Candid off-the-record conversation between Hitler and Mannerheim of Finland 1942

[The Mikado]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o64QOynq0_Q&feature=youtu.be

Subtitled into English.  This is the only known recording of Hitler when he wasn't in his public persona, and it paints a far more pragmatic and calculating Fuhrer than people commonly think.  Hitler is surprisingly candid and rational about German setbacks on the Soviet front.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I've read about these tapes, but never listened to before.

Many thanks for posting, Mikado.

[minionofmidas]

Hey, cool. Interesting German accent, Mannerheim had. You people sure he was a Swede, he sounds like a Baltendeutscher to me.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Of course Hitler had no idea Mannerheim ordered to tape this conversation.

[big bad fab]

Hey, cool. Interesting German accent, Mannerheim had. You people sure he was a Swede, he sounds like a Baltendeutscher to me.

Maybe because he is in front of Hitler and wants to please him...

Great thanks, Mikado, this is indeed very interesting.

[Middle-aged Europe]

This is the only known recording of Hitler when he wasn't in his public persona, and it paints a far more pragmatic and calculating Fuhrer than people commonly think.  Hitler is surprisingly candid and rational about German setbacks on the Soviet front.

So, Downfall was dramatizing events?

[minionofmidas]

This is the only known recording of Hitler when he wasn't in his public persona, and it paints a far more pragmatic and calculating Fuhrer than people commonly think.  Hitler is surprisingly candid and rational about German setbacks on the Soviet front.

So, Downfall was dramatizing events?

Hitler would presumably have been a wee bit more out of it in 1945 when his own personal ass was on the line, so not necessarily.

[Peeperkorn]

Great contribution. I had no idea this tape even existed.

[republicanism]

Interesting. I already knew one passage of it (about 5:25, when Hitler says he "immidiatly attacked" France on the "first nice day") but I had no idea he said that to Mannerheim.

Thanks for posting.