Martin Bormann & his wife Gerda

[J. Duncan]

Annelie
You are quite correct in Bormann NOT being a likable figure! I can understand anyone who feels he was an awful figure. He was ruthless, had 0 % compassion for anyone, selfish, egotistical, and quite murderous. In some ways, he went even beyond Hitler in his committment to enforcing the National Socialist ideology on indigenous populations. Read the chapter in lang's book "The Slavs Are Slaves". David Irving is currently writing a book portraying Himmler as Hitler's "Rasputin" but it was really Bormann who, as Lang makes quite clear "the man who manipulated Hitler". Irving totally misses the mark - Himmler wouldn't dare act behind his back (at least not until all was lost in 1945, when he tried to save his own skin in his negotiations with Count Bernadotte of Sweden). Bormann would, and did, do things without Hitler's approval and made plenty of key policy decisions in Hitler's name without his knowledge. Not defending Hitler, just trying to make a point that Bormann was a more evil figure than many people realize.
He was a man not to be trifled with and you better get the hell out of his way....ask those families living on Obersalzberg who he kicked out to build Hitler his mansion. No, he was a hated figure and just about every man on the dock in Nuremberg wanted to see him hang. Bormann couldn't touch Speer and he resented it too.
Yes, Speer does come across as "likable" because his memoirs are very well written and has much reflection and insight in them. You should read his "Spandau Diaries", these are even better and are quite underated actually. I think one of the memorable quotes I read in them was an inflective admission from Speer: "When I look back on all the buildings we had planned, preparing them to last for a thousand years, envisioning what they would look like in ruins...all of the buildings, all of the grandiose plans we made, all of the monumental Empire building...all of that pales in comparison with the simple act of helping others." Speer had time for self-analysis and understanding where he went wrong in life and that is part of what makes his memoirs and writings so different from others. There is little self-justification or self-pity in them.

[Annelie]

Yes, I agree with you wholeheartedly in your estimation.

Actually I think I have just about all the English written books on Speer that is available.
The more you read about him the more one can see he was different than many of those
around Hitler. I think somehow to do what had or what was asked of those around Hitler
one had to compartmentalize what they were doing and focus on the project or goal.
Easier than looking around and trying to analyze and justify what was taking place.

I too believe that Bormann was somehow more dangerous since he did as you pointed out
did things behind Hitler's back, all for the cause I suppose that is why he got away with
doing such probably at least in Hitler's eyes.

[Arto O]

Hi,
What was the Borman´s secret to gain so much confidence/power from Hitler? He was´t even in the Munich Putsch.
Cheers
Arto

[J. Duncan]

Bormann slowly rose through the ranks as an organizer of the best part of any movement : it's money! He started as an underling to party treasurer Schwartz in the mid 1920's. Bormann was a master of intrigue, eliminating rivals. He became secretary to Deputy Fuehrer Rudolf hess. While Hess lived in a world of fantasy, skiing, hiking, and flying (head in the clouds), Bormann lived on the ground, doing all of the dirty jobs. He was very much like Stalin in this regard. He eventually made himself head of Hitler's personal monetary fund, always coming up with grand schemes to get more money for Hitler. Bormann got Hitler royalties for Mein Kampf, got him money for having his image on postal stamps, and even came up with an insurance business for injured SA men that paid off huge sums. Bormann was also loyal as a dog, a very hard worker, and made himself indespensible to Hitler. He was called "comrade card index" because he would write down everything Hitler wished or wanted on small index cards that he kept in his pocket, and he would never forget to fulfill these desires for Hitler. Hitler called him "my most loyal Party comrade."

[Arto O]

Thanks J. Duncan,
once you mentioned, I remember these note books, that he used to write down every wish of AH. But raising funds was new to me. I wonder if one day these notebooks will "appear" for sell somewhere.
Cheers
Arto

[rjbama]

I have read all books on Speer over the years and I have come to the conclusion that he knew much more than he said he knew. Speer was a brillant man and probably should have been hung at the first trial of war criminals. I firmly believe he knew the plan about the Final Solution although he may not have known all the details. His daughter is now a political figure in the unified Germany.

[Annelie]

Speer was a brillant man and probably should have been hung at the first trial of war criminals

The court decided who should be hung. Unless you have evidence to the contrary their decision was
based on fact.

