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Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!
Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!
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{\an8}These are some of
the most infamous men
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{\an8}of the Nazi regime.
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{\an8}The Führer, Adolf Hitler.
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Hitler was utterly ruthless.
Anything that stood in his way
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he could justify to himself
that it was worth getting rid of.
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The Fighter Ace, Hermann Goering.
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A bon vivant,
he liked women, he liked wine,
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he liked drugs.
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The Spin Doctor, Joseph Goebbels.
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The ultimate sycophant, just tells
Hitler always what he wants to hear
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and makes Hitler feel
great about himself.
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Head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler.
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He enjoyed the trappings of power.
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He enjoyed his
relationship with Hitler,
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and he would do whatever it took
to ensure that that continued.
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The Gatekeeper, Martin Bormann.
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He was a ruthless man.
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He had blood on his hands.
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He was the sort of man that
Hitler needed to do his dirty work.
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Each name
conjures its own special nightmare.
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But could they work together
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to bring the grand
Nazi vision to fruition?
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Or would their toxic
and dangerous self-interest
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cause dysfunction and ruin?
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Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!
Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!
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{\an8}The Nazi leadership was ambitious,
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{\an8}it was ruthless, it was cutthroat.
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{\an8}It was absolutely backstabbing.
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And you couldn't trust anyone
as much as look at them.
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What is the pathway to promotion?
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{\an8}How do you assume a
leadership role in the Third Reich?
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{\an8}It's by telling Hitler to no small
extent what he wants to hear.
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Without question,
it is inherently dysfunctional.
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Hitler's leadership
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was often contradictory
and self-serving.
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Intentionally handing out
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confusing and overlapping duties
to his underlings.
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Keeping them busy
fighting among themselves,
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rather than plotting against him,
was part of his ploy.
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{\an8}Well, Hitler's management style was
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{\an8}notoriously shambolic.
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{\an8}I mean, here was a guy
who went to bed early,
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or else stayed up all night
watching movies,
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invariably slept past noon,
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had a notoriously
short attention span,
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didn't listen to briefings,
didn't read stuff,
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always operated on his gut
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and, uh, thought
his gut was superior
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to the professional views of others
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who were really reading
intelligence reports
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and doing real analysis of problems.
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So it tended to be he would
try to reinforce his prejudices.
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If he wanted to do something,
he would find reasons to do it
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or find people
who would tell him it was doable,
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and he would ignore
or purge critics.
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And the toxic attitude
poisoned any chance
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of a proper functioning elite.
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"Stay on the good
side of Hitler or else"
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was an excellent policy.
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Failure meant a
swift fall from favor.
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And in Nazi Germany,
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this could be very
bad for your health.
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{\an8}One of the tactics
that Hitler used is,
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{\an8}not only in Germany
but within his own government,
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is dividing and ruling,
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setting one sector of society
up against another,
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one department up against another,
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one individual up against another.
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Always making sure that
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neither faction really knew
where they stood.
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If individuals are jostling
for position, they are perhaps
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not creating any
opposition to Hitler.
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But the upsides were very alluring.
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To make it into his inner circle
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brought with it security,
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immense power,
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and often wealth.
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To get there was not
so much a matter of abilities,
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more a need
to demonstrate slavish devotion,
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and a ruthless drive
to make it through the ranks.
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One man who excelled in the traits
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{\an8}that went to making
a successful Nazi
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{\an8}was Hermann Goering.
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{\an8}Goering was a bon vivant, you know.
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He liked women, he liked wine,
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he liked drugs, he liked partying,
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he liked ceremony,
he liked decorative uniforms,
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uh, and he loved
art and real estate.
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Goering was flamboyant, vain,
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and downright weird.
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He built a palace
in a hunting reserve,
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dressed in period clothes,
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and tried to have extinct animals
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reengineered back to life
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so he could hunt them like in the
good old days of German mythology.
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Being hopelessly hooked on morphine,
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which he originally
started taking for injuries
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suffered in the Beer
Hall Putsch of 1923,
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may explain some of this behavior.
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Goering had the talent
to rub people up the wrong way
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throughout his life.
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He was arrogant,
he was vain, he was bombastic.
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And if you didn't know
him too personally,
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people were often sort of drawn
into his personality
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and they found him charming.
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But once you actually realized
that you had to work with him,
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you knew you were
dealing with, you know,
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a morphine addict
who was inconsistent,
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who had mood swings.
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Goering was deserving
of his top spot,
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but equally, he condemned himself
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to his fall from grace.
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Despite often looking like one,
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Goering was no clown.
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When he put his mind to it,
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he was as efficiently evil
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as the next Nazi,
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and he caught Hitler's eye.
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Goering had been a commander
of the Flying Circus Squadron
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in World War I,
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under the famous
Baron von Richthofen,
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the Red Baron,
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and had proved his skill
with 22 kills to his name.
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Goering had all the star power
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and the swagger
of being a fighter ace
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in the First World War.
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Hitler really latched onto that.
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He needed that sort
of sense of gravitas
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and almost flamboyance
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to make the National
Socialist Movement stand out.
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It was a wedding of convenience
for the two,
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you know, Hitler had the star power
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and Goering had
this sort of sense of
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needing to restore Germany
to its greatness,
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particularly as he had
seen the German Air Force
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be utterly smashed to pieces
and demoralized
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after the First World War.
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And he had sworn to restore
German aviation to the skies.
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So Hitler was the
man to do it with him.
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Goering rose quickly
through the ranks.
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In 1923,
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Hitler placed him in charge
of the Sturmabteilung, or SA,
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which Goering quickly
shaped into a large
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and powerful organization
of agitators and thugs.
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Operating way outside the law,
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{\an8}they were essentially
Hitler's bully boys,
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{\an8}targeting any opposition
to the Nazi agenda.
