December 2, 2022 • 28 mins
Psychotherapist Dr. Dromyrk (Peter Stormare, Fargo, Constantine) meets a strange new client, a lowly corporal with a God-complex… Adolf Hitler (Denis O'Hare, American Horror Story).
The Hitler File is a production of Voyage Media. The series is produced by Nat Mundel, Robert Mitas, and Dan Benamor. Directed and produced by Dan Benamor. Written by Desmond Fosbery, based on the novel The Dromyrk File by Brandon Rolfe. You can find the novel on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dromyrk-File-Brandon-Rolfe/dp/1909204943
Starring Peter Stormare, as Dr. Dromyrk, Denis O’Hare, as Adolf Hitler, Kieren Van den Blink as Tilda Mannleifen, Jerome St. Jerome as Krunz, and Gianluca Malacrino as Falzoni. Edited, sound designed and mixed by Nick Messitte. Original music by Derlis Gonzalez.
If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a 5 star review in Apple Podcasts or anywhere you’re listening, and subscribe now for future episodes.
The Hitler File is a production of Voyage Media. The series is produced by Nat Mundel, Robert Mitas, and Dan Benamor. Directed and produced by Dan Benamor. Written by Desmond Fosbery, based on the novel The Dromyrk File by Brandon Rolfe. You can find the novel on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dromyrk-File-Brandon-Rolfe/dp/1909204943
Starring Peter Stormare, as Dr. Dromyrk, Denis O’Hare, as Adolf Hitler, Kieren Van den Blink as Tilda Mannleifen, Jerome St. Jerome as Krunz, and Gianluca Malacrino as Falzoni. Edited, sound designed and mixed by Nick Messitte. Original music by Derlis Gonzalez.
If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a 5 star review in Apple Podcasts or anywhere you’re listening, and subscribe now for future episodes.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:16):
Any thoughts that medicine had advanced considerablyin the last hundred years of warfare quickly
banished as I walked into Belitz MilitaryHospital outside Berlin. I'm here to work
on the Professor Bernheim, one ofGermany's pre eminent psychiatrists, and he's happy
(00:38):
to tell you so. Bernheim strugglesto pronounce my name, and to be
fair, I'm Swedish old of Drummer. I studied under Professor Sigmund Freud in
Vienna. Bernheim knows how to pronounceFreud's name and does so, as one
might say, as a curse.Labor One is a fan of Freud and
(01:02):
is emerging psychoanalytical methods, but Ispecialize in them. Most of the patients
in the general ward here have terriblephysical wounds. Those in the psychiatric unit
are suffering from a newly designated ailment, shell shock, and according to Freud,
(01:26):
all these men have severe and rosesleading to organic symptoms sound organs,
refusing function, limbs, tongue,eyes. Here all unresponsive to incoming stimulate
the shocked brain. Worth witness orexperience incidents so horrific as to be unbearable
(01:52):
would diverge by converting these blocked outmemories into physical pain or fault in order
to render them in a more acceptableform. I sit in my clinical room.
There is a knock on the door, and my first patient comes in
(02:13):
and hands over his fire pale,brooding with a thick brush mustache. He
stands at attention while he looks atme. I can feel his eyes boring
into me. I read the medicalpile. Adolf Hitler Corporal Signal Runner sixteenth
Bavarian Reserve Regiment, shrapnel wound toleft thigh at Psalm nineteen sixteen, Awarded
(02:39):
the Iron Cross, a second classreposted to a front line after discharge.
Must At gas victim at Uprey innineteen eighteen, temporary blindness. I'm fit
to turn. That's not yet decided, corporal, I'm fitted to return.
(03:01):
How So two years ago the howardzershell kid all around me. I survived.
Why Well, there could be manyreasons. Name one. Look and
now you're once again an unfortunate victimand a mustard gas attack at the prey
and you sustain another significant injury.I am not a victim. Well you
(03:28):
did, nevertheless, suffering the attack, did you not? Does it not
stay there? That I was struckblind. Yeah, do I seem blind?
Apparently your blindness was temporary. Doyou recall Soul of Tauses Saint Paul?
Yes? I do, He toowas an aream and he was struck
(03:50):
blind. I see he went onlike this. His military exploit gave him
a feeling of being Destiny's chosen son. His constant harping on his special status
to me screamed of deep insecurity.Before I went to medical school in Vienna,
(04:12):
Professor Sigmund Freud had developed his theoriesand the practice of psychoanalysis. He
maintained that people suffer inherent of rosesstemming from traumatic episodes dating from earliest childhood,
even from birth, and that theseare suppressed deeply within their subconscious mind.
