Der Fuehrer - Hitler's Rise to Power (1944) - Heiden

THE UNHAPPIEST OF ALL MEN 359standards, the antique inscriptions, and even the studied simplicity of hispersonal uniform.The image of the great man always hovers like a model andcatchword before his inner eye. He always tries to act as in his opinionthe image would act. His action is nevertheless basically his own; but itremains a histrionic gesture, an imitation of a thought-out model, andthis accounts for the monumental, unnatural quality of his mosteffective moments. When the unimpressive, stooping figure draws itselfto its full height and unexpectedly spews flame like an archangel, it is asthough his hands and feet had been bound with invisible cords to thehands and feet of a model. To observers this bond with a hidden imagesometimes became almost palpable. Suddenly, in the midst of aconversation, Hitler's face grows tense as with an inner vision; these arethe moments in which the humanly repulsive falls away from him andthe unfathomable is intensified until it becomes truly terrible. His eyespeer into the distance, as though he were reading or gazing at somethingwhich no one else sees; and if the observer follows the direction of hisgaze, sometimes, it has been claimed, Rudolf Hess can be seen in the farcorner, with his eyes glued to his Fuhrer, apparently speaking to himwith closed lips. It may be that the strange atmosphere of such scenesconfused the observer, making him see more than was there. But it iscertain that in the decisive years of his career Hitler used his youngerfriend as a necessary complement to his own personality; as a stagedirector or spiritual ballet master who helped him shape his ownpowerful but formless and uncertain nature into whatever image hemomentarily wanted.When preparing a speech, he declaimed large sections of it to hisfriend Hess; he practiced gestures and facial expressions at the mirror.He practiced other things too. There was an important visitor to bereceived; the reception was previously rehearsed with Hess. Hess had tomeet the stranger in advance, take a good look at him and report. Thenthere would be an interview like the following:Hitler: Fire away, Hess! Can he be used or not?—Hess: He can beused. But he's the silent type. —Hitler (suspiciously): Critical?—Hess:No, embarrassed. Would be terribly glad to ad-