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Goering's arrogance
made him hugely unpopular
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with the men under his command.
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But it emboldened
the burgeoning Nazi Party
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to attempt to seize power by force.
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By 1923,
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the party had grown confident enough
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to attempt a brazen coup.
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The National Socialists
made a stand under Hitler
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at a beer hall in Munich
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with a plan to overthrow
the federal government.
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But the plan failed.
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Sixteen party members were killed.
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And Goering was badly wounded.
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Goering suffered with that wound
for the rest of his life.
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It created this morphine addiction
that made him balloon in weight.
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And ultimately,
it did change his personality,
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you know, even though he had been
seen as a bit of a difficult man,
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and an arrogant man,
he was a smart man.
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And the morphine sort of
blunted that intelligence.
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The plot may have
failed catastrophically,
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but for one old friend of Hitler's,
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it had its advantages.
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Ernst Rohm, who had been front
and center during the failed putsch,
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displaced the incapacitated Goering
as head of the SA.
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Under his command,
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Rohm saw the numbers swell
to almost three million strong.
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{\an8}But trouble was brewing.
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The signature backstabbing
and double-crossing
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that was to define
the Nazi inner circle
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was about to show its ugly face.
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In July 1932,
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the Nazis won the election,
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due in no small way
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to the intimidation by the SA.
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Hitler was now chancellor,
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and Goering was named
as president of the Reichstag
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and his right-hand man.
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All seemed to be
going well for the Nazis,
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but the factions and
power centers within
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were beginning to attack each other.
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An early trigger
for the internal wars
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was the rise of the SA.
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Many worried it had become too big,
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and the leader, Ernst Rohm,
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was publicly moving away
from Hitler's ideology.
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Hitler was always concerned
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that there might be factions
within the Nazi Party
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that could challenge
his own leadership.
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And we see him really
trying to consolidate his power base
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and removing those enemies
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that could potentially
pose a challenge
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to his leadership and his supremacy.
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Rohm and the SA
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were a powerful potential force
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that he would find
very difficult to control.
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To keep the SA in check,
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Hitler created the
SS Security Service,
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and then expanded the Gestapo,
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the infamous secret state police,
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placing them both
under Heinrich Himmler.
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This new version of
organized thuggery
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could now counteract
the power of the SA
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and their leader, Ernst Rohm.
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Nazi leaders Hermann Goering,
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Deputy Nazi Chief Rudolf Hess,
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Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels,
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and SS Leader Heinrich Himmler
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began to coalesce
around a deadly plan,
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to rid themselves of
Ernst Rohm for good.
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In 1934,
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the cabal began
their campaign against Rohm.
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They planted rumors
and fake evidence
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that Rohm was planning
an overthrow of the regime.
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Swirling talk of homosexuality
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was also given plenty of air.
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Neither Rohm nor the SA
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ever planned to seize
power in Germany.
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But the truth never got in the way
of a good Nazi conspiracy.
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Despite Rohm being one
of his oldest friends,
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Hitler seized the opportunity
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and charged Himmler and the SS
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with carrying out a massive
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and deadly purge
of the SA officials,
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including Rohm.
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It was to be swift and merciless.
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It would become known
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as the Night of the Long Knives.
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Hitler was utterly ruthless.
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Anything that stood in his way
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he could justify to himself
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that it was worth getting rid of.
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So if Rohm and the SA
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had to be exterminated,
then why not do it?
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On June the 28th, 1934,
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the knives were sharpened
for a bloody and brutal evening,
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as the regime prepared
to turn viciously on itself.
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Hitler ordered Rohm
and the SA leaders
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to gather at a Bavarian spa
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where SS units surprised,
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disarmed, and arrested them.
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After being taken to prison,
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most were shot on
the spot without trial.
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SA supporters took
to the streets in protest,
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while an enraged
Hitler ordered a swathe
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of mass arrests and killings.
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Thousands were arrested.
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The next day, on orders from Hitler,
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Rohm was shot in his cell.
257
00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:37,756
His last words were "Heil Hitler."
258
00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,836
After the Night of the Long Knives
259
00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,716
and the death of Rohm, we see Hitler
260
00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,676
make a very bold statement
that he was no longer
261
00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:52,676
willing to put up with those
that threatened his power base.
262
00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,996
He became a dictator,
he became a tyrant,
263
00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,236
because of course,
he had to stamp on that opposition
264
00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,996
that might otherwise
oust him from power.
265
00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:07,476
The Nazis had shown they
were prepared to murder their own
266
00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:10,276
to achieve their goals.
267
00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:13,876
From now on, nothing
was out of bounds.
268
00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,036
Nothing too extreme.
269
00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,316
Lawlessness and brutality
270
00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,680
was now a weapon of the regime.
271
00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:26,476
Fear had taken root
in his circle of leaders.
272
00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,360
No one ever felt safe again.
273
00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,396
This was a ruthlessness
274
00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:38,036
that he not only
exposed the party to,
275
00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:42,236
but also the nation to, the idea
276
00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:46,196
that there was
only one leader for Germany.
277
00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,076
He was building himself an edifice
278
00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,196
from which he couldn't be toppled.
279
00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:55,396
Hitler's next target was the army.
280
00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:57,516
Two top commanders
281
00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,196
{\an8}who felt the cold
grip of Nazi infighting
282
00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,236
{\an8}where War Minister
Werner von Blomberg
283
00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,796
{\an8}and Fritsch, the head
of the Wehrmacht.
284
00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,876
Hitler had sat down in 1937
with his military leaders,
285
00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,316
chief among them, Bloomberg,
the Minister of War,
286
00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,356
and Fritsch, the Commander-in-Chief
of the Wehrmacht,
287
00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,396
and he kind of outlined
his aggressive plans
288
00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:19,996
for German expansion,
289
00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,196
uh, principally in Eastern Europe,
then even the Soviet Union.