(04:33):
We have frequent sessions during Corporal Hitler'sstay here at Belitz, his combatative
and clearly feels my presence is anannoyance to be suffered through. Would you
care to talk to me about yourchildhood? Why? Well? Were you
(04:54):
happy as a child? My childhoodhas no pertinence. It could I wish
to be discharged now returned to activeduty? Were I beaten and sodomized as
a child, or lovingly handled hissupportive care. Neither would change the fact
that I am a capable soldier andI belong with my men. Well,
you're not yet ready for that,corpron We have a little way to go
(05:15):
before you deemed fit for further militaryservice. More sessions went on fruitlessly.
Finally, in desperation, I triedanother tactic, Corporal Adolph, I know
you've seen death. I have aswell, another of your patients, perhaps
a suicide, as the tired ofyour babbling no no. When I was
(05:40):
six, I had a playmate atschool, a girl. Her name was
Elsa. We were at the sameage. One wet afternoon, her mother
caught the two of us in awoodshed examining each other. As neither of
us had a brother or a sister. It was a union situation as we
(06:00):
discovered the essential difference between boys andgirls. What happened, Well, to
back up, Elsa did have abrother, but he drowned in a lake
when she was just a baby,and her father had died in a shipwreck
before she was born. So itwas just Elsa, who used to stutter,
(06:23):
and a mother who was very,very strict, And that afternoon,
when she discovered us, her motherwas very angry and threatened to get to
my grandfather to cut off my peniswith his biggest knife. He and my
father are both surgeons. After that, I started to stutter, just like
(06:46):
Elsa. Ever well, went ondistress. My grandmother said Elsa's family had
madness. I asked my father whatcost it, and he said men caught
sickness from women that led to madness, nearly your disease. My mother said,
none of that's wrong. She saidElsa's mother was that way because of
(07:10):
her family's misfortune. But that's notthe worst part. What is Six years
later, hours away at boarding school, and came home for the summer vacation
to some terrible news. At thattime, Else had started to menstruate and
her mother could not cope, soshe stabbed Helps to death and then hanged
(07:35):
herself. Madness, madness, Yes, why would you tell me this?
Ever since those episodes have prevented mefrom establishing relationships with girls and now with
women, your childhood has affected youradult life. Yes, I never told
(08:00):
anyone this before. Thank you.From then on, our relationship changed.
I learned about him, both fromhim and from others in the hospital,
and knew him Adolf Hitler was bornin Austria in eighteen eighty nine and his
(08:22):
father, Aloua, was the illegitimateson of Mariah Schicklgruber, and when Mariah
became the third wife of Johann Heidler, he adopted the five year old boy.
But it wasn't until he was fortythat Aloa Schicklgruber legally changed its surname
(08:43):
to Hidler, and it was rumoredthat Aloua's father had been the son of
a Jewish family for whom his mother, Maria, had worked as a housekeeper.
After spending a career as a customofficer, by eighteen ninety six,
was retired to a small farm inhalf Her, Austria, where he kept
(09:05):
livestock and bees while his wife,Hitler's mother Clara, tended her vegetable garden.
This garden would be the source ofHitler's first significant confession to me.
I was seven and my mother wasalone in her vegetable garden when she discovered
(09:26):
that my father's ducks had ripped upher garden pea plants, and she threatened
to wring their necks in her distress. She did not know I had overheard
her, as I was coming fromthe house and going off to the village,
and you did something about this.In the village, I was accosted
by some bigger boys who bullied meand insulted my father and my mother.
(09:50):
I ran back home in a rageand killed all my father's ducks. And
how did your parents react? Idid it to please my mother, but
my father didn't see it that dayand I received a severe beating. Now,
how did you feel about that?Betrayed better? I got used to
(10:13):
them. Corporal Hitler remained under mycare at the village for the next few
weeks. We had established our patienttherapist bomb but he remained frustrated at his
medical incarceration. He was still therewhen Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated and Germany's surrender and
(10:37):
the armistice was signed in November nineteeneighteen. Admissed the general celebration and relief
being expressed by all the other patientsand staff. Corporal Hitler remained aloof becoming
more and more angered and hysterical,and after the war he returned to Munich,
(10:58):
but remained in the army and wasappointed as an intelligence agent to infiltrate
the German workers Party there. Hisnationalist views and oratorical skills led him to
becoming a member of the party,and by nineteen twenty four he was the
leader of the National Socialist German Workers'Party known as the Nazi Party. Though
(11:26):
I lost track of him as apatient, his name appeared often in the
newspapers as his political activities advanced,and I maintained a close interest in him.
