General Motors World, the company house organ, covered the May Day event glowingly in a several-page cover story, stressing Hitler´s boundless affinity for children. Hence, the thunderous applause that greeted Hitler´s remarks arrived sequentially, creating an aural effect of continuous, overlapping waves of adulation. As the Fuhrer demanded hard work and discipline, and enunciated his vision of National Socialist destiny, the crisp sound of his voice traveled across an audience so vast that it took a moment or two for his words to reach the outer perimeter of the throng. ![]() When ready, Hitler launched into one of his enthralling speeches, made all the more mesmerizing by 142 loudspeakers sprinkled throughout the grounds. This would be yet another grandiose spectacle of Fuhrer-worship so emblematic of the Nazi regime. Accompanied by cadres of SS guards, Hitler was ushered to the stage, stopping first to pat the head of a smiling boy. Hitler eventually arrived in an open-air automobile that cruised up and down the field amid the sea of devotees. Finally, after four hours, the tightly packed assemblage totaled about 2 million marchers and attendees. Each of the 13 parade columns boasted between 30,000 and 90,000 storm troopers, army divisions, citizen brigades and blond-blue Hitler Youth enrollees. ![]() Thousands of other Nazi flags fluttered across the grounds as dense column after column of Nazis, marching shoulder to shoulder in syncopation, flowed into rigid formation. Each tower was anchored in 13 feet of concrete to resist the winds as steadfastly as the Third Reich resisted all efforts to moderate its program of rearmament and oppression. Sweeping swastika banners stretching 33 feet wide and soaring 150 feet into the air fluttered from 43-ton steel towers. Mooney would be Hitler´s special guest.Īs Mooney arrived at the airfield, about 3:30 in the afternoon, the spectacle dazzled him. The Fuhrer´s office had sent over a special windshield tag that granted the General Motors´ chief carte blanche to any area of Tempelhof. All cars entering the area were meticulously inspected for anti-Hitler pamphlets or other contraband. Security was more than tense, it was paranoid. ![]() But for May Day, the immense site was converted into parade grounds. Tempelhof Field was a sprawling, oblong-shaped airfield. This one was the annual "May Day" festival. Just the day before, May 1, 1934, under a brilliant, cloudless sky, Mooney, president of the General Motors Overseas Corporation, climbed into his automobile and drove toward Tempelhof Field at the outskirts of Berlin to attend yet another hypnotic Nazi extravaganza. Was it too stiff? Too slanted? Should his palm stretch perpendicular to the ceiling should his arm bend at a severe angle? Or should the entire limb extend straight from shoulder to fingertips? Should his Sieg Heil project enthusiasm or declare obedience? Never mind, it was afternoon. Mooney thrust his arm diagonally, watching its reflection in his hotel suite mirror.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |