The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-12

" L balcony in the Wilhelmstrasse from l which Hitler was to greet the Nag throngs. The constructing engineer was about to send out detachment f of 10 bodyguards to test its strength Hitler, however, stopped him and said: 'never mind, Goering was just out there wearing all his medals and 1t didn't give way"
 Y While he pokes acid fun at othel people, including his closest asso. ciates, Hitler cannot and will not to- ' 1erate jokes on himself. When he learned that an SS man, making 2 l play on words, said, T am from the < terleibStandarte" (lower body ' guard) rather than from the heb- standarte (bodyguard), Hitler was infuriated and had the man sharply disciplined.
 No Jokes On Italians Nor does Hitler like political jokes which reflect on the Nazis or their Axis partners. For example, he is- sued a blanket order in the chancel- lory that all jokes about Italians and their armed prowess should cease forthwith. Fourteen persons nevertheless, violated these instruc- tions and Il were severely taken to task.
 A sarcastic remark, which got back to Hitler and contributed to the tragedy of the Austrian Anschluss, was dropped by the Austrian chan cellor, Kurt Schusschnigg, who re- ferred to Hitler as the "Saeulenhei- liger" or pillar saint. This is con- mon expression in Germany mean ing figurehead of piety but as used by Schusschnigg it concealed sly dig at Hitler's predilection for col- umns in architecture as well as to his general unctious bearing. Franz Won Papen, then minister at Vien- ma, with seeming casualness, repeat ed Schusschnigg'S remark to Hitler just 48 hours before the Australian chancellor was received at Berchtes- gaden. The result, as Papen had hoped, was that Schusschnigg was treated with brutal contempt by Hit Ter.
 Hitler Missed This One This fascination of Hitler's in columns incidentally is interpreted by medical specialists as revealing his subconscious preoccupation with the column as a phallic sym bol. On the occasion of the remod- cling of Hitler's house at Berchtes- gaden, Goering, who often shows an ironical turn os humor said to Architect Albert ..Speer jokingly 'YeH, but tlais shall should have 400 columns in it." This remark reached Hitler, who completely missed tho irony of 1t and considered 1t sim cere and wise observation on the part of his chief deputy.
 Outside his circle of intimates Hitler is not without the ability to sense opportunities for creating and enjoying small dramatic situations which center on himself. For exam pie, shortly after the completion of the Kehlstein eagles nest, he invit- ed the French Ambassador, Francois Poncct, to the 1800-foot peak for a visit. Stepping from the elevator and seeing no one around, Poncet observed What, hasn't Wotan arrived yet?" from behind a curtain came a deep voice, equally sDronic, "Yes, here he isl" and Hitler stepped forth.
 Role Of Benign Father
 On other occasions, Hitler likes to act the role of benign father to all his people. One day Hitler was walking in the chancellory garden. He met the wife of one of his body guardsmen carrying a one-year-old daughter in her arms. Heinrich Hoffman was following with his ca- 2nera. as he often does to get can- Mid shots, and had focused and snapped the shutter before he real- 1zed that the child had wet Hitler's tunic, making dark stain.
 Hoffman said to Hitler, well, of eourse, I will destroy this plate"
 "No. Keep 1t for this young lady" Hitler replied. Tt will some day be of great value to her and certainly 1t will be unique"
 Tn the cellar of the Reichscharl- eelIory stands a miniature cannon modelled after one of Krupp's mod ern giants. The barrel is about three feet long, with silencer. Hitler, when he had time, used to delight in loading, aiming and firing this little piece himself. The targets were wooden figures of Polish, English, French, Belgian, Dutch and Russian soldiers. The Russians were painted with leering bestiaI faces. Tn time all the figures were shot to pieces.
 Prominent visitors were taken to the cellar to see the cannon. When Mussolini visited Hitler, as a great mark of distinction, he was even al- lowed to load and shoot it and with great glee Mussolini entered himself