Then I happened to be spending aneight in Munich on my way to
Vianna to visit my old mentor.Passing around a beer hall, I heard
this unmistakable voice. A meeting wasbeing addressed by my one time patient,
(11:52):
and I decided to go in.I never not a backer, I perfectly
can vouch forever changed, said theback. I do not recall seeing you
(12:13):
here before? Good morning? Areyou a party member? Well, no,
no, I'm just passing through meand to come away to Vienna.
I'm known Adol for some years andI just wanted to come and see him
(12:33):
again in actual so to speak.What he remember you? I'm sure he
will, who hasn't seen me sincehe was in Bellaire. In that case,
I can arrange it. After themeetings. Stay here. You must
consider joining the party. You know, if we need men like you,
(12:54):
I'm sure you understand. I wanta brute, just basic security. You
understand, m zaghaire mine fila.Who is this? He says, You
(13:26):
and he are old friends from Poulin. Ah, I see it now,
the good doctor. My mind istoo preoccupied, Colm Doronic, How are
you sit down? Oh? Well, thank you. I'm sure you're very
busy these days. Indeed, Iam here. I want you to take
(13:48):
that and study it. My book, Oh mind comps I struggle, But
he's not a victim. I wroteit while in prison. Can you believe
it? They put me in prisonfor disturbing the peace. They called it
treason. I told them I wasstanding up for German workers' rights, and
(14:09):
they led me out once they realizedhow mistaken they were. We heard about
it in Berlin. In Berlin,yes, So what brings you to Munich?
Apart from seeing me? Of course, I'm on my way to the
add to visit my old mentor,Professor Freud. The glow went out in
his eyes, Sigmund Freud, charlotteanand some people think so well, I'm
(14:33):
not one of them. You shouldn'tassociate with someone like him. They are
better German experts on the mind.You're German, why not learn from them.
I'm Swedish and I came to thiscountry by way of Professor Bernheim's invitation
and to work under him. No, no, I had, doctor Drummer.
You are mistaken. You came tothis country because it was your destiny
(14:54):
to recognize Germany as the greatest,the strongest of all nations. You came
from Swee, but your father wasGerman. I noticed only a German father
could have endowed you with the distinctfeatures blue eyes, blonde hair, strong
physique that our destiny's emblem. I'msorry to disappoint you, but my father
is also Swedish. He grinned,but it was a grin that left a
(15:20):
cold pit of dread in my stomach. Thank you for the visit, doctor,
Remember what I told you, Aman like you should join the party.
(15:41):
It will stand you in good stead. Mind how you go Nowadays,
Munich can be our of city,especially at night. In my deal with
Hitler, I found him to alwayshave a simmering fanitism, mostly about himself,
(16:03):
lurking beneath the surface. Slight thoughhe was in some ways I felt
the man shouting at an audience washis true form, whilst the man who
smiled at me was another mask,a person like him having found evodeed followers.
Well, I didn't know what tomake of it. The following day,
(16:32):
I traveled to Vianna and visited myold professor. He gave me a
concert ticket that he was unable touse. I didn't realize how much that
gift was to change my life,as I told Hitler, which I remember
with a feeling of violation. Sinceboyhood I had a trouble relating to girls,
(16:56):
and perhaps even more so to womenas I grew older. M a
(17:40):
border cissage from the flower cellar outsidethe concert hall, and I took it
to the violinist who had thrilled meas she departed with her violin case.
Ms Man Leafen. Yes, wouldyou please accept this small token for the
joy you have given me this evening? How kind? Thank you? Won't
(18:03):
you put it for me just here? I'm not sure I can do that?
Oh please do It's very easy,but I'm hindered carrying this all right,
like like this perfect thank you?You're welcome. Oh what a ways
(18:23):
to go back to the hotel nowand just take it off. Would you
like to go for a cup ofcoffee? I prefer chocolate at night.
I know just the place, Cafeflorid Huber. I know weanna well.
(18:44):
From a student's viewpoint, I washere as a medical student. You're a
doctor, yes, yes, Well, I'm sorry I should have introduced myself.
I'm all of drummer. You cancall me Dey. Beethoven and most
I both played at this cafe,so you'll be among good spirits. You
(19:12):
said you very here as a student. Does that mean you are not here
now? I live and work inBerlin. I'm here visiting my old tutor
and professor. Then did you stopbeing a student here in nineteen sixteen,
nine years? That means you mustbe thirty two, much too old for
(19:36):
me. I can't tell if you'rejoking or not. Are you married?
