This post describes reaction in London, Paris, Washington, Prague, and Berlin. It is very long so take your time and be thorough. This material will definitly be on the final exam.
Check out the American Airlines ad towards the end. The prosperous old guy looks plenty smug. As well he should - New York to Boston in an hour 19 minutes, for only $11.95.
The day following Hitler's speech, September 13, the French cabinet sat all day, remaining hopelessly divided on whether it should honor its obligations to Czechoslovakia in case of a German attack, which it believed imminent. That evening the British ambassador in Paris, Sir Eric Phipps, was fetched from the Opera Comique for an urgent conference with Prime Minister Daladier. The latter appealed to Chamberlain to try at once to make the best bargain he could with the German dictator. Mr. Chamberlain, it may be surmised, needed little urging. At eleven o'clock that same night the British Prime Minister got off an urgent message to Hitler:
In view of the increasingly critical situation I propose to come over at once to see you with a view to trying to find a peaceful solution. I propose to come across by air and am ready to start tomorrow. Please indicate earliest time at which you can see me and suggest place of meeting. I should be grateful for a very early reply.
Two hours before, the German charge d'affaires in London, Theodor Kordt, had wired Berlin that Chamberlain's press secretary had informed him that the Prime Minister "was prepared to examine far-reaching German proposals, including plebiscite, to take part in carrying them out, and to advocate them in public.
The surrender that was to culminate in Munich had begun.
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Pg. 384
(There is mention here of a plot to overthrow Hitler. Such plots went on in a half-hearted way right up to the end. I will not dwell on them.)
[On] September 9, Hitler convoked Keitel, Brauchitsch and Halder to Nuremberg for a conference which began at 10 P.M., lasted until 4 o’clock the next morning and, as Keitel later confided to Jodl, who in turn confided it to his diary, was exceedingly stormy. Halder found himself in the ticklish position - for the key man in the plot to overthrow Hitler the moment he gave the word to attack—of having to explain in great detail the General Staff's plan for the campaign in Czechoslovakia, and in the uncomfortable position, as it developed, of seeing Hitler tear it to shreds and dress down not only him but Brauchitsch for their timidity and their military incapabilities. Keitel, Jodl noted on the thirteenth, was "terribly shaken" by his experience at Nuremberg and by the evidence of "defeatism" at the top of the German Army.
Accusations are made to the Fuehrer about the defeatism in the High Command of the Army . . . Keitel declares that he will not tolerate any officer in OKW indulging in criticism, unsteady thoughts and defeatism . . . The Fuehrer knows that the Commander of the Army [Brauchitsch] has asked his commanding generals to support him in order to open the Fuehrer's eyes about the adventure which he has resolved to risk. He himself [Brauchitsch] has no more influence with the Fuehrer. Thus a cold and frosty atmosphere prevailed in Nuremberg and it is highly unfortunate that the Fuehrer has the whole nation behind him with the exception of the leading generals of the Army.
All of this greatly saddened the aspiring young Jodl, who had hitched his star to Hitler.
Only by actions can [these generals] honorably repair the damage which they have caused through lack of strength of mind and lack of obedience. It is the same problem as in 1914. There is only one example of disobedience in the Army and that is of the generals and in the end it springs from their arrogance. They can no longer believe and no longer obey because they do not recognize the Fuehrer's genius. Many of them still see in him the corporal of the World War but not the greatest statesman since Bismarck.
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Pg. 378-379
Thanks for posting. What a super read.
Please remind me. How did the American media and Hollywood see Hitler and the NAZIs prior to his attack on Russia?
"...amid the frenzied enthusiasm of the crowd..."Thank God for the millions of Americans who think for themselves and resist the relentless, ceaseless, ubiquitous, ruthless propaganda bombarding them constantly from The Democrat Party Propaganda Machine, also known as the "Mainstream Newsmedia", the "Corrupt Newsmedia", et al."...more frenzied acclaim. Again and again Hitler had to pause until his audience exhausted itself in shouts of 'heil.'"
"...millions of Germans were applauding, for its tenor was also the general German sentiment. Propaganda has insured that."
Nevertheless, it is frightening that millions of Americans allow themselves to be influenced by this Propaganda Machine.
The conversion of the American Free Press into this Propaganda Machine is one of the most dangerous events in U.S. history--a truthfully informed electorate being essential to representative government.
Those susceptable to this propaganda--i.e. people who cannot or will not think for themselves--would elect a monster like Hitler to power today if he were packaged appropriately--i.e. as a rockstar--and presented with sufficient propaganda.