290
00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:24,596
These guys were really alarmed,
291
00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,116
and they began to push back
inside the German military saying,
292
00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,076
you know, "Hitler might be off
his rocker," you know what I mean,
293
00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:32,916
these are pretty ambitious plans
294
00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:36,956
and Hitler gets wind of these
rumblings inside the German Army,
295
00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:38,516
and he decides,
"I got to get rid of these guys.
296
00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,196
I need to put in placemen
who will be loyal to me
297
00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,556
and will carry out my orders
without hesitation."
298
00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,436
And so he kind of trumps up
a couple of scandals.
299
00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:51,596
{\an8}The first scandal
involved von Blomberg.
300
00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:53,796
{\an8}In January 1938,
301
00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,516
{\an8}he married 26-year-old
typist Erna Gruhn.
302
00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,836
With Hermann Goering as best man,
303
00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,916
and Hitler himself as the witness.
304
00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,196
But the course of true love
never did run smooth,
305
00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,196
particularly in Nazi Germany.
306
00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:15,316
Some pornographic images
of Blomberg's new wife surfaced,
307
00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:20,116
together with evidence
that she had once been a prostitute.
308
00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,756
Blomberg's days
as Minister of War were numbered,
309
00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,796
and Hitler had the
perfect replacement.
310
00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,356
A man with craven ambition,
311
00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:32,556
who could be relied upon
to do his bidding,
312
00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,796
Hermann Goering.
313
00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:38,676
It's very clear
that Hitler wanted to ensure
314
00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:42,156
that he placed at the
head of the military
315
00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,240
individuals that he
could manipulate.
316
00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,996
Hitler ordered Blomberg
to annul the marriage
317
00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:51,876
in order to avoid scandal
318
00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,276
and preserve the
integrity of the army.
319
00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,636
When he refused,
320
00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,836
Goering threatened
to publicly expose
321
00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,716
Blomberg's wife's sordid past.
322
00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,596
Finally, Blomberg gave up
323
00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,000
and resigned all posts.
324
00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,916
Flush with their success
at destroying Blomberg,
325
00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,436
Hitler and Goering
now turn their attention
326
00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:21,196
{\an8}to Commander-in-Chief of the
Wehrmacht, Werner von Fritsch.
327
00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,236
The next fall is Fritsch, you know, the
Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht,
328
00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:28,916
uh, then Hitler concocts
this wholly outrageous story
329
00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,316
that Fritsch is a
closeted homosexual,
330
00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:36,036
and he's bringing dishonor on the
Prussian and German officer corps.
331
00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:39,236
And so Fritsch who, you know,
demands a military court of honor
332
00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:40,716
says this is not true
333
00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,836
is forced in turn
to resign his post,
334
00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:47,626
and Hitler then moves in as
Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht.
335
00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,316
With both Blomberg
and Fritsch gone,
336
00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,556
Goering was able
to cement his position
337
00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,960
as the man who could
get things done for Hitler.
338
00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:01,836
His star was on the rise
339
00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,196
with his Luftwaffe
dominating the blitzkrieg attacks
340
00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,120
on Poland and France.
341
00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,596
Goering was rewarded by Hitler
342
00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:12,476
and appointed his successor
343
00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:14,876
as Führer of all Germany.
344
00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:19,716
Goering was now the highest
ranking soldier in Germany,
345
00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:23,156
answering only to
Hitler, which of course
346
00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:26,076
made the rest of the
Nazi Party leadership
347
00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,396
insanely jealous.
348
00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,196
{\an8}Early on in the war,
349
00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:33,596
{\an8}the successes in Poland
and in the French campaign,
350
00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,396
this gives Goering a kind of
351
00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,036
elite status among the inner circle.
352
00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:43,956
Hitler is purposefully manipulating
his inner circle.
353
00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,716
And as loyal as these men are,
and they are not just loyal,
354
00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,156
they are real sycophants.
355
00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,916
I mean, it is adulation to Hitler,
356
00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,156
partly because they understand
that the more Hitler gives them,
357
00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,116
the greater their prestige.
358
00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:58,956
So they're always
seeking Hitler's favor.
359
00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:01,236
{\an8}And this is the reason why
360
00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:06,076
{\an8}Goering lasts so long
within the Nazi regime,
361
00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:10,796
is for what he provided
within that inner sanctum,
362
00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:15,196
what he provided Hitler with
in terms of confidence and advice.
363
00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,036
It was his trust.
It was his loyalty.
364
00:19:18,120 --> 00:19:21,800
And that is what Hitler demanded,
perhaps above all else.
365
00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,756
It would prove
a precarious position
366
00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:29,556
with Goering having
to constantly look over his shoulder
367
00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:31,836
for the knives of his rivals.
368
00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,596
They would not hesitate
to bring him down
369
00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,356
at the first sign of weakness.
370
00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,556
Increasingly throughout the war,
371
00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:44,036
Hitler was concerned
at Goering's military capability,
372
00:19:44,120 --> 00:19:47,996
which meant that there was
a significant question mark
373
00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,080
surrounding Goering
as the war progressed.
374
00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,636
That started during Dunkirk,
375
00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,356
when the evacuation took place,
376
00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,356
despite the attentions
of the Luftwaffe.
377
00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,076
The Luftwaffe couldn't produce
the sort of strategic victories
378
00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:09,076
that Goering
suggested that it could.
379
00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,716
As the war goes on
and his star begins to decline,
380
00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,196
partly because of
his obvious failures,
381
00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:19,356
Goering defaults back
into his morphine addiction,
382
00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:23,617
becomes ever more problematic, and
he kind of falls away from the scene.