No? I seem to be toobusy to get into relationships other than I
analyzing my patience. You always goto concert alone, I suppose so,
yes, music should be enjoyed inthe company. Well, I'm usually surrounded
by an appreciative volumece of strangers.Come see me again. I'm not a
(20:06):
stranger anymore. We started writing lettersto each other. Dear all of thank
you for your last letter, sofull of news and Berlin memories. My
good news is I applied to jointhe Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and have been accepted.
(20:27):
So I shall be back with myparents in Berlin, and that means
we shall be able to see eachother again. Tilney. As happy as
I was that Tildor was coming toBerlin, I felt equally as concerned about
the state of the country. Havingread mine counted the book he had given
(20:48):
me Munich, I realized what Hitlerwas spousing. Then in nineteen thirty three,
the political, ambitious corporal became Chancellorand returned to Berlin. The following
year, nineteen thirty four, hisstorm troopers purged the Nazi Party during the
Night of the Long Knife, mutteringall opposing elements in the party, and
(21:14):
following President Hinnibur's death in August,Hitler declared himself Fewer Germany's supreme leader,
and one day later the same year, I was summoned to Bernheim's office.
He explained that, having been calledin by Hitler's personal physician, doctor Morrell,
the previous year, he had beentreating the Fewer recurring bouts of depression
(21:38):
with heavy medication, and he wenton to say that Hitler had demanded he
sent young drum Irk to see him, so he remembered me, and to
my horror, he trusted me.Bernheim furnished me with a strong injectable medication,
(21:59):
of which he assured me Hitler wasin need of. In Bernheim's opinion,
Hitler held progress from a neurotic stateto that of a psychotic and was
far beyond the reach of my psychotherapymethod. You're not my doctor. I
was told you requested me specifically.Whoever told you that was mistaken. You
(22:22):
shouldn't be here, Adolf. Iam here. We may as well talk,
right. You should address me asyour europe Why did you ask me
for a meeting today? I toldyou, is there a reason someone might
have thought you required my assistance?It must have been explained to you it
was, and I want to hearyou say you want who helped me as
(22:45):
your doctor to hear the reason whyin your own words. There are times
I wish to die. I lookat my gun and I mentioned firing it
into my brain. No one wouldever believe a suicide if it'd be presumed
my enemies had assassinated me, thepeople would rise up carry on my work
(23:07):
in my name. Have you pickedup the gun when you think these thoughts?
No, Well then they just thoughts. I hold this entire nation,
It's future within me, the burdenand the liars and the traitors surrounding me.
Which liars and traders? Everyone?I read them, and they sprout
(23:30):
again. Well, how do youknow they are liars and traders? I
can sense it. So how doyou know that I'm not a liar or
a trader? You're Swedish. Youadmit it only by your own definition,
but deep down you are of goodGerman Aryan stock. Be not mistaken as
the Jews are mistaken in claiming thatChrist was Jewish. He was born with
(23:52):
a Teutonic warrior serving in that areaof the world. I notice I tell
you this as your supreme leader thefure, you shall study your fiero's mind
and learn on this. I doinsist years ago, if you were the
recipient of some of my innermost thoughtsand experiences, you were analyzing me,
and you shall do so again.For now, give me Bernheim's injection and
(24:15):
leave hi. Hitler, good day, health doctor. So you have just
(24:40):
come from attendings of fiora officer crunchwe meet again, or burst of Fior
crumbs. You're in a privileged associationwith Fior doctor that makes you a most
honorable citizen. By becoming a memberof our party, you will be doing
consider our both service. Won't youjoin us? Value still have a chance.
(25:08):
Some days later, Bernheim informed methat I had made quite an impression
on the fewer and that he insistedon seeing me for some further therapy session.
Bernheim added that, in his opinion, that would be total waste of
time, but the fuwer was insistent. I had no wish to interfere with
(25:30):
this treatment program. But the professorreplied, it's not wise to confront this
man with a refusal, and besidesthat, he had no one else to
recommend. If you leave your bishopsthere, olof my dear, I'll have
(25:56):
you checkmate in two moves. Ohwhat? Oh yeah, yea, I'm
sorry. Let me move in here. That's better. You seem distracted tonight,
my darling. Is everything all right? Yes, yes, it's just
(26:17):
that I've been assigned a patient thatI rather not have to deal with the
caton someone I would know right now, I really can say. As I
entered the huge office of the Fuer, I was even more reluctant to continue
(26:37):
my psychoanalysis or the monster Hitler hadbecome since the days of the lowly corporal
I've seen at the Belitz Hospital backin nineteen eighteen, some sixteen years ago.
I appreciate you're asking me for furthertherapy session, mind Furer, but
I don't believe we can go anyfurther now. Why not my skills?