[Helge]

Martin Bormann to Gerda Bormann
Fuehrer's Headquarters

16. 1. 1943

My darling girl,

As I've told you, H.H.'s 1 visit today was by
no means a pleasure. He is deeply offended, and apparently
not just since yesterday or today. He feels unjustly treated
by the Chief, 2 and quoted examples to the effect from the
last few years. While worthless people were being treated
well, and even with distinction, he, H.H., was considered
good enough only for raising divisions, and so on and so
forth. He brushed aside all my objections. I told him: yes,
indeed, the Chief too has the right to be unjust once in a
while--aren't we all unjust again and again, in spite of our
best intentions? And in the case of H.H., I said, constant
high praise had to be set against a single instance of criticism.
But it was no use. H.H.'s criticism was so very bitter, and
at times so acid, that in other circumstances I should have
had no choice but to get up and say: 'I'm sorry, but I must
take my leave from you and take off your uniform. The
Fuehrer is the Fuehrer, and he is beyond all criticism!'

I made allowances for H.H.'s state of nervous strain and
told him so; I said that, because of this nervous strain, he was
taking a lopsided and distorted view of things. Four weeks'
rest, and he himself would once more remember and duly
appreciate the Fuehrer's gigantic achievements and his
twenty-three years of ceaseless, restless effort. If nerves
played the devil with all of us at times, it was no wonder
that something of the sort happened to the Fuehrer whose
task was super-human. All the same, he towered over us like
Mt. Everest. And even if he were to dismiss us in a sudden
fit of anger, we would still have to be bound to him in
deepest gratitude--to our dear Fuehrer!

____________________
1 Heinrich Himmler.
2 Hitler was called 'der Chief' by his immediate subordinates.


Publication Information: Book Title: The Bormann Letters: The Private Correspondence between Martin Bormann and His Wife from January 1943 to April 1945. Contributors: H. R. Trevor-Roper - editor, Martin Bormann - author. Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicholson. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1954.

[Helge]

Martin Bormann to Gerda Bormann
14. 8. 1943

Dear Gerda,

I am just about to change for dinner with the
Fuehrer and Boris of Bulgaria--and find there is no suitable
pair of trousers!

Obviously I can't put on the pair I am sending back with
this, it doesn't go with a tunic and least of all at a State
dinner. I haven't worn these trousers once this summer.
You can use them for the children.

Your B.


M.B. to G.B.
14. 8. 1943

My dear girlie,

Please have Ott mend my braces--then they
will go on serving me for a long time.

Your B.


M.B. to G.B.
Berlin, W.8, 64 Wilhelmstrasse

17. 8. 1943

Beloved, sweet, darling wife,

What a shame that you cannot
be here with me!

As it is, I can only--alas--send you this suitcase.

See you keep well, dearest, for my sake and the children's.

Always your

M.B.


M.B. to G.B.
Fuehrer's Headquarters

19. 8. 1943

My beloved girlie,

I am simply too tired to write you a letter,
with the best will in the world. As I told you already, this


Publication Information: Book Title: The Bormann Letters: The Private Correspondence between Martin Bormann and His Wife from January 1943 to April 1945. Contributors: H. R. Trevor-Roper - editor, Martin Bormann - author. Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicholson. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1954.

[Helge]

M.B. to G.B.
Berlin, W. 8

2. 4. 1945

9.30 p.m.

Easter!

My sweet girl,

For the first time for many weeks I am listen-
ing to some music on the radio--'You are so good to me'
and 'You are my sun'.

My beloved, what an utterly adorable creature you are!
I can only hope that I and all the children will be able
to repay you for all the love you have lavished on us.

Look after yourself, my darling. We have need of you,
my most beautiful!

I am your

M.


M.B. to G.B.
2. 4. 1945

My Darling,

Do not misunderstand my letter of yesterday
evening about the possible move to the Tyrol. My letter
was entirely the result of my very great anxiety on your
account. At the moment no danger whatever threatens
you--Vienna is 330 kilometres away from you and the
Americans in Heidelberg 460 kilometres. We must just wait
and see what happens.

Granny in Weimar will certainly be very worried, for
Eisenach has been under artillery fire since yesterday, and
today tanks are said to be approaching it and the town of
Meiningen. But the worst thing of all is the despair that has
gripped all--civilians and soldiers alike--which amounts to
the feeling that 'there is no sense in resisting any more'. I
have again and again drawn the Fuehrer's attention to the
devastating effect of the ceaseless air attacks on the morale
of soldiers and civilians alike. Anyone who spends his life
bowing and scraping very quickly acquires a servile nature;




Publication Information: Book Title: The Bormann Letters: The Private Correspondence between Martin Bormann and His Wife from January 1943 to April 1945. Contributors: H. R. Trevor-Roper - editor, Martin Bormann - author. Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicholson. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1954.

