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2 Appeasement and Munich: September 1937 to October 1938
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 October 2009
Extract
In September 1937 Headlam was amongst a group of foreign observers at the Nazi Party's annual rally at Nuremberg.
Tuesday 7 September 1937 This morning we all attended the first meeting of the Party Conference in an enormous building – a temporary structure – designed to hold, so they told us, about 15,000 people – it was literally packed today. We had excellent seats near the front just below the platform … The proceedings began with music (perhaps the best part of the show: a superb band) – then at last the Nazi swells began to arrive – then came a procession headed by an apparently endless supply of flags – then came Hitler followed by all the other leaders – Goering, Goebbels, Hess, Rosenberg, etc. – great enthusiasm prevailed. They seated themselves on the platform and one had a fine view of them – one was rather terrified at their appearance – they looked capabales de tout and no doubt are. Hitler himself is a bigger man than I thought – by which I mean he is of average size: otherwise, he is exactly like his pictures. A boring beginning was the reading out of the names of all the martyrs of the movement – not so many after all – then came a speech from Hess – another from Sleicher (don't know the man's name: he is the anti-Jew propagandist): then the reading of the Fuhrer proclamation … a reference to the colonial question much applauded.
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References
1 Hermann Goering (1893–1946), German fighter ‘ace’ in First World War; Pres. of Reichstag 1932–1933Google Scholar; appointed P.M. and Min. of Interior for Prussia 1933, Reich Air Min. and commander of the Luftwaffe 1935Google Scholar, Reich Council Chairman for Nat. Defence 1939; tried at Nuremberg 1945–46, sentenced to death but committed suicide 15 Oct. 1946.
2 Joseph Paul Goebbels (1897–1945), Nazi Party chief in Berlin 1926–30; in charge of Nazi propaganda from 1929; Min. of Propaganda 1933–45; Reich Comm. for Total Mobilization, 1944–45; committed suicide 1 May 1945.
3 Rudolf Hess (1894–1987), Hitler's political secretary from 1920; Dep. Leader of Nazi Party 1933–41; Min. without Portfolio 1933–41; flew to Britain in the hope of negotiating peace 10 May 1941, arrested and interned; tried at Nuremberg 1945–46, sentenced to life imprisonment and held in Spandau Prison, Berlin, until his death.
4 Alfred Rosenberg (1893–1946), leading ideologist of National Socialism; head of Nazi Party Foreign Affiars Dept. 1933–45, of Nazi Party ideological education 1934–45; Min. for Occupied Eastern Territories 1941–45; tried at Nuremberg 1945–46, sentenced to death.
5 translation: capable of anything.
6 Julius Streicher (1885–1946), Nazi Party Gauleiter of Franconia 1925–40; editor of the anti-semitic newspaper Der Stürmer 1923–1945Google Scholar; tried at Nuremberg 1945–46, sentenced to death.
7 Werner von Blomberg (1878–1946), German army career; Min. of Defence 1933–35, of War 1935–38; C. in C. of the Wehrmacht 1935–1938Google Scholar; dismissed due to the scandal following his second marriage in Jan. 1938, when his new wife was revealed to have a police record as a prostitute.
8 Philip Henry Kerr (1882–1940), co-founder and first editor. Round Table 1910–1916Google Scholar; private Sec. to Lloyd George, 1916–21; Sec., Rhodes trust 1925–39; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1931; U.S. India 1931–32; Chairman, Indian Franchise Ctte. 1932; Amb. in Washington 1939–40; sue. 11th Marquess of Lothian 1930, K.T. 1940.
9 Founded in 1906, this was the Conservative Party's organisation for young persons (normally ages 14–25) until it was replaced by the Young Conservatives in 1946.
10 The ‘Haldane mission’ of 1912; an unsuccessful attempt to reach an understanding on the naval race during a visit to Germany by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Haldane.
11 (Hugh) Robert Topping (1877–1952), Con. Agent Dublin 1904–11, Glamorgan S. 1911–18, Cardiff, Llandaff & Barry 1918–23, Northwich 1923–24; C.O. Agent, North West Area 1924–28; Con. Principal Agent 1928–30, Gen. Dir. 1930–45; kt. 1934.
12 translation: the last word.
13 translation: God only knows.