(27:03):
My skill is beneath you. Idon't deserve this honor we started at the
bailis yes, and we shall nowgo forward together. Have you come to
believe in fate? Doctor? PerhapsI have. I think you should do
You truly won't help you tell methe truth? No one else around me
(27:25):
does. As long as I liveand breathe, we shall be yoked together.
You now have a therapy practice ofa single client, Doctor Juma.
(27:49):
The Hitler File is a production ofVoyage Media. The series is produced by
nat Mondel, Robert Midas and DanBennomore, directed and produced by Dan Bennomore,
written by Desmond Fosbery, based onthe novel The Drameric File by Brandon
Rolfe, starring Peter Stormare as doctorDrmieric and Denis O'Hare as Adolf Hitler.
(28:12):
Additional cast credits available in the shownotes. Edited sound designed and mixed by
Nick Nissiti. Original music by DarlasGonzalez. If you're enjoying the show,
please leave us a five star reviewand Apple Podcasts or anywhere you're listening,
and subscribe now for future episodes
Any thoughts that medicine had advanced considerablyin the last hundred years of warfare quickly
banished as I walked into Belitz MilitaryHospital outside Berlin. I'm here to work
on the Professor Bernheim, one ofGermany's pre eminent psychiatrists, and he's happy
(00:38):
to tell you so. Bernheim strugglesto pronounce my name, and to be
fair, I'm Swedish old of Drummer. I studied under Professor Sigmund Freud in
Vienna. Bernheim knows how to pronounceFreud's name and does so, as one
might say, as a curse.Labor One is a fan of Freud and
(01:02):
is emerging psychoanalytical methods, but Ispecialize in them. Most of the patients
in the general ward here have terriblephysical wounds. Those in the psychiatric unit
are suffering from a newly designated ailment, shell shock, and according to Freud,
(01:26):
all these men have severe and rosesleading to organic symptoms sound organs,
refusing function, limbs, tongue,eyes. Here all unresponsive to incoming stimulate
the shocked brain. Worth witness orexperience incidents so horrific as to be unbearable
(01:52):
would diverge by converting these blocked outmemories into physical pain or fault in order
to render them in a more acceptableform. I sit in my clinical room.
There is a knock on the door, and my first patient comes in
(02:13):
and hands over his fire pale,brooding with a thick brush mustache. He
stands at attention while he looks atme. I can feel his eyes boring
into me. I read the medicalpile. Adolf Hitler Corporal Signal Runner sixteenth
Bavarian Reserve Regiment, shrapnel wound toleft thigh at Psalm nineteen sixteen, Awarded
(02:39):
the Iron Cross, a second classreposted to a front line after discharge.
Must At gas victim at Uprey innineteen eighteen, temporary blindness. I'm fit
to turn. That's not yet decided, corporal, I'm fitted to return.
(03:01):
How So two years ago the howardzershell kid all around me. I survived.
Why Well, there could be manyreasons. Name one. Look and
now you're once again an unfortunate victimand a mustard gas attack at the prey
and you sustain another significant injury.I am not a victim. Well you
(03:28):
did, nevertheless, suffering the attack, did you not? Does it not
stay there? That I was struckblind. Yeah, do I seem blind?
Apparently your blindness was temporary. Doyou recall Soul of Tauses Saint Paul?
Yes? I do, He toowas an aream and he was struck
(03:50):
blind. I see he went onlike this. His military exploit gave him
a feeling of being Destiny's chosen son. His constant harping on his special status
to me screamed of deep insecurity.Before I went to medical school in Vienna,
(04:12):
Professor Sigmund Freud had developed his theoriesand the practice of psychoanalysis. He
maintained that people suffer inherent of rosesstemming from traumatic episodes dating from earliest childhood,
even from birth, and that theseare suppressed deeply within their subconscious mind.
(04:33):
We have frequent sessions during Corporal Hitler'sstay here at Belitz, his combatative
and clearly feels my presence is anannoyance to be suffered through. Would you
care to talk to me about yourchildhood? Why? Well? Were you
(04:54):
happy as a child? My childhoodhas no pertinence. It could I wish
to be discharged now returned to activeduty? Were I beaten and sodomized as
a child, or lovingly handled hissupportive care. Neither would change the fact
that I am a capable soldier andI belong with my men. Well,
you're not yet ready for that,corpron We have a little way to go
(05:15):
before you deemed fit for further militaryservice. More sessions went on fruitlessly.