383
00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,756
But if Goering
was Hitler's closest confidant
384
00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,716
in the military leadership,
his most trusted party man
385
00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:38,996
{\an8}was undoubtedly Minister
for Propaganda and Enlightenment
386
00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:40,556
{\an8}Joseph Goebbels.
387
00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,356
{\an8}Adolf Hitler's fanatic
little Propaganda Minister
388
00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:44,836
{\an8}Paul Joseph Goebbels.
389
00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:48,076
The most Nazi of all the Nazis.
390
00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:52,996
He was fanatical,
loyal to his Führer, and power-mad.
391
00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:58,036
Goebbels had immense power
because Hitler's image
392
00:20:58,120 --> 00:21:02,596
depended upon
Goebbels manipulation of information
393
00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:06,756
and the development of Hitler
as an heroic figure.
394
00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:10,476
All of the leading Nazis, whether
we're talking about, you know,
395
00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:14,436
{\an8}Goebbels, Bormann, Himmler, Goering,
396
00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,916
{\an8}they all figure out early on
that Hitler's a weak man,
397
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:19,876
and that Hitler's
easily manipulated.
398
00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,156
Goebbels, because he's a...
The ultimate sycophant,
399
00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,516
just tells Hitler always
what he wants to hear
400
00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:27,476
and makes fit... Hitler
feel great about by himself,
401
00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,076
and he's always at Hitler's side
402
00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,636
and he's always spouting Nazi
propaganda, he's a key player.
403
00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,356
Propaganda Minister
Goebbels told them
404
00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:36,356
Germany didn't want a war at all.
405
00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,876
Goebbels had proved
his mastery of the media
406
00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:41,396
and the Nazi marketing
407
00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:45,356
as he rose through
the ranks of the Nazi Party.
408
00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,636
{\an8}He adapted recent developments
in advertising
409
00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,120
{\an8}with use of catchy slogans,
410
00:21:52,120 --> 00:21:53,796
eye-catching posters,
411
00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,716
and cryptic headlines,
412
00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,800
to further the Nazi
Party cause in image.
413
00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:04,036
He penetrated the very fabric
of German society,
414
00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:05,636
taking the voice of the Nazis
415
00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,036
directly into lounge rooms
416
00:22:08,120 --> 00:22:11,040
by making radios cheap
and readily available.
417
00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,480
They were even handed out free
on his birthday.
418
00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,076
Like Hitler, he
practiced his speeches
419
00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:20,596
in front of the mirror,
420
00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:22,076
perfecting his body language
421
00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:23,716
to convey power,
422
00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,156
with highly choreographed
hand gestures
423
00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,276
and vocal infections.
424
00:22:28,360 --> 00:22:30,676
He always knew how
to make an entrance
425
00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,676
to give the most emotional impact.
426
00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:35,556
He used the old trick
427
00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,556
of keeping the audience waiting,
428
00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:40,640
then hitting them with everything.
429
00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,796
With his striking eyes
and attractive voice,
430
00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:52,356
Goebbels was the undisputed
Nazi pin-up boy
431
00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,716
and a prolific womanizer,
432
00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:56,436
despite a clubbed foot
433
00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,050
which had prevented him from
enlisting as a fighting soldier.
434
00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,036
With the outbreak of war,
435
00:23:04,120 --> 00:23:07,076
Goebbels began using
his propaganda machine
436
00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,916
to shape messages
and control information
437
00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,356
about what was happening
on the fighting fronts.
438
00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:17,716
His word spread as gospel
throughout Germany.
439
00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:23,276
In 1943, Goebbels was appointed
Minister for Total War,
440
00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:26,196
after pressuring Hitler
to adopt the policy
441
00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:31,076
which included measures like
closing non-essential businesses,
442
00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,356
conscripting women
into the labor force,
443
00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,996
and enlisting more
men into the Wehrmacht.
444
00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:39,836
The whole idea of a...
Of a total war idea,
445
00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:41,556
it's a wonderful propaganda message.
446
00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,636
It shows the ability of Goebbels
447
00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:46,116
to seize a moment
448
00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,596
to say it is now very clear
449
00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,396
that the war is being lost,
that we've suffered a great setback,
450
00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:53,316
and we need to respond to this.
451
00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:55,796
We need to respond to this
by seizing the moment
452
00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,436
and allowing people to believe,
"Oh, we do have excess capacity,
453
00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,916
oh, the war is now seriously
gonna be fought by Germany.
454
00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,476
Now, we're going to take the
other hand out from behind our back
455
00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:05,880
and fight this war."
456
00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:08,996
As with every new maneuver
457
00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:11,796
and promotion within
the Nazi hierarchy,
458
00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:16,160
someone was going to end up
feeling overlooked and threatened.
459
00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,196
This time, it was Goering.
460
00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:22,356
Goebbels was pushing for changes
461
00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:24,956
in armaments
production and industry,
462
00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,476
which put him directly
in conflict with Goering.
463
00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,596
After his failures
at the Battle of Britain
464
00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,876
and inability to reduce losses
on the Eastern Front,
465
00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:38,036
his precious Luftwaffe
was about to be given
466
00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:40,196
a vote of no confidence
467
00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,876
as armaments for his aircraft
were reduced.
468
00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,516
Goering was starting
to feel disrespected
469
00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,156
and marginalized.
470
00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:53,356
When total war becomes a reality
471
00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,756
in 1944 lead by Goebbels,
472
00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:00,076
we see that Goering
is beside himself
473
00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:04,356
with rage that he isn't given
the responsibility
474
00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,116
that he had expected,
475
00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,076
that he had demanded,
476
00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,876
that he had put a great deal
of thought into,
477
00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:17,036
and felt that those
that were responsible for it
478
00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:19,236
didn't have the experience
479
00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,516
to produce a total war economy.
