Hitler's most admired partner

[weiwensg]

I think Hitler most admired the Japanese. He was willing to bend his concept of racial superiority to include the Japanese.

In Europe, however, I am not sure whether he admired Mussolini more or Romania more. Anyone have any opinions on either topic?

[Atlee Brigade]

Hitler certainly admired the Japenese. However, this admiration only developed as WW2 progressed when it was generally realised how the Japenese were highly competent soldiers. Before this I think Hitler didn't like the Japenese too much because of his racial ideaology. In fact I think he said once, in the early stages of the war(when he thought Germany and the British Empire could still be allies), that he wanted to supply Britain in Asia with troops to defend her colonies from the Japenese. Later on, Hitler does say in his Last Testament, prior to committing suicide, how he thought Japan a good ally. I believe there is further evidence of this Hitler's thoughts on the Japenes in the book Hitler's Table Talk.
As for Italy and Romania, Hitler admired the Italians for their various cultural acheivements over the centuries, if not their military ones, and admired Mussolini as an individual.
I don't think he held a high opinion of the Romanian people, but thought a lot of their leader Antonescu, for some reason.

[Drew Maynard]

If you take into context his comments on Leon Degrelle (If I had a son, I would want him to be you) -I believe it was something like that, I believe he favoured the Belgians- whether this was Flamands or Walloons, not sure, perhaps just Degrelle.

I have a feeling, due to the racial aspects, he favoured the nords over the southerns Europeans, though correct about his liking of Italian cultural acehievements. It brings to mind the quote about Hitler vs one of Himmler's thoughts on German historical culture that (and spare me, this is not the direct quote) something to the effect that 'teutons were in mud huts while the romans were building the empire in it's glory'

vinland

[weiwensg]

Who is Leon Degrelle?

[Atlee Brigade]

Who is Leon Degrelle?

Leon Degrelle was the head of the Belgian Walloon unit of the Waffen S.S.. He was the most decorated Non-German soldier of the Third Reich.
Prior to the Second World War he was the leader of the Belgian fascist party known as The Rexists.
Hitler once said that if he had had a son he would have liked him to have been like Degrelle.

[Nick.A.]

Without doubt, it would have to have been the Italian "DUCE", Mussolini. Adolf Hitler had long been an admirer, of the Duce, and Fascist Italy,well before the Nazis took power in Germany, in January '33. As far as I am aware, Hitler tried to communicate several times, with the Duce, before becoming Chancellor, But was snubbed on each occassion. It was not untill they first met, in Venice, on the 14th June, 1934, that the respect became mutual. Adolf Hitler, could only speak German, but Mussolini, was a skilled linguist, and was quite fluent in the German tongue. When Mussolini, was betrayed by those he thought he could trust, and arrested and held in prison, Hitler's immediate reaction, was the rescue of his "Old Friend". This is why he sent one of Germany's favourite sons, Otto Skorzeny, on a rescue mission to the Italian moutains( "Gran Sasso")to rescue him, on 12 September, 1943. Skorzeny, is often quoted, that upon entering the building where the Duce was held prisoner, he said:" Duce, the Fuhrer has sent me to rescue you", to which Mussolini replied" I always knew that my Friend,Adolf Hitler,would not let me down". The Fuhrer, also instigated the rescue of Mussolini's wife and children, who had been placed under house arrest. The familly was re-united in Munich. Regards, Nick.A.

[Maresal-06]

Antonescu was admired by Hitler... Romania engaged herself in the East far more than Italy and we must not forget the oil who was very important for Germany's war machine.