14 George Godwin, Sec., Reigate Constitutional Club 1903–06; Con. Agent Reigate 1906, Guildford 1906–21; Sec., National Union 1921–1938.
15 Alfred Martyn Williams (1897–1985), Con. M.P. Cornwall N. 1924–29, cand. 1931, 1932; High Sheriff, Cornwall 1938.
16 James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil (1861–1947), Con. M.P. Darwen 1885–92, Rochester 1893–1903; U.S. For. Office 1900–03; Lord Privy Seal 1903–05, 1924–29; Pres. Bd. of Trade 1905; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1922–23; Lord Pres. 1922–24; Con. Leader in the Lords 1925–31; styled Viscount Cranborne 1868–1903, suc. 4th Marquess of Salisbury 1903.
17 Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvili (1879–1953), adopted the alias of Stalin (‘man of steel’); Commissar for Nationalities 1917–22; Gen. Sec. of Communist Party from 1923, effectively dictator from 1928, but only formally head of state 1941–53.
18 Maureen Helen Stanley (1900–42), eldest daughter of 7th Marquess of Londonderry, married Oliver Stanley 1920; styled Lady Maureen.
19 Thomas Andrews Bradford (1886–1966), Con. cand. Seaham 1922, Durham 1923, 1931 (withdrew before nomination); Treasurer, Co. Durham C.A. 1930–37, Chairman 1937–45; Vice-Chairman, Northern Counties Area 1937–46; Chairman, D.M.C.F. 1948–56; High Sheriff, Co. Durham 1942; kt. 1939.
20 translation: in secret.
21 The National Conservative League was a semi-official organisation for Conservative working-men, with membership of the ‘lodges’ by invitation; it was active in Co. Durham between the wars, and Headlam had actively supported it.
22 Charles Urie Peat (1892–1979), Con. M.P. Darlington 1931–45; P.P.S. to O. Lyttleton 1941, to H. Macmillan 1941–42; P.S. Supply 1942–45; partner in Peat, Marwick Mitchell & Co., accountants.
23 Halifax was appointed Foreign Secretary after Eden's resignation.
24 The ‘Night of the Long Knives’, 29 06 1934.Google Scholar
25 Benito Mussolini (1883–1945), founder & Duce of Italian Fascist Party; Pres., Council of Ministers 1922–26; P.M. 1926–43; For. Min. 1924–29, 1932–36; Head of German puppet regime in N. Italy 1943–45; often referred to in Britain as ‘Musso’.
26 John Greer Dill (1881–1944), army career, Commandant, Staff College 1931–34; Dir. of Military Operations & Intelligence 1934–36; Commander British Forces in Palestine 1936–37; C. in C. Aldershot 1937–39; G.O.C. 1st Army Corps 1939–40; C.I.G.S. 1940–41; Head of British Joint Staff Mission to U.S.A. 1941–44; kt. 1937.
27 William Henry Bartholomew (1877–1962), army career; Dir. of Recruiting & Organisation 1927–28; Commandant, Imperial Defence College 1929–31; Dir. of Military Operations & Intelligence 1931–34; Commandant, Royal Artillery 1934–37; Chief of General Staff, India 1934–37; G.O.C. Northern Command 1937–40; Aide-de-Camp Gen. to the King 1938–40; Comm. for Civil Defence, N.E. England 1940–45.
28 Francisco Franco y Bahamonde (1892–1975), Spanish soldier, Chief of Staff 1935–36; Gov. of Canaries 1936; led military attack on Republican Govt. July 1936, became leader of Nationalist forces in Spanish Civil War Oct. 1936; ruled Spain with dictatorial powers as Caudillo 1939–75.
29 The Republican Government, based in Madrid.
30 Herbert Louis Samuel (1870–1963), Lib. M.P. Cleveland 1902–18, Darwen 1929–35; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1909–10, 1915–16; Postmaster-Gen. 1914–15, 1915–16; Pres. Local Govt. Bd. 1914–15; Home Sec. 1916, 1931–32; High Comm. Palestine 1920–25; kt. 1920, cr. Viscout Samuel 1937.