480
00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:24,440
And he was probably right.
481
00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,516
Central to the Nazi vision
482
00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:32,596
of a total war economy
483
00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,916
was a fearful and utterly
subservient population.
484
00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,556
Together, with hundreds
of thousands of slave laborers,
485
00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,116
this would be the job of the feared
486
00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,236
Reich state security police force,
487
00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:47,316
the SS,
488
00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,636
{\an8}led by another of Hitler's trusted
inner circle,
489
00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:52,436
{\an8}Heinrich Himmler.
490
00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:55,596
{\an8}Himmler was one of Hitler's
491
00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:58,876
most trusted allies.
492
00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:00,756
He was given probably
493
00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:04,796
more ability to go his own way
494
00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,196
than other peers.
495
00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:11,356
Being in control
of the national administration
496
00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,316
was a huge responsibility
497
00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,396
and provided him with
a huge power base.
498
00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,796
Also, having responsibility
for the SS if you like,
499
00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:25,000
the party's own
political military force.
500
00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:29,396
Himmler's SS death squads
501
00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:33,276
were to become universally
feared throughout Europe,
502
00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:35,636
and were responsible
for the deaths of millions
503
00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,956
of Poles and Slavs in the East.
504
00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:43,996
Nazi commanders were well advised to
keep on the right side of Himmler.
505
00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:47,756
Falling out with him,
as some commanders did,
506
00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:51,840
meant a swift removal
from power or worse.
507
00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:56,756
His power derived
from the trust of the Führer.
508
00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:01,516
He was very loyal to Hitler,
and Hitler was very loyal to him.
509
00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,756
There's no doubt that the nature
510
00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:07,036
of his responsibility
511
00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:09,116
for internal security
512
00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:13,156
meant that he could
use that power base
513
00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,836
to turn upon his enemies
very, very quickly,
514
00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,476
and very quickly remove them,
and he did that on many occasions.
515
00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:23,636
And so there's no doubt
that the inner sanctum
516
00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:26,436
around Hitler were wary of Himmler,
517
00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,760
because he himself
was incredibly ruthless.
518
00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:32,916
He was given free rein
519
00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,036
to carry out his diabolical mission,
520
00:27:36,120 --> 00:27:41,156
orchestrating and administrating
the extermination of the Jews,
521
00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:45,200
and anyone who was not
of so-called pure Aryan blood.
522
00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:49,436
Himmler was responsible
for the creation and management
523
00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,996
of the death camps
during World War II,
524
00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:56,756
at the behest of his political
mentor and sponsor,
525
00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:58,556
Adolf Hitler.
526
00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,836
Himmler begins, you know,
studying the progress
527
00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:03,156
of the Aryan race,
528
00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:04,876
and its contrast with other races.
529
00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:06,276
Impelled in part by Hitler
530
00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:09,036
because of his own
sort of ambiguous past,
531
00:28:09,120 --> 00:28:10,476
but also by Himmler
532
00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:13,276
who begins to, you know,
encumber Nazi Germany
533
00:28:13,360 --> 00:28:17,116
with a particular evil
that finds its fullest expression
534
00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,876
in the Holocaust,
the Final Solution.
535
00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:23,516
Himmler it seems was untouchable
536
00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:25,236
in the Führer's eyes.
537
00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,436
Even after the attempted
assassination of Hitler
538
00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:31,956
by senior army commanders in 1944,
539
00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,516
the infamous von Stauffenberg plot,
540
00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:36,276
he went unpunished
541
00:28:36,360 --> 00:28:40,276
for his failure to detect
and diffuse the plot in advance.
542
00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:44,476
It was a massive embarrassment
for Himmler.
543
00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,396
To soothe his shame,
544
00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:48,516
he promptly rounded up
545
00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,276
and executed thousands of suspects
546
00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:53,636
as his way of demonstrating
547
00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:55,636
his loyalty to Hitler
548
00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:59,360
and restoring the
reputation of the SS.
549
00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:03,316
Though he was in
thrall of his Führer,
550
00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,876
Himmler, like other
ambitious Nazi officials,
551
00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:11,320
had aspirations to succeed
Hitler as Germany's leader.
552
00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,836
One man he suspected
of standing in his way
553
00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,476
{\an8}was Albert Speer,
the original architect
554
00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:22,356
{\an8}of the great Berlin buildings
and monuments
555
00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,756
to the glory of the Reich.
556
00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:27,196
Speer so impressed Hitler
557
00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:30,236
with his architectural visions
of a new Berlin,
558
00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:32,356
that he appointed
him to the critical post
559
00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:35,760
of Minister for
Armaments and Munitions.
560
00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,356
Now, some people say
he was a part of the inner circle,
561
00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:40,996
but he was an architect,
562
00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:43,076
who Hitler enjoyed
having conversations
563
00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:44,716
about new design.
564
00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:46,516
He wasn't a powerbroker,
565
00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,956
but therein lies the decision.
566
00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:51,316
He's a new player.
567
00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,676
Hitler doesn't allow any one man
to assume too much power,
568
00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,436
and he's absolutely loyal to Hitler.
569
00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:01,036
Therefore, he becomes the perfect person
in this system to assume that position.
570
00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:04,956
We see a tremendous dysfunction
in Hitler's inner circle
571
00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:08,196
because the people
who are running things
572
00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:11,633
are not necessarily appointed
because of their competence.
573
00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:15,036
Speer appealed to Hitler's vanity,
574
00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,196
that Hitler thought he and Speer
575
00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:18,796
were fellow architects
576
00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:21,396
and artists and creative geniuses.