Finally, in desperation, I triedanother tactic, Corporal Adolph, I know
you've seen death. I have aswell, another of your patients, perhaps
a suicide, as the tired ofyour babbling no no. When I was
(05:40):
six, I had a playmate atschool, a girl. Her name was
Elsa. We were at the sameage. One wet afternoon, her mother
caught the two of us in awoodshed examining each other. As neither of
us had a brother or a sister. It was a union situation as we
(06:00):
discovered the essential difference between boys andgirls. What happened, Well, to
back up, Elsa did have abrother, but he drowned in a lake
when she was just a baby,and her father had died in a shipwreck
before she was born. So itwas just Elsa, who used to stutter,
(06:23):
and a mother who was very,very strict, And that afternoon,
when she discovered us, her motherwas very angry and threatened to get to
my grandfather to cut off my peniswith his biggest knife. He and my
father are both surgeons. After that, I started to stutter, just like
(06:46):
Elsa. Ever well, went ondistress. My grandmother said Elsa's family had
madness. I asked my father whatcost it, and he said men caught
sickness from women that led to madness, nearly your disease. My mother said,
none of that's wrong. She saidElsa's mother was that way because of
(07:10):
her family's misfortune. But that's notthe worst part. What is Six years
later, hours away at boarding school, and came home for the summer vacation
to some terrible news. At thattime, Else had started to menstruate and
her mother could not cope, soshe stabbed Helps to death and then hanged
(07:35):
herself. Madness, madness, Yes, why would you tell me this?
Ever since those episodes have prevented mefrom establishing relationships with girls and now with
women, your childhood has affected youradult life. Yes, I never told
(08:00):
anyone this before. Thank you.From then on, our relationship changed.
I learned about him, both fromhim and from others in the hospital,
and knew him Adolf Hitler was bornin Austria in eighteen eighty nine and his
(08:22):
father, Aloua, was the illegitimateson of Mariah Schicklgruber, and when Mariah
became the third wife of Johann Heidler, he adopted the five year old boy.
But it wasn't until he was fortythat Aloa Schicklgruber legally changed its surname
(08:43):
to Hidler, and it was rumoredthat Aloua's father had been the son of
a Jewish family for whom his mother, Maria, had worked as a housekeeper.
After spending a career as a customofficer, by eighteen ninety six,
was retired to a small farm inhalf Her, Austria, where he kept
(09:05):
livestock and bees while his wife,Hitler's mother Clara, tended her vegetable garden.
This garden would be the source ofHitler's first significant confession to me.
I was seven and my mother wasalone in her vegetable garden when she discovered
(09:26):
that my father's ducks had ripped upher garden pea plants, and she threatened
to wring their necks in her distress. She did not know I had overheard
her, as I was coming fromthe house and going off to the village,
and you did something about this.In the village, I was accosted
by some bigger boys who bullied meand insulted my father and my mother.
(09:50):
I ran back home in a rageand killed all my father's ducks. And
how did your parents react? Idid it to please my mother, but
my father didn't see it that dayand I received a severe beating. Now,
how did you feel about that?Betrayed better? I got used to
(10:13):
them. Corporal Hitler remained under mycare at the village for the next few
weeks. We had established our patienttherapist bomb but he remained frustrated at his
medical incarceration. He was still therewhen Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated and Germany's surrender and
(10:37):
the armistice was signed in November nineteeneighteen. Admissed the general celebration and relief
being expressed by all the other patientsand staff. Corporal Hitler remained aloof becoming
more and more angered and hysterical,and after the war he returned to Munich,
(10:58):
but remained in the army and wasappointed as an intelligence agent to infiltrate
the German workers Party there. Hisnationalist views and oratorical skills led him to
becoming a member of the party,and by nineteen twenty four he was the
leader of the National Socialist German Workers'Party known as the Nazi Party. Though
(11:26):
I lost track of him as apatient, his name appeared often in the
newspapers as his political activities advanced,and I maintained a close interest in him.
Then I happened to be spending aneight in Munich on my way to
Vianna to visit my old mentor.Passing around a beer hall, I heard
this unmistakable voice. A meeting wasbeing addressed by my one time patient,
(11:52):
and I decided to go in.I never not a backer, I perfectly
can vouch forever changed, said theback. I do not recall seeing you
(12:13):
here before? Good morning? Areyou a party member? Well, no,
no, I'm just passing through meand to come away to Vienna.
I'm known Adol for some years andI just wanted to come and see him
(12:33):
again in actual so to speak.What he remember you? I'm sure he
will, who hasn't seen me sincehe was in Bellaire. In that case,
I can arrange it. After themeetings. Stay here. You must
consider joining the party. You know, if we need men like you,
(12:54):
I'm sure you understand. I wanta brute, just basic security. You
understand, m zaghaire mine fila.Who is this? He says, You
(13:26):
and he are old friends from Poulin. Ah, I see it now,
the good doctor. My mind istoo preoccupied, Colm Doronic, How are
you sit down? Oh? Well, thank you. I'm sure you're very
busy these days. Indeed, Iam here. I want you to take
(13:48):
that and study it. My book, Oh mind comps I struggle, But
he's not a victim. I wroteit while in prison. Can you believe
it? They put me in prisonfor disturbing the peace. They called it
treason. I told them I wasstanding up for German workers' rights, and
(14:09):
they led me out once they realizedhow mistaken they were. We heard about
it in Berlin. In Berlin,yes, So what brings you to Munich?
