'I am prepared to sacrifice my life when you call'

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Letters written by ordinary Germans to Adolf Hitler during the dark days of Nazi Germany have been discovered in a Russian archive.

The fascinating correspondence, which will surprise many with their critical tone, begins in 1924 through to the Fuhrer’s last days as he cowered in a Berlin bunker in 1945.
The documents, found in a Russian archive, have been translated into English and reveal a side of the Nazis rarely considered.

Support: Gustav Jaindl of Vienna wrote this letter to Hitler thanking him for the integration of Austria into the greater German Reich. His letter is among those recently found in a Russian archive and which are now published in a new book

Fan mail: A decorative telegram to Hitler declaring 'loyalty and love' sent in 1937 from a Dr Otto Hellmuth

Tribute: Erwin Walther composed the 'Heil Hitler, Heil' march for his beloved Fuhrer

The letters reveal the popularity of Hitler's National Socialists party and how it was carefully managed as support grew among the German population - and beyond. Surprisingly, the letters also show how 'shaky' Hitler’s hold on power was at times and how unpopular the Second World War became among the masses.
His office even received, and replied to, letters from Jews complaining about his party's increasingly anti-Semitic stance.

Chillingly, the British editor of a book publishing the correspondence, Letter To Hitler, claims the collection shows how a similarly totalitarian regime could emerge today.
Dr Victoria Harris said: 'Some letters from people who idolise him are totally fawning, but you get the impression from the others that he could easily lose his approval.

'The biggest lesson I learned was how shaky his popularity was and how the regime had to work hard to maintain popularity. What is chilling is that you can see how he built his support and how you could see it happening elsewhere.'

Lotte Kaiser wrote this Mothers' Day card for Hitler. 'Unutterably great thanks to Adolf's parents for giving birth to Our Fuhrer', she gushed

Young admirers: Susi and Daisy from the Sudetenland thank Hitler for having 'freed us and brought us into your beautiful Reich'

Document: An eulogy from the Basalt works of Radebeule in praise of the Fuhrer

The Nazis carefully filed all letters  their leader received and copied the replies and filed those as well.
The letters grew in number through the 1930s as the Nazi party became more powerful, and include thousands wishing Hitler a happy birthday. The correspondence includes letters from Jews unhappy with his policies, and from others pointing out to Hitler what he ought to be doing.

'In order to do completely Jew-free work, we must require our members to agree not to buy from Jews, in this way we can gradually succeed in driving Jews out of retailing and thus put the middle-class back in the saddle'

From Mrs von Ponief in 1930

 

As early as 1925 the direction of the National Socialist party was being questioned, especially its lack of religious revival.
Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess responded to one such enquiry by stating that religious revival was not among the goals of the Nazi Party.
Hess replied to another correspondent in 1925 who asked whether Hitler drank.
The reply was: 'Mr Hitler does not drink alcohol, except perhaps a few drops on very exceptional occasions. He does not smoke at all.'

Support for anti-Semitic policies was received from a Mrs von Ponief in 1930.
She wrote: 'In order to do completely Jew-free work, we must require our members to agree not to buy from Jews, in this way we can gradually succeed in driving Jews out of retailing and thus put the middle-class back in the saddle.'

International appeal: A bizarre book from the Austrians of Argentina declaring their approval of Hitler

Frankfurt mayor Freidrich Krebs sent his best to Hitler for the New Year in the form of a medieval manuscript

Awed: Lottie H wrote a poem to Hitler worrying that he worked too hard

The letters also show how well Hitler’s book Mein Kampf was doing, and in 1932 his publisher wrote to him: 'Between the beginning of this year and 21 May we have been able to sell a total of 29,385 copies of your work. Therefore we are crediting you with a payment of 21,157.20 marks...'

Another writer wanted permission to market 'Hitler Cigarettes', but the offer was declined.

One letter from a Jew showed how integrated in the German society they were and how the discrimination surprised them.

One writer wanted permission to market 'Hitler Cigarettes', but the offer was declined

Heinrich Herz wrote: 'But what I cannot say I am satisfied with is the one-sided treatment of thousands of my co-religionists, whose feeling and thinking are just as German as mine. 'How much I should like to help build up my beloved Fatherland, if only an opportunity to do so were offered me.'

In 1934, as Hitler built up a head of steam, the fawning letters grew in number and included this from Stanislaus Jaros, who wrote: 'I am prepared, like my father, even to sacrifice my life, when Germany is involved and you, my Leader, call.'

As war approached, correspondents kept asking for peace. In 1938, Josef and Elli Jablonski wrote: 'It makes us happy and glad to know that peace exists and will remain.'

Treasure trove: The box in the Russian archives that contained the Hitler correspondence

The correspondence has been gathered in new book Letters To Hitler

As the Second World War headed to its conclusion many wrote to Hitler with ideas for new weapons, but the letters asking for autographs and showing declarations of support fell to zero.
Some remained faithful to the end, like Justizrat W von Zezschwitz, who wrote: 'But it may be granted to your prudent, temporising leadership, as we all confidently hope it will, at the right moment, with fullest health, to put a compelling halt to the enemy who has penetrated so far into German lands in the East and the West.'

Dr Harrissaid: 'Through the 1930s the letters grow in number and Hitler received many before the elections in 1933. And he got thousands on his birthday.
'The high point was in 1938 and then the numbers of letters dropped off quite suddenly when the war started in 1939.

'In the 1930s, the letters show veneration and excitement but also strongly-worded criticism. 'People wrote to complain about specific aspects of his policies. In 1934, he received a letter from a Jew who was not practising, but still had the confidence to write.
'Surprisingly those who complained often received feedback and it is clear that the regime realised the importance of popularity. 'Hitler said that popularity was the most important aspect of authority and by replying to the letters the regime was giving the illusion of paying attention. 'And the longer the war went on the more they needed to enhance their popularity. 'It is also clear what a strategic error it was to start the war because the people saw Hitler as someone to bring peace and they didn’t want to go to war. 'And they did feel able to write to Hitler about it and the letters were carefully filed away and copies of replies that were sent were filed alongside the letters. 'There is even one objecting to a relative being sent to Auschwitz.'