577
00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:25,436
And, uh, so he loves
spending time with Speer
578
00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:29,716
and looking over plans for a
new Reich Chancellery or the...
579
00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:31,960
A new imperial capital of Berlin.
580
00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,196
Hitler was so admiring of Speer
581
00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:41,076
that Himmler considered him
an especially dangerous rival,
582
00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:43,476
both in the
administration of the Reich
583
00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,676
and as a potential
successor to Hitler.
584
00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:50,116
As a means of getting Speer onside,
585
00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,396
Himmler offered him
the prestigious rank
586
00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:55,036
of SS Obergruppenführer,
587
00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:57,916
but Speer was having none of it.
588
00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,596
The last thing he needed was to be
under Himmler's watchful eye.
589
00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:05,556
He knew it would be hard to say no
590
00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:09,396
when Himmler wanted a say
in armaments production.
591
00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:12,556
He begins to rework
the German armaments industry.
592
00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,276
He's now competing for resources,
593
00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:17,876
and the underlings
of the Third Reich
594
00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:20,956
are all seeking to both protect
their own empires
595
00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:23,036
and make Speer look bad.
596
00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:25,396
Speer then looks to Goebbels,
597
00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:28,996
Goebbels has got his own competition
with Himmler,
598
00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:30,836
and they become natural allies.
599
00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,716
But that means
that the central focus
600
00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:36,356
of the inner circle
are not necessarily focused
601
00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:38,796
on the best outcome for the war,
602
00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,960
but on protecting private interests.
603
00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:47,916
After the war,
Speer was spared execution
604
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,760
and spent 20 years in prison.
605
00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:55,356
During which time, he wrote
accounts of his experience
606
00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:57,120
in Hitler's inner circle.
607
00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:00,916
According to Speer, the powerful men
608
00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,076
under Hitler, including
Joseph Goebbels,
609
00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,596
Hermann Goering,
and Heinrich Himmler,
610
00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:10,716
were from earlier
on jostling for favor
611
00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:12,236
and watching each other
612
00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:15,440
like a pack of childish pretenders
to the throne.
613
00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,916
{\an8}But perhaps, the greatest threat
to all of them
614
00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:23,476
{\an8}was Hitler's personal secretary,
615
00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:25,400
{\an8}Martin Bormann.
616
00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:30,916
From the start, he made
himself seen insignificant
617
00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:33,916
while imperceptibly building
his influence,
618
00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:36,596
until he was arguably
619
00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:40,476
the second most powerful man
of the Nazi Reich,
620
00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:44,516
referred to by some
as the secret leader.
621
00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:49,316
I see Bormann as the doorman
that would only allow entry
622
00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:53,436
into the inner sanctum
of the Nazi Party
623
00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:55,116
if you could add value,
624
00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,789
if you were loyal,
if you were to be trusted.
625
00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:00,796
He was a ruthless man.
626
00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:03,156
He had blood on his hands.
627
00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:07,356
He was the sort of man that Hitler
needed to do his dirty work.
628
00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:11,000
And as a result of that,
he was a trusted confidant.
629
00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:17,116
The first sign of Bormann's
ruthlessness and brutality
630
00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:19,720
came immediately after World War I,
631
00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:22,356
when he worked closely
632
00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:25,916
with a nationalistic paramilitary
group, the Freikorps,
633
00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,200
whose tactics could
get very nasty indeed.
634
00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:34,836
Bormann enjoyed getting involved
in the more robust
635
00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,716
activities of the Freikorps.
636
00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:42,156
In 1928, he joined
the National Socialists
637
00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:44,076
and was welcomed in to the SS
638
00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:46,356
by Himmler himself.
639
00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:48,276
Bormann creatively managed
640
00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:51,556
Hitler's finances
with various schemes,
641
00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:53,876
such as extracting royalties
642
00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:56,836
from Hitler's book
and his image on postage stamps,
643
00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:00,236
as well as setting up
the impressive sounding,
644
00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:04,516
but actually very shady
Adolf Hitler Endowment Fund
645
00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:06,876
of German Industry,
646
00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:11,516
which was really
a thinly veiled extortion operation
647
00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:14,516
on behalf of Hitler
to collect more money
648
00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:16,716
from German industrialists.
649
00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:18,760
No wonder Hitler loved him.
650
00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:23,075
He took charge of
all Hitler's paperwork,
651
00:34:23,159 --> 00:34:26,320
appointments, and personal finances.
652
00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:29,916
By now, Hitler's trust in Bormann
653
00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:33,075
and his worldview
was so overwhelming,
654
00:34:33,159 --> 00:34:35,836
in one meeting, he's
said to have yelled,
655
00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:39,520
"To win this war, I need Bormann."
656
00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:45,155
Bormann was now the final word
before Hitler
657
00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:47,356
in pretty much everything to do
658
00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,382
with keeping the country running.
659
00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,036
If you wanted to get to Hitler,
660
00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:54,916
you had to get
through Bormann first.
661
00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:58,316
Bormann is the head of
the Reich Chancellery,
662
00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:00,756
and essentially what that gives him
663
00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,956
is the ability to control
access to Hitler.
664
00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:07,116
He also is a repository
of a lot of knowledge.
665
00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,836
The various state
leaders around Germany,
666
00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:11,356
they talked to him,
667
00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:14,756
and this gives him
an indirect power with Hitler.
668
00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:17,796
He selectively can take a lot
of information that is coming
669
00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:21,636
across his desk and use it
to manipulate the message to Hitler.
670
00:35:21,720 --> 00:35:25,956
And this is a real problem
for any of the other, uh, rivals.
671
00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:29,196
Very few of them have in that
sense a direct access to Hitler.
