Why did Hitler attend a funeral of Jozef Pilsudski in 1935?

[Lamarck]

Adolf Hitler attending memorial service of the Polish First Marshall Jozef Pilsudski in Berlin, 1935.

https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/adolf- ... dski-1935/

Hitler hated the Poles, why did he attend the funeral?

[history1]

From your link:
"The head of Poland Józef Piłsudski died on May 12, 1935. His funeral was made few days later in Warsaw. "

Piłsudski got burried in Craców, not in Warsaw.

[Br. James]

I would suggest that Hitler's presence was as a demonstration of respect for the German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact which had been renewed on May 5, 1934. Seated in the front row nearest to Hitler appears to have been Dr. Otto Meissner, Chief of the President's Chancellery, which illustrates the governmental importance of this treaty with Germany's ally, Poland...at this time, of course!

Br. James

[2ndReichIsBestReich]

I agree with Br.James on the fact that it was to show the German-polish "unbreakable" alliance to the world. As a way to sort of show the Allied powers that there wasn't any reason to worry. It kind of allowed for further German success as the Allies were far less suspicious than they would've been if Germany hadn't publicly tried to show Germanic-Polish friendship.

[wm]

With the exception there was no German-Polish alliance, as they was no German-France alliance just because both countries signed the Locarno Treaties.

Hitler merely liked and admired Piłsudski, and it was customary for head of states to take part in such funerals.
Hitler did it "on the cheap" anyway, by attending in Berlin he avoided a long trip to Poland.

[Br. James]

Interesting details, wm. So, when you say "...by attending in Berlin [Hitler] avoided a long trip to Poland," you mean that the photo shown in Lamarck's note which opened this topic was taken in Berlin and not in Kraków's Wawel Cathedral, where Pilsudski's remains were laid to rest...even though there appears to be a casket beneath the Polish national flag?

And if "...there was no German-Polish alliance," what was the Non-Aggression Pact renewal which Dr. Goebbels signed in Warsaw on behalf of Germany in May of 1934?

Br. James

[N.C. Wyeth]

Interesting details, wm. So, when you say "...by attending in Berlin [Hitler] avoided a long trip to Poland," you mean that the photo shown in Lamarck's note which opened this topic was taken in Berlin and not in Kraków's Wawel Cathedral, where Pilsudski's remains were laid to rest...even though there appears to be a casket beneath the Polish national flag?

Br. James

Perhaps you would like a moment to go back and review Mr. Lamarck's note again?
[Hint: Even if you decide not to click the link - and read the article . . . be sure to pay close attention to the part where he mentions, "Adolf Hitler attending memorial service of the Polish First Marshall Jozef Pilsudski in Berlin, 1935"]

[wm]

And if "...there was no German-Polish alliance," what was the Non-Aggression Pact renewal which Dr. Goebbels signed in Warsaw on behalf of Germany in May of 1934?

The Pact was signed only once (simultaneously with an identical pact with the USSR) and was valid for ten years. It was a pact renouncing the use of force in their relations, except in case of a German attack on France.

Hitler hated the Poles

Till 1939 Hitler really didn't hate the Poles, he merely believed the Polish masses were of low quality therefore mostly useless, but the elites weren't bad (because of the German element they were based on) and showed promise.
Goebbels thought highly of the Polish leaders ("we must learn from them") and he rather got it from Hitler.
It changed and Hitler got angry when the Poles derailed his grandiose plans, but who wouldn't - such beautiful plans and some small stuff throws a wrench in the works...

[GregSingh]

Perhaps you would like a moment to go back and review Mr. Lamarck's note again?
[Hint: Even if you decide not to click the link - and read the article . . . be sure to pay close attention to the part where he mentions, "Adolf Hitler attending memorial service of the Polish First Marshall Jozef Pilsudski in Berlin, 1935"]

Title of this topic is misleading, obviously Hitler never attended Pilsudzki's funeral, only memorial service in Berlin.
There were memorial services in other countries too.

Although apparently Germany was the only country that had official day of national mourning.

[Br. James]

Wm, you appear to be quoting me here when you post: "Br. James wrote: Hitler hated the Poles" but if you look again at the very first note in this thread, you'll see that Lamarck made that comment, not me.

That said, you are correct in calling attention to my mis-use of the title of the German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact of May 1934 as a "renewal" when it was the original signing of that pact.

With apologies,

Br. James

[wm]

Wm, you appear to be quoting me here when you post: "Br. James wrote: Hitler hated the Poles" but if you look again at the very first note in this thread, you'll see that Lamarck made that comment, not me.

Sorry! Mindless copy/paste...

Although apparently Germany was the only country that had official day of national mourning.

Is that really true? A day of national mourning, dedicated to a foreigner is something quite unusual.
I've check the largest Polish daily IKC and there was nothing about it. A single issue of The Völkischer Beobachter was printed entirely in black, there was a pan-Germany commemorative broadcast and nothing more.
They really weren't enthusiastic about that memorial service, there was only a small note on page 13 (!), and earlier some speculations that Hitler was going to attend the funeral in person - to meet Laval.

[Futurist]

With the exception there was no German-Polish alliance, as they was no German-France alliance just because both countries signed the Locarno Treaties.

Hitler merely liked and admired Piłsudski, and it was customary for head of states to take part in such funerals.
Hitler did it "on the cheap" anyway, by attending in Berlin he avoided a long trip to Poland.

Did Hitler send anyone to Poland for Pilsudski's funeral, though? Perhaps a crony or his or two?

[GregSingh]

Did Hitler send anyone to Poland for Pilsudski's funeral, though? Perhaps a crony or his or two?

German press mentioned: General Göring, ambassador von Moltke, General von Bock, Konteradmiral Witzel and Fliegergeneral Wever as members of German delegation on Pilsudski's funeral in Cracow. Wever seems to be missing from this photo?

Is that really true? A day of national mourning, dedicated to a foreigner is something quite unusual.

Well, it went only as far as flags at half-mast on government buildings on the 13th and on funeral day - 18th of May 1935.

Pilsudski.jpg (44.03 KiB) Viewed 14524 times

[wm]

from Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe (http://www.nac.gov.pl)

[history1]

I can only wonder about statements like

"A single issue of The Völkischer Beobachter was printed entirely in black, there was a pan-Germany commemorative broadcast and nothing more. "

What exactly do you expect? Flags on half-mast and the above is even nowadays used exclusively when our country´s president dies.