31 Newcastle North was one of the few safe Conservative seats in the north-east.
32 Nicholas Grattan Grattan-Doyle (1862–1941), Con. M.P. Newcastle N. 1918–40; kt. 1924.
33 (James) Eric Drummond (1876–1951), entered diplomatie service 1900; Private Sec. to P.M. 1912–15, to For. Sec. 1915–19; Sec.-Gen., League of Nations, 1919–33; Amb. in Rome 1933–39; Chief Advisor on For. Publicity, Min. of Information 1939–40; Scottish rep. peer in House of Lords 1941–51; Dep. Lib. Leader in Lords 1946–51; kt. 1916, suc. 16th Earl of Perth (Scottish peerage) 1937.
34 Count Galeazze Ciano (1903–1944), Italian For. Minister 1936–43; Amb. to the Vatican 1943; married Mussolini's daughter 1930; voted for Mussolini's overthrow July 1943; arrested by Gestapo, executed 11 Jan. 1944.
35 James Coldwell Lawson, member of Newcastle City Council, St. Thomas' Ward 1927–43, Alderman 1943–45.
36 Philip Cunliffe-Lister (1884–1972), Con. M.P. Hendon 1918–35; P.S. Trade 1920–21; Sec. Overseas Trade 1921–22; Pres. Bd. of Trade 1922–24, 1924–29, 1931; Colonial Sec. 1931–35; Sec. for Air 1935–38; Min. Res. W. Africa 1942–44; Min. Civil Aviation 1944–45; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1951–52; Commonwealth Sec. 1952–55; changed surname from Lloyd-Greame 1924, cr. Viscount Swinton 1935. Earl 1955.
37 Edward Tumour (1883–1962), Con. M.P. Horsham 1904–51; U.S. India 1922–24, 1924–29; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1937–39; Paymaster-Gen. 1939; Father of the House 1945–51; styled Viscount Winterton 1883–1907, suc. 6th Earl Winterton (Irish peerage) 1907, cr. Baron Tumour 1952.
38 William Ewart Berry (1879–1954), newspaper prop.; Chairman, Financial Times Ltd. 1919–45, Allied Newspapers Ltd. 1924–36; prop. & editor-in-chief of Sunday Times 1915–1936Google Scholar, of Daily Telegraph 1928–1954Google Scholar; Principal Adviser, Min. of Information 1939; cr. Bart. 1921, Baron Camrose 1929, Viscount 1941.
39 Joachim von Ribbentrop (1893–1946), Nazi politician; Amb. in London 1936–38; For. Minister 1938–45; tried at Nuremberg 1945–46; executed 16 October 1946.
40 A public signal that war could soon be declared.
41 Mary Margaret Desirée (‘Daisy’) Wood [her father assumed the surname Meynell in lieu of Wood in 1905] (1894–1985), married 1915 Evelyn Hugh Boscawen, suc. 8th Viscount Falmouth 1918; Con. Party acting-Dep. Chairman 1930–31, Vice-Chairman 1931–39; Chairman, Red Cross Civilian Relief Overseas Dept. 1943–46; Dep. Chairman, British Red Cross Soc. 1952–54.
42 Regina Margaret Evans (d.1969), Chairman, N.U. Womens' Advisory Ctte. 1934–35, N.U. Central Council 1934; Chief Commandant, Auxiliary Territorial Service 1939–43; Chairman, London Hostels Assoc. 1949–69; cr. Dame 1936.
43 (Howard) Kingsley Wood (1881–1943), Con. M.P. Woolwich W. 1918–43; P.S. Health 1924–29; P.S. Educ. 1931; Postmaster-Gen. 1931–35; Min. of Health 1935–38; Sec. for Air 1938–40; Lord Privy Seal 1940; Chanc. of the Exchequer 1940–43; kt. 1918.
44 (Robert) Patrick Malcolm Gower (1887–1964), civil service career; Private. Sec. to Chane, of the Exchequer 1919–21, to Lord Privy Seal 1921–22, to P.M. 1922–28; Chief Publicity Officer, Con. Central Office 1929–39; Chairman, Charles F. Higham Ltd. 1939–56, Pres. 1956–64; kt. 1924.
45 Robert Croft Bourne (1888–1938), Con. M.P. Oxford 1924–38; Dep. Chairman of Ways & Means 1931–38.
46 Walter Runciman, who had retired from the Cabinet in May 1937, was sent to Czechoslovakia in August to act as mediator between the Czech government and the representatives of the German population in the Sudetenland region of Bohemia.