672
00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:31,751
So Bormann becomes
very much a gatekeeper.
673
00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:34,556
And he proved to be a master
674
00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:36,836
of intricate political maneuvering.
675
00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:39,556
He was able to effectively nullify
676
00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:42,676
any power plays by the big names.
677
00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:45,196
He ruthlessly and skillfully
678
00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:47,916
sabotaged the agendas of all of them
679
00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:50,960
when he sensed any kind
of threat to his power.
680
00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:53,396
The inner sanctum themselves
681
00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:56,916
were always fighting
for time with Hitler.
682
00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:59,076
Martin Bormann seemed to be able
683
00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:02,396
to get Hitler on his own,
684
00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:03,756
talk into his ear,
685
00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:06,036
and influence him perhaps more
686
00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:11,676
than any other member
of the close team
687
00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:13,316
that developed around Hitler.
688
00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:15,236
And as a result of that,
689
00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,520
he was seen as someone
who was dangerous.
690
00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:22,716
In February 1943,
691
00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:25,356
the German defeat at Stalingrad
692
00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:27,996
triggered a crisis in the regime.
693
00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:32,236
True to form, Bormann
exploited the military disaster,
694
00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:35,516
with his moves sparking
a massive power struggle
695
00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:37,516
within the inner circle.
696
00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:41,756
Bormann had a proposal
to which Hitler agreed.
697
00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:44,796
The creation of a
three-man committee
698
00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:47,236
with representatives from the state,
699
00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:49,396
the army, and the party,
700
00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:51,956
which would harness
the country's productivity
701
00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:53,996
for the benefit of the war effort.
702
00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,596
The Committee of Three
was an attempt by the Germans
703
00:36:56,680 --> 00:36:57,916
in the middle of World War II
704
00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:00,516
to really make more efficient
705
00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:03,116
the German use of
resources and production
706
00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:05,156
for this multi-front war effort.
707
00:37:05,240 --> 00:37:07,556
And the idea was you'd have
a representative of industry,
708
00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:09,076
a representative of the Nazi Party,
709
00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:10,996
and a representative
of the German military,
710
00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:13,316
who would all sit around a table
and decide
711
00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:15,236
what plans had to get funded
712
00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:17,036
and where resources would go.
713
00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:18,956
The Committee of Three members
714
00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:20,676
{\an8}were Hans Lammers,
715
00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:23,276
{\an8}influential chief of
the Reich Chancellery
716
00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:25,076
{\an8}who worked alongside Bormann,
717
00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:28,916
{\an8}Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel
from the armed forces,
718
00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:32,400
{\an8}and of course, Martin Bormann.
719
00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:36,396
Hitler seemed to like the idea
of the committee,
720
00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:39,156
as none of the members
posed any threat
721
00:37:39,240 --> 00:37:43,236
to his leadership nor would
they disagree with him.
722
00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:47,716
The committee was to propose the
best independent course of action
723
00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:51,556
regardless of the views
of the respective ministries,
724
00:37:51,640 --> 00:37:54,396
with Hitler to make
the final decisions,
725
00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:57,360
which did not suite
some people at all.
726
00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:00,756
The Committee of Three were
immediately brought under attack
727
00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:03,676
by sort of the Nazi hierarchy,
people like Goering,
728
00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:06,396
people like Himmler,
people like Goebbels,
729
00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:08,596
people like Speer, who all resented
730
00:38:08,680 --> 00:38:11,836
their intruding
onto their little turfs.
731
00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:15,836
And so the Committee of Three,
which was meant to rationalize
732
00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:18,356
the German response to World War II,
733
00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:20,316
ended up being a complete fizzle.
734
00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:22,556
Despite the Committee of Three,
735
00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:23,876
administrative chaos
736
00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:27,156
continued to dog the
German war effort.
737
00:38:27,240 --> 00:38:31,196
Ultimate responsibility
for this dysfunctionality
738
00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:32,796
lay with Hitler
739
00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:35,396
and his control freakish behavior,
740
00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:37,516
as Goebbels well knew,
741
00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:42,036
referring to it in his diary
as a crisis of leadership.
742
00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:44,876
But Goebbels was too much
under Hitler's spell
743
00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:47,116
ever to challenge his power.
744
00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:50,076
As the war turned steadily
against Germany,
745
00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:54,636
as desperation and doubt
seeped into the atmosphere,
746
00:38:54,720 --> 00:38:59,876
those in the inner circle began
to viciously turn on each other.
747
00:38:59,960 --> 00:39:04,436
Blame went in circles,
and the air around Hitler's table
748
00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:08,236
became more toxic
and unproductive than ever.
749
00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:12,876
And the mighty would begin
their inevitable falls from grace.
750
00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:16,196
Goering is increasingly
marginalized by Himmler
751
00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:18,516
because he sees
all of Goering's vulnerabilities,
752
00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:20,156
lack of a work ethic,
753
00:39:20,240 --> 00:39:22,836
his buffoonish behavior,
his drug addiction,
754
00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:26,676
and he basically
increasingly sidelines Goering
755
00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:29,356
in Hitler's eyes by
the end of the war.
756
00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:31,116
There's no question
that the inner circle
757
00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:33,796
becomes almost unworkable,
758
00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:38,276
and I think it's illustrative of
the dysfunction in the inner circle
759
00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:40,796
that someone who has suffered
as many defeats,
760
00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:44,396
uh, both on the battlefield
and personally as Goering,
761
00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:47,956
that he stays in that role,
that he's never replaced.
762
00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:50,996
And that's just, well, it's absurd.
763
00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:53,556
Even though he was marginalized
764
00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:55,596
in the final months of the war,
765
00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:58,520
Goering would have
one last shot at the top.