[Helge]

M.B. to G.B.
Berlin, W. 8

2. 4. 1945

9.30 p.m.

Easter!

My sweet girl,

For the first time for many weeks I am listen-
ing to some music on the radio--'You are so good to me'
and 'You are my sun'.

My beloved, what an utterly adorable creature you are!
I can only hope that I and all the children will be able
to repay you for all the love you have lavished on us.

Look after yourself, my darling. We have need of you,
my most beautiful!

I am your

M.


M.B. to G.B.
2. 4. 1945

My Darling,

Do not misunderstand my letter of yesterday
evening about the possible move to the Tyrol. My letter
was entirely the result of my very great anxiety on your
account. At the moment no danger whatever threatens
you--Vienna is 330 kilometres away from you and the
Americans in Heidelberg 460 kilometres. We must just wait
and see what happens.

Granny in Weimar will certainly be very worried, for
Eisenach has been under artillery fire since yesterday, and
today tanks are said to be approaching it and the town of
Meiningen. But the worst thing of all is the despair that has
gripped all--civilians and soldiers alike--which amounts to
the feeling that 'there is no sense in resisting any more'. I
have again and again drawn the Fuehrer's attention to the
devastating effect of the ceaseless air attacks on the morale
of soldiers and civilians alike. Anyone who spends his life
bowing and scraping very quickly acquires a servile nature;



Publication Information: Book Title: The Bormann Letters: The Private Correspondence between Martin Bormann and His Wife from January 1943 to April 1945. Contributors: H. R. Trevor-Roper - editor, Martin Bormann - author. Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicholson. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1954

[Helge]

Gerda Bormann to Martin Bormann
Obersalzberg

24. 2. 1945

My darling Daddy,

I will now give you the report I promised
you on Kreisleiter Stredele's speech. It was not a long speech
--he spoke for barely an hour--but it contained all the
problems we feel strongly about.

The bitterness and the duration of the present struggle
compelled us, he said, to turn our minds to the fundamental
issues involved in this world-wide conflagration. Only
those who did so would be able to understand the whole
implication of the struggle; and an understanding of the
vital issues involved would bring with it the conviction that
victory, ultimately, must be ours--for otherwise, surely, the
order of the universe would be upset.

He divided mankind into three groups--the peasants
with their roots deep in the soil, the nomadic dwellers in the
steppes, and the commercially minded parasites. The first
group was composed of ourselves, the Japanese and the
Chinese; only the man with his roots deeply in the soil, he
said, possessed real culture, for he alone realised the respon-
sibilities of his heritage and he alone knew that his labours
would bear fruit for his children and grandchildren. His
whole being was devoted to the dual concept--the sowing
and the harvest. The same principle applied equally to the
peasant owner of inherited land and to the industrialist who
had a community of workmen dependent upon him. Work,
for the peasant type, was both an inner necessity and an
immutable law.

Their determination to harness the forces of nature to the
advantage of their soil or their industry made explorers and
inventors of them. The most priceless possession of the peasant
is his child, who is destined to carry on the torch of life and
the burden of toil, and he devotes his whole life to the welfare
of child and soil. The peasant type, he said, never fights
for booty; they fight only for living space, and the plough
invariably follows the sword.



Publication Information: Book Title: The Bormann Letters: The Private Correspondence between Martin Bormann and His Wife from January 1943 to April 1945. Contributors: H. R. Trevor-Roper - editor, Martin Bormann - author. Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicholson. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1954.

[Helge]

Martin Bormann to Gerda Bormann
20.2.1945

My Beloved,

You cannot imagine how happy our daily little
talks on the phone make me. All the more so, because our
worries are now so great, that even the staunch Puma is
beginning to hang his head in despair!

Uncle Heinrich's offensive did not succeed, 1 that is to say
it did not develop properly, and now the Divisions which he
was holding in reserve have to be put in on other sectors. It
means constant improvisation from one day to the next.
Meanwhile, according to the daily air reconnaissance re-
ports, the Russians are continuing to pour vast reinforce-
ments into their broad wedge, ready for an offensive; then
their attack will be launched somewhere, and, of course, the
attacker has always an advantage as soon as he has achieved
a break-through.

21. 2. 1945, 10 mins. past midnight.

And now the British, in whose own interests we are, in-
directly, fighting, have launched attacks against the Ruhr in
the vicinity of Cleve and Goch--and have plastered lines of
communication, factories and dwelling houses with very
heavy bombing attacks in the process. We are by no means
out of the wood yet, and the heaviest attacks and most
critical months have still to come!