Apart from seeing me? Of course, I'm on my way to the
add to visit my old mentor,Professor Freud. The glow went out in
his eyes, Sigmund Freud, charlotteanand some people think so well, I'm
(14:33):
not one of them. You shouldn'tassociate with someone like him. They are
better German experts on the mind.You're German, why not learn from them.
I'm Swedish and I came to thiscountry by way of Professor Bernheim's invitation
and to work under him. No, no, I had, doctor Drummer.
You are mistaken. You came tothis country because it was your destiny
(14:54):
to recognize Germany as the greatest,the strongest of all nations. You came
from Swee, but your father wasGerman. I noticed only a German father
could have endowed you with the distinctfeatures blue eyes, blonde hair, strong
physique that our destiny's emblem. I'msorry to disappoint you, but my father
is also Swedish. He grinned,but it was a grin that left a
(15:20):
cold pit of dread in my stomach. Thank you for the visit, doctor,
Remember what I told you, Aman like you should join the party.
(15:41):
It will stand you in good stead. Mind how you go Nowadays,
Munich can be our of city,especially at night. In my deal with
Hitler, I found him to alwayshave a simmering fanitism, mostly about himself,
(16:03):
lurking beneath the surface. Slight thoughhe was in some ways I felt
the man shouting at an audience washis true form, whilst the man who
smiled at me was another mask,a person like him having found evodeed followers.
Well, I didn't know what tomake of it. The following day,
(16:32):
I traveled to Vianna and visited myold professor. He gave me a
concert ticket that he was unable touse. I didn't realize how much that
gift was to change my life,as I told Hitler, which I remember
with a feeling of violation. Sinceboyhood I had a trouble relating to girls,
(16:56):
and perhaps even more so to womenas I grew older. M a
(17:40):
border cissage from the flower cellar outsidethe concert hall, and I took it
to the violinist who had thrilled meas she departed with her violin case.
Ms Man Leafen. Yes, wouldyou please accept this small token for the
joy you have given me this evening? How kind? Thank you? Won't
(18:03):
you put it for me just here? I'm not sure I can do that?
Oh please do It's very easy,but I'm hindered carrying this all right,
like like this perfect thank you?You're welcome. Oh what a ways
(18:23):
to go back to the hotel nowand just take it off. Would you
like to go for a cup ofcoffee? I prefer chocolate at night.
I know just the place, Cafeflorid Huber. I know weanna well.
(18:44):
From a student's viewpoint, I washere as a medical student. You're a
doctor, yes, yes, Well, I'm sorry I should have introduced myself.
I'm all of drummer. You cancall me Dey. Beethoven and most
I both played at this cafe,so you'll be among good spirits. You
(19:12):
said you very here as a student. Does that mean you are not here
now? I live and work inBerlin. I'm here visiting my old tutor
and professor. Then did you stopbeing a student here in nineteen sixteen,
nine years? That means you mustbe thirty two, much too old for
(19:36):
me. I can't tell if you'rejoking or not. Are you married?
No? I seem to be toobusy to get into relationships other than I
analyzing my patience. You always goto concert alone, I suppose so,
yes, music should be enjoyed inthe company. Well, I'm usually surrounded
by an appreciative volumece of strangers.Come see me again. I'm not a
(20:06):
stranger anymore. We started writing lettersto each other. Dear all of thank
you for your last letter, sofull of news and Berlin memories. My
good news is I applied to jointhe Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and have been accepted.
(20:27):
So I shall be back with myparents in Berlin, and that means
we shall be able to see eachother again. Tilney. As happy as
I was that Tildor was coming toBerlin, I felt equally as concerned about
the state of the country. Havingread mine counted the book he had given
(20:48):
me Munich, I realized what Hitlerwas spousing. Then in nineteen thirty three,
the political, ambitious corporal became Chancellorand returned to Berlin. The following
year, nineteen thirty four, hisstorm troopers purged the Nazi Party during the
Night of the Long Knife, mutteringall opposing elements in the party, and
(21:14):
following President Hinnibur's death in August,Hitler declared himself Fewer Germany's supreme leader,
and one day later the same year, I was summoned to Bernheim's office.
