Evening star., 1945-08-16
Former Nozi Party Chauffeur
Tells of HitIer's Early DAYS

about once a month. He did not
complain very much for without it
he would have had nothing. The
party paid for the gasoline and did
not check too closely on the amount
used.
1t was dierent with the Mercedes.
Hitler was supposed to pay for his
own gasoline and he was seldom in
funds. Dealers around Munich |
would not trust him very far. A few
let him run up bills of as much as
5000 marks before shutting off
credit. Then the Mercedes would
stay in the garage while Hitler paid
up, few hundred marks at a time.
Once a garageman demanded that
Steinbinder pay and he had to meet
a considerable gas bill out OF his
irregular pay.
After a year conditions improved.
Party funds were more plentiful
and the S. marks actually we're paid
every week. Hitler made frequent
trips into the country, usually ac-
companied by Rudolf Hess, a pho
tographer and a bodyguard named
Schreck, who later succeeded Stein
binder as his chauffeur. Hitler
seemed little better off for personal
funds, but Hess usually paid for the
gasoline. The four men used toI
spend many Sundays at lake sides,
taking long walks and gathering
flowers.
Steinbinder was just the chauf-
feur. They didn't speak to him
often, other than to give curt direc-
tions. But occasionally during the
summer Hitler would ask after his
children and ask if he wouldn't bring
them on an outing some Sunday.
The mean fellow Of the group was
Schreck. Finally Steinbinder had a |
fight with him and lost his Job.
Times had improved and, being a
good chauffeur. he had little diff
Guilty getting better one. That, he
has insisted to acquaintance, was
his last contact with Hitler or the
Nazi party. The chauffeur doesn't
condemn it or Hitler. His job was
to drive the car and he considered
them like any other employer. He
is a careful driver and has never
had an accident. Today, held as a
war criminal in the prison at Moose
burg. he is rather pathetic appear
ing old man. The only reason he
can think of, he tells American
soldier guards, is that he once
worked for the Fuehrer and paid
gas bills for him.
| Such are the tales Steinbinder
tells in the block during the long
evenings when other prisoners flock
around him for personal remin-
iscenses. He is "the man who knew
Hitler" and he seems thoroughly to
enjoy his brief hours of attention.
For a time he had a rival here
none other than the Fuehrer's Sec
ond cook. But this fellow has retired
to solitary confinement and bread
and water for few days. He is an
admitted member Of the SIS organi-
zation.
The other day a typical SIS plot
was discovered. One of the strata
gems Of this secret society to gain
power is for members to inflltrate
into every sort of organization and
stick together as group. thus
eventually gaining power. The lob
OF kitchen police, so dreaded by GIs
in the Army and usually considered
punishment, is sought eagerly here
since the men who have it can get a |
little extra food with little danger
OF getting caught. They necessarily
have access to the supply rooms.
Other prisoners complained and
1t was found that a sinister political
organization had grown up whose
main object was to get and keep ALI