The food situation, too, is very critical. We shall have to eat
lots of wild vegetables if we want to satisfy our hunger. So--
prepare to collect as many as you can!

Enough for today; I am so tired that I can hardly stand I!

Even now I couldn't get to bed! My secretaries asked me to
have a last brandy with them, and I felt I could not refuse.
They are all celebrating birthdays--Fräulein Klee on Febru-
ary 20th, Fiäulein Lechner on 21st and Fräulein Unter-
holzner on 22nd. I gave them each a copy of Maple Leaf and
I talked to them for about an hour about the Kapp putsch

____________________
1 Himmler was now Commander-in-Chief of the Army Group Vistula, on
the Eastern Front.


Publication Information: Book Title: The Bormann Letters: The Private Correspondence between Martin Bormann and His Wife from January 1943 to April 1945. Contributors: H. R. Trevor-Roper - editor, Martin Bormann - author. Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicholson. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1954.

[Helge]

M.B. to G.B.
Saturday
10.2.1945

My Beloved,

When I looked at my watch just now, I saw that
it was already 25 mins. past midnight--already Sunday,
then! Unless you had drawn my attention to the fact I
wouldn't know it was a Sunday.

Today I lunched with Uncle Heinrich, Burgdorff and
Fegelein, and tonight I dined again with Uncle H., Sepp
D[ietrich]., Fegelein and Berger. 1 In the interval, between
our discussions, Heinrich had had a conference with the
Fuehrer and at 4 p.m. had attended the main situation
conference, while I had had a meeting with Lammers--and
so the hours slipped away.

Now I must go to bed, so that I shall be up early and fresh
for the day's work tomorrow. How I wish I could get over
to S.--even for one night, to have a bath and to sit for a bit
with clean clothes in a warm, clean room!

Just imagine, I, of all people, have a real bad cough, I
can't remember when last I had a cough--that sort of thing
never happens when you are with me! Oh, Mummy dear,
how lovely was the time from 9th to 26th January! And
how grateful I am to you for it! And with this memory and
with you in my thoughts--let Sunday begin!

Your
M.


Gerda Bormann to Martin Bormann
Obersalzberg
12.2-1945

. . . I am terribly sorry for Frau von Treuenfels. But what a
brave woman she is, truly exemplary. Daddy, the demands
that are being made on so many of our people are frightful.
Let us hope that later we shall have the chance of making
things really good for them, in compensation for their sorrows

____________________
1 S.S. General Gottlieb Berger, Chief of S.S. Head Office.


Publication Information: Book Title: The Bormann Letters: The Private Correspondence between Martin Bormann and His Wife from January 1943 to April 1945. Contributors: H. R. Trevor-Roper - editor, Martin Bormann - author. Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicholson. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1954.

[Helge]

Gerda Bormann to Martin Bormann
1. 1. 1945

My darling Daddy,

I was delighted to get your long letters
of December 27th and 28th. They have given me plenty to
think about--particularly your plans for post-war recon-
struction. I am boundlessly furious at the thought that we,
with our innate longing for light and sunshine, should be
compelled by the Jews to make our abodes as if we were
beings of the underworld. I am not referring to our personal
housing. I know that even underground you will build for
us a cosy, roomy and practical home, in which we shall all
be very comfortable; but the consequences for our people,
for their health and culture, must be enormous. I wonder
whether a totally new race will not grow up as a result. . . .


Martin Bormann to Gerda Bormann
Fuehrer's Headquarters
2. 1. 1945

My Beloved,

How I wish I were with you! Fegelein doesn't
leave here till Sunday next; but I shall try and get away
before, so that I still can see my Krönzi.

Tomorrow we have an important conference with the
Fuehrer on the subject of the Replacement Army. Speer is
already here, and Ganzenmüller 1 and Goebbels are also
coming; they will probably stay till the evening of the fourth,
and I shall not, in any case, be able to get away before that.

I should very much like to pay one visit to Schluchsee and
combine it, if possible, with a visit to Himmler; he has his
quarters--that is to say, his train--either in the vicinity of
one of the Murgtal tunnels or near Triberg. Borgmann
returned to duty today, but he has been told to take things
very easy.

Yesterday evening we saw one of the best films I have

____________________
1 Albert Ganzenmüller, Minister for Communications.


Publication Information: Book Title: The Bormann Letters: The Private Correspondence between Martin Bormann and His Wife from January 1943 to April 1945. Contributors: H. R. Trevor-Roper - editor, Martin Bormann - author. Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicholson. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1954.