47 Edouard Daladier (1884–1970), Radical Dep. for Vaucluse 1919–40, 1946–58: Min. for Colonies 1924–25; Min. of Works 1930–31; Min. of War & Defence 1932, 1933, 1936–37, 1938–40; For. Min. 1934; P.M. 1933, 1934, 1938–40; imprisoned by Vichy regime 1942–45; Pres. of Republican Left Party 1947–54; Pres. of Radical-Socialist groups in the Assembly 1956–58; Pres., Radical Party 1957–58.
48 translation: hence these tears. This is a classical quotation, originally in Terence, Andria, 1.1.99, but probably encountered by Headlam in texts read at school, either Cicero, Pro Caelio, 25Google Scholar, or Horace, Epistles, 1.19.41.
49 The general expectation was that any war would open with immediate and heavy aerial bombing of town and cities, causing great loss of life.
50 Czechoslovakia was created in the peace settlement after the First World War.
51 The Red Army was weakened by Stalin's purges of the officer corps.
52 (Edward Algernon) Robert Gascoyne-Cecil (1864–1958), Con. M.P. Marylebone E. 1906–10, Hitchin 1911–23; U.S. For. Office 1915–18 & Min. of Blockade 1916–18; Lord Privy Seal 1923–24; Chane. Duchy of Lancaster (with responsibility for League of Nations affairs) 1924–27; Pres., League of Nations Union 1923–45; styled Lord Robert Cecil 1868–1923, cr. Viscount Cecil of Chelwood 1923; awarded Nobel Peace Prize 1937.
53 George Russell Clerk (1874–1951), diplomatic service; Min. to Czechoslovakia 1919–26; Amb. in Constantinople 1926–33, in Brussels 1933–34, in Paris 1934–37; kt. 1917.
54 Robert Gilbert Vansittart (1881–1957), entered diplomatic service 1902; Ass. U.S. For. Office 1928–30, Perm. U.S. 1930–38; Chief Diplomatic Adviser to For. Sec. 1938–41; kt. 1929, cr. Baron Vansittart 1941.
55 The location of the French Foreign Ministry, by which it is commonly known.
56 Haile Selassie (1892–1975), Emporer of Ethiopia 1930–74; exiled in Britain during Italian occupation 1936–41; deposed by army coup 1974.
57 Be elevated to Lord Chancellor; Inskip was a prominent lawyer.
58 Edward Montagu Cavendish Stanley (1894–1938), Con. M.P. Liverpool Abercromby 1917–18, Fylde 1922–38; Whip 1924–27; P.S. Admiralty 1931–35, 1935–37; U.S. Dominions 1935; U.S. India 1937–38; Dominions Sec. 1938; Con. Party Dep. Chairman 1927–29; Chairman, Junior Imperial League 1928–33, & Pres. 1933–38; styled Lord Stanley 1908–38, eldest son of 17th Earl of Derby, elder brother of Oliver Stanley.
59 John Cecil Power (1870–1950), Con. M.P. Wimbledon 1924–45; Treasurer, Royal Institute of International Affairs 1921–43; cr. Bart. 1924.
60 James Richard Stanhope (1880–1967), P.S. War Office 1918–19; Civil Ld., Admiralty 1924–29; P.S. Admiralty 1931; U.S. War Office 1931–34; U.S. For. Office 1934–36; 1st Comm. Works 1936–37; Pres. Bd. Educ. 1937–38; 1st Lord of Admiralty 1938–39; Lord Pres. 1939–40; styled Viscount Mahon 1880–1905, suc. 7th Earl Stanhope 1905, suc. 13th Earl of Chesterfield 1952, K.G. 1934.
61 Herbrand Edward Dundonald Brassey Sackville (1900–1976), Lab. Peer (Nat. Lab. from 1931); U.S. War Office 1929–30; P.S. Agrie. 1930–35; P.S. Educ. 1935–36; P.S. Colonies 1936–37; Lord Privy Seal 1937–38; Pres. Bd. of Educ. 1938–40; 1st Comm. Works 1940; Postmaster-Gen. 1951–55; Chairman, Nat. Lab. Party 1931–43; styled Lord Buckhurst 1900–1915, sue. 9th Earl De La Warr 1915.
62 Stanhope and Headlam had both been junior ministers at the Admiralty in 1926–29.