766
00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:02,036
When it was reported to Goering
767
00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:04,916
that Hitler had
essentially lost his mind
768
00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:06,876
and was planning suicide,
769
00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:10,556
he decided to try to assert
his claim to the leadership
770
00:40:10,640 --> 00:40:13,116
based on the agreement
Hitler had signed
771
00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:15,280
naming him as his successor.
772
00:40:16,320 --> 00:40:19,716
Goering sent
a very carefully worded telegram,
773
00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:23,236
requesting to take command
of the Reich forces
774
00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:24,996
as per the agreement.
775
00:40:25,080 --> 00:40:26,916
But it was intercepted by Bormann,
776
00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:29,956
who took full advantage
of Hitler's paranoia
777
00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:32,356
to brand Goering a traitor.
778
00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:36,436
Hitler replied to Goering,
with much help from Bormann,
779
00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:39,476
threatening him with
treason and execution
780
00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:42,076
unless he resigned all posts.
781
00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:43,796
Well, at the end of
the war, you know,
782
00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:46,916
Goering always thought he had
been anointed by Hitler
783
00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:49,316
as, you know, Deputy
Führer, you know.
784
00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:53,036
So he thought that he had the chops
to take over the job,
785
00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:55,676
and he made the mistake
of, you know, volunteering
786
00:40:55,760 --> 00:40:57,756
to take over because,
"I know you're in Berlin,
787
00:40:57,840 --> 00:40:59,236
I know you're in
the bunker, Führer,"
788
00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:01,796
and, oh, that really angered Hitler.
789
00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:03,756
Hitler... that was the final straw
for Hitler.
790
00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:06,236
He'd already been souring on Goering
791
00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:09,036
and then, when Goering
tried to sort of move
792
00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:12,716
and take over the Führer's office
while Hitler was,
793
00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:15,556
you know, hunkering in the bunker
waiting to blow his brains out,
794
00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:18,756
he said no and Hitler takes
the job away from Goering
795
00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:21,600
and gives it to
Donitz in a fit of spite.
796
00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:24,956
Goering resigned
and started heading westwards
797
00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:28,276
with his family to surrender
to the Americans,
798
00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:30,716
which was a good move.
799
00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:35,400
Bormann had ordered
his execution anyway if Berlin fell.
800
00:41:36,760 --> 00:41:40,236
Next to make a rash grab for power
801
00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:42,036
was Heinrich Himmler.
802
00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:44,636
Himmler was second only to Goebbels
803
00:41:44,720 --> 00:41:46,556
in loyalty to the Führer,
804
00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:51,156
but he threw what remained away
when, in May 1945,
805
00:41:51,240 --> 00:41:54,756
he attempted to broker
a peace deal with the Allies,
806
00:41:54,840 --> 00:41:57,076
behind Hitler's back.
807
00:41:57,160 --> 00:42:00,356
Well, you begin to see
just how many cracks there are
808
00:42:00,440 --> 00:42:02,756
only at the very end,
809
00:42:02,840 --> 00:42:06,116
when it's become clear
that in spite of all the promises,
810
00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:09,676
even among the men who were supposedly
the most loyal, Goering and Himmler,
811
00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:13,116
that they would seek
to open negotiations with the Allies
812
00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:16,876
once it becomes clear that there's
going to be a post-Hitler Germany.
813
00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:19,396
For Hitler, it is
the final betrayal,
814
00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:22,796
and I guess in some ways
it also shows how these men...
815
00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:25,396
At the end of the day,
they're ultimately self-interested.
816
00:42:25,480 --> 00:42:28,476
The Allies
refused his generous terms
817
00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:31,916
and for Himmler, the game was up.
818
00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:35,516
As a final insult
to the Holocaust mastermind,
819
00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:39,116
Heinrich Himmler
was officially branded a traitor
820
00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:44,040
and, along with Goering,
stripped of all Nazi rank and power.
821
00:42:45,280 --> 00:42:47,236
Not that it mattered.
822
00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:50,916
Germany was moments away
from losing the war,
823
00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:54,316
and Himmler was days away
from committing suicide
824
00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:57,280
after being captured by the Allies.
825
00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:03,276
Only Goebbels
remained steadfast in his loyalty.
826
00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:07,116
And with the suicide of Hitler
and the fall of Germany imminent,
827
00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:08,960
he became chancellor.
828
00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:11,956
He served less than a day
829
00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:16,036
before he and his wife
poisoned their six children
830
00:43:16,120 --> 00:43:17,680
and themselves.
831
00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:21,756
Martin Bormann had proven ruthless
832
00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:24,236
and conniving right to the end
833
00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:26,156
and having had the satisfaction
834
00:43:26,240 --> 00:43:29,516
of defrocking his
great nemesis Goering,
835
00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:31,396
tried to make a run for it.
836
00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:35,636
Although mystery long remained
over his whereabouts,
837
00:43:35,720 --> 00:43:39,156
he was later confirmed killed
by Soviet artillery
838
00:43:39,240 --> 00:43:42,760
as he made his last
desperate bid for freedom.
839
00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:49,076
The walls were literally
coming down around them,
840
00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:51,756
and they were still exacting revenge
841
00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:54,916
and intent on settling scores
with one another
842
00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:57,240
until the bitter end.
843
00:43:57,920 --> 00:43:59,676
Right from the beginning,
844
00:43:59,760 --> 00:44:01,556
the seeds were sewn
845
00:44:01,640 --> 00:44:04,680
for the destruction
of the Reich from within.
846
00:44:05,680 --> 00:44:08,716
Self-glorification
and personal power
847
00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:11,516
for these craven sociopaths
848
00:44:11,600 --> 00:44:13,516
had proved more important
849
00:44:13,600 --> 00:44:15,640
than actually winning the war.
63509
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