offered leadership of the SA—an offer he declined. They did not reconnect until December 1933, when Wiedemann, facing financial difficulties after a failed dairy business, encountered Hitler by chance. When asked how he was doing, he reportedly answered: “grim.” Hitler then offered him the post of adjutant, which he accepted immediately.

Wiedemann took up his position in Hitler’s adjutancy on 1 January 1935 at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, effectively "replacing" Wilhelm Brückner, who disliked office work. He remained one of Hitler’s close aides until 19 January 1939.

Wiedemann traveled abroad frequently, including several trips to the United States and regular visits to England. Unlike most of Hitler’s inner circle, who rarely left Germany, he developed his own network, perspectives, and opinions. He grew increasingly uneasy with the regime’s aggressive policies—especially the intimidation tactics used during the Sudetenland crisis—and feared that Europe was heading toward another war. Instead of escalation, he advocated continued negotiation, which made him stand out in Hitler’s circle.

With connections in Britain and the United States, and a close relationship with Stephanie zu Hohenlohe, he began to appear less like a loyal insider and more like someone unpredictable. This, combined with tensions with Joachim von Ribbentrop, who saw him as a rival, made his position increasingly unstable.

By January 1939, Hitler had lost patience and dismissed him, stating: “I cannot use people in high positions and in my immediate surroundings who want nothing to do with my policies.”

However, Wiedemann was not completely cast aside. Hitler reassigned him as Consul General in San Francisco—a post he accepted quickly after confirming it would not reduce his income. Hitler assured him the position was well paid and that he would be supported financially. In this new role, Wiedemann continued to represent the regime abroad, first in the United States and later in Tientsin. As he later acknowledged, his duty as a diplomat was to promote Nazi ideology—above all, its openly antisemitic policies.

Max Wünsche  worked with him, and it was one of the last opportunities for MW to hear a perspective that differed from his superior’s political line. Encounters like this were rare in Hitler’s inner circle, where dissenting views were increasingly unwelcome, and they likely reinforced MW’s growing sense that the regime was closing itself off from any alternative course… and he was repeatedly reassured by those around him that the only correct path was Hitler’s — the path toward war.

Altogether, things with Max’s boss were no longer as easy or cheerful as they had once been. Karl Krause, who (not entirely voluntarily) left the inner circle later that year, thus retained a certain degree of access and perspective—and commented on the situation with the words: „(..)This kind of personal and direct connection between Adolf Hitler and those around him, described here only in broad terms, began to change during the years 1938–39. Just before the annexation of Austria, he became noticeably more formal. He was so absorbed in Wehrmacht affairs that, unlike before, people no longer dared to approach him with matters that weighed on them.

His adjutants, above all Martin Bormann, also began to keep much from him, with the result that he was ultimately not informed about many issues. Even for those in closest proximity, communication became increasingly difficult. Despite being in almost constant contact with him, it was hardly possible to have a conversation, let alone seek advice on personal concerns. It was as if all communication had been cut off—a kind of invisible barrier had been erected.“

Could Max really have known Adolf Hitler? And what did he himself actually think of him?

“Of course, at first everyone (meeting AH) was a little nervous, but that passed. He did not project authority in a way that inspired fear. Rather, he was fascinating, and people followed him voluntarily, even, if you will, subordinated themselves willingly.

It was not something artificial; it was a natural effect of his personality, perhaps also reinforced by his position. He was very natural. I would not say that he never adopted a certain pose at official functions, but who does not?” — MW

But this is only a prompt for reflection—Wünsche spoke about his superior in more detail, and we will return to it later and explore it better. For now, however, we are losing a very important member from Hitler’s inner circle. See you next time!

Want to know more? Here’s the guide