The Woman Who Stopped Adolf Hitler From Committing a Suicide

Summary

Helene Hanfstaengl, a native New Yorker and the wife of Hitler's confidant Ernst Hanfstaengl, played a pivotal role in preventing Adolf Hitler from committing suicide after the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923 and later supported the Nazi party before becoming disillusioned and returning to the United States.

Abstract

Helene Hanfstaengl, who was married to Hitler's associate Ernst Hanfstaengl, was instrumental in saving Hitler's life on two occasions. Following the failed Beer Hall Putsch, she hid Hitler in her attic and physically disarmed him when he attempted suicide. Her actions were influenced by her complex relationship with Hitler, whom she believed to be in love with her, though she did not reciprocate his feelings and even considered him impotent. Despite her initial support for the Nazi party, she later divorced her husband, became disenchanted with Nazism, and ultimately left Germany for the United States in 1938.

Opinions

The author suggests that Helene Hanfstaengl's actions in saving Hitler were significant, potentially altering the course of history.
Helene's perspective on Hitler's character is presented, including her belief in his unrequited love for her and his perceived weaknesses.
The narrative implies a moral dilemma, questioning whether Helene's intervention was justifiable and inviting readers to consider what they would have done in her place.
The article highlights the transformation in Helene's views, from being enthralled by Hitler's rhetoric to becoming disillusioned with the Nazi regime.

Helene Hanfstaengl saved Hitler’s life. Twice. Would you do the same?

Helene Hanfstaengl with her husband Ernst and their two children (Photo by BPK Bildagentur/Bayerische Staatsbibliothek/Heinrich Hoffmann/Art Resource, NY)

On 8 November 1923, Adolf Hitler and his cronies staged coup d’état, the infamous Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, Germany. The goal was to seize the Bavarian government and to overthrow the Weimar Republic.

The putsch went terribly wrong. After a violent confrontation with the government forces, the Nazis fled.

Hitler hid in the car and drove away from Munich. He planned to escape from Germany, but his car broke down. He continued on foot to Uffing, about an hour from Munich. There was the home of Hitler’s influential and wealthy friend Ernst Hanfstaengl.

Hanfstaengl’s country house in Uffing, German (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

However, Ernst had already escaped to Austria to avoid repercussions from the government. Ernst’s wife Helene hid Hitler in the attic of their house.

Some time before the putsch, Hitler had fallen in love with glamorous Helene. She was aware of it, yet she didn’t return his affections. She even considered Hitler being impotent.

Helene Hanfstaengl (1893-1973) was a native New Yorker. She met and married Ernst Hanfstaengl while he worked in New York. In 1921, the couple moved to Munich and became enthralled with Hitler’s fiery rhetoric. Hitler spent a lot of time at their cosy home in Uffing.

Two days later, on 11 November 1923, police arrived at Hanfstaengl’s house to arrest Hitler.

Desperate, Hitler took a revolver and wanted to shoot himself. Helene Hanfstaengl heard Hitler shouting:

“This is the end. I will never let these swines take me. I will shoot myself first.”

She hurried up to the attic and wrestled the gun out of Hitler’s grasp. He was rather weakened by the dislocated shoulder. Besides, Helene knew some ju-jitsu tricks.

Once in prison, Hitler went on a hunger strike. Ernst Hanfstaengl was afraid he would commit suicide. Helena visited Hitler frequently to lift his spirits. After her visits, Hitler began eating again.

After his release from the prison in 1924, Hitler credited Helene Hanfstaengl with saving his life. A few years later he started the Holocaust and the World War II.

Helene actively supported the Nazi party. In 1936, she divorced her husband. Eventually, she became disillusioned with the Nazism and returned to United States in 1938.

The Woman Who Stopped Adolf Hitler From Committing a Suicide

Helene Hanfstaengl saved Hitler’s life. Twice. Would you do the same?

Conclusion