He explained that, having been calledin by Hitler's personal physician, doctor Morrell,
the previous year, he had beentreating the Fewer recurring bouts of depression
(21:38):
with heavy medication, and he wenton to say that Hitler had demanded he
sent young drum Irk to see him, so he remembered me, and to
my horror, he trusted me.Bernheim furnished me with a strong injectable medication,
(21:59):
of which he assured me Hitler wasin need of. In Bernheim's opinion,
Hitler held progress from a neurotic stateto that of a psychotic and was
far beyond the reach of my psychotherapymethod. You're not my doctor. I
was told you requested me specifically.Whoever told you that was mistaken. You
(22:22):
shouldn't be here, Adolf. Iam here. We may as well talk,
right. You should address me asyour europe Why did you ask me
for a meeting today? I toldyou, is there a reason someone might
have thought you required my assistance?It must have been explained to you it
was, and I want to hearyou say you want who helped me as
(22:45):
your doctor to hear the reason whyin your own words. There are times
I wish to die. I lookat my gun and I mentioned firing it
into my brain. No one wouldever believe a suicide if it'd be presumed
my enemies had assassinated me, thepeople would rise up carry on my work
(23:07):
in my name. Have you pickedup the gun when you think these thoughts?
No, Well then they just thoughts. I hold this entire nation,
It's future within me, the burdenand the liars and the traitors surrounding me.
Which liars and traders? Everyone?I read them, and they sprout
(23:30):
again. Well, how do youknow they are liars and traders? I
can sense it. So how doyou know that I'm not a liar or
a trader? You're Swedish. Youadmit it only by your own definition,
but deep down you are of goodGerman Aryan stock. Be not mistaken as
the Jews are mistaken in claiming thatChrist was Jewish. He was born with
(23:52):
a Teutonic warrior serving in that areaof the world. I notice I tell
you this as your supreme leader thefure, you shall study your fiero's mind
and learn on this. I doinsist years ago, if you were the
recipient of some of my innermost thoughtsand experiences, you were analyzing me,
and you shall do so again.For now, give me Bernheim's injection and
(24:15):
leave hi. Hitler, good day, health doctor. So you have just
(24:40):
come from attendings of fiora officer crunchwe meet again, or burst of Fior
crumbs. You're in a privileged associationwith Fior doctor that makes you a most
honorable citizen. By becoming a memberof our party, you will be doing
consider our both service. Won't youjoin us? Value still have a chance.
(25:08):
Some days later, Bernheim informed methat I had made quite an impression
on the fewer and that he insistedon seeing me for some further therapy session.
Bernheim added that, in his opinion, that would be total waste of
time, but the fuwer was insistent. I had no wish to interfere with
(25:30):
this treatment program. But the professorreplied, it's not wise to confront this
man with a refusal, and besidesthat, he had no one else to
recommend. If you leave your bishopsthere, olof my dear, I'll have
(25:56):
you checkmate in two moves. Ohwhat? Oh yeah, yea, I'm
sorry. Let me move in here. That's better. You seem distracted tonight,
my darling. Is everything all right? Yes, yes, it's just
(26:17):
that I've been assigned a patient thatI rather not have to deal with the
caton someone I would know right now, I really can say. As I
entered the huge office of the Fuer, I was even more reluctant to continue
(26:37):
my psychoanalysis or the monster Hitler hadbecome since the days of the lowly corporal
I've seen at the Belitz Hospital backin nineteen eighteen, some sixteen years ago.
I appreciate you're asking me for furthertherapy session, mind Furer, but
I don't believe we can go anyfurther now. Why not my skills?
(27:03):
My skill is beneath you. Idon't deserve this honor we started at the
bailis yes, and we shall nowgo forward together. Have you come to
believe in fate? Doctor? PerhapsI have. I think you should do
You truly won't help you tell methe truth? No one else around me
(27:25):
does. As long as I liveand breathe, we shall be yoked together.
You now have a therapy practice ofa single client, Doctor Juma.
(27:49):
The Hitler File is a production ofVoyage Media. The series is produced by
nat Mondel, Robert Midas and DanBennomore, directed and produced by Dan Bennomore,
written by Desmond Fosbery, based onthe novel The Drameric File by Brandon
Rolfe, starring Peter Stormare as doctorDrmieric and Denis O'Hare as Adolf Hitler.
(28:12):
Additional cast credits available in the shownotes. Edited sound designed and mixed by
Nick Nissiti. Original music by DarlasGonzalez. If you're enjoying the show,
please leave us a five star reviewand Apple Podcasts or anywhere you're listening,
and subscribe now for future episodes
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