How I Saw Hitler on my Summer Vacation A True Story: 1938: A Fearless Female's Adventures in Pre WWII Europe
Language: English
Pages: 156
ISBN: 0983819629
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
In 1938, high-spirited Helen McPhail sails the SS Normandie to a Europe displaying signs of change due to Hitler’s increasing demands for power. Thirty years old and single, she savors the excitement of visiting nine countries by rail, from museums and nightclubs in Paris, to a dogsled ride in the Alps!
The trip is carefully planned, but total surprises keep cropping up. She loses her hotel reservations to German soldiers - twice! Did her travel agent know the uncertainty of making a hotel reservation on the eve of the annual Nazi Party Rally? She was taken to Nazi Headquarters in Salzburg! How does one spend a black night in Austria? She becomes entangled in circumstances that are fascinating, frustrating, and romantic! (Listening to Hungarian music can be treacherous!)
As Helen joyfully hops from country to country, more than one handsome man longs for her to stay. Join her on the streets of Paris, amidst throngs of frantic people who are trying to leave Europe. Be an eye-witness to a Paris where taxis and drivers are commandeered to military service, as France prepares for war on the eve of the Munich Conference. Why is the RMS Queen Mary distanced off shore, instead of waiting at the dock?
Jump into an adventure you will remember forever! Readers of this book come away feeling like they were right there with her! Enjoy over 20 photos from her scrapbook!
Here is an excerpt from a review from a reader, that was sent to me via email:
Loved the book!! It gives such a delightful and at times ominous glimpse through your Aunt's eyes of that time in history. Her expressions, the music and cinema that she refers to, draw the reader right into the 30's. The historical time line, is so very helpful and provides a very powerful context to Helen's travel experiences. I marvel at her stamina, which I'm sure came from her joyous expectancy of good. And the luggage---always finding her, no matter who or how it leaves her sight but always to show up in the right place at the right time!! ( Airlines take note!!!) The Photos are well placed and become an integral part of the journey and definitely add to the reader's (my) enjoyment. Helen expressed such a sense of freedom and trust in good, and this altitude of thought provided her with an adventure of the finest sort. The Germany and Nazi experiences were fascinating to read about, and then to actually read the letter written to her from the Austrian soldier, as well as the other correspondence from the soldier, Hubert, added even more depth.
Josephine. She continued to live here after they divorced. It later became the property of the French Government. We viewed some of Josephine’s dresses, Napoleon’s hats, and his camp furniture. At Versailles, we first visited the Grand Trianon Palace used by Louis XIV, XV and XVI. The rustic simplicity of the little farm of Marie Antoinette contained many small houses and stables. Here she loved to forget about the affairs of state and just enjoy herself. The temple of Eros and the lovely woods
temporarily forgot about it all. The dinner was delicious, but the other diners did not care to socialize. They were extremely engrossed in some news flashes that were blaring over a radio. I could make out what seemed to be a Sudeten-German mass meeting with several speeches and lots of wild cheering. The atmosphere was so intense; I felt the need to step outside for some fresh air. The desk clerk in the dim lobby confirmed that this was a black night. When I told them that I had turned on
scarce on this ship. By my calculations, there is one man for every four women. Competition is fierce! So, the big man from Seattle had fun, dancing up a storm with lots of partners. Date: October 2, 1938 Place: On board Queen Mary Weather: Rainy, then fine. This is the last day on board! After breakfast, there was just time to write a short letter before church, which was held in the main lounge of first class. Afterwards, I thoroughly explored first class. I do not think it compares
many foreigners that will visit us. Now, dear Helen, how has it been with you? Maybe this letter will not reach you because in the meantime, you maybe also got married and carry another name? I am exceptionally interested what changes have happened to my American girlfriend. Let’s hope that this letter has reached your hands, and you can write to me, too. This letter was sent through a US citizen who lives in Linz as a soldier for the American occupation. He will forward this with his mail to
September 15, 1938 - The crisis impels Great Britain’s Neville Chamberlain to fly to Germany for a face-to-face meeting with Hitler. September 16, 1938 - British Lord Runcamin recommends that Czechoslovakia border territories containing a majority of ethnic Germans, be relinquished to Germany. September 18, 1938 - There is a meeting in London, at which British and French Cabinet members, finalize an Anglo-French plan designed to appease Hitler with regard to the Sudetenland. Italy states that