Himmler (Peter Padfield's Second World War)

by Peter Padfield

‘the Führer is always right’ that was what he believed; it was self-evident from Hitler’s status as Germanic leader. Even if he could not understand certain decisions, or thought they were wrong, he yet believed they had a transcendent quality; it was only his own lack of vision that prevented him from seeing their essential rightness. ‘Simply an indication that Hitler might have a different opinion’, Kersten wrote, ‘sufficed to make Himmler hesitate and postpone a decision until he had been able to make sure of Hitler’s attitude.’[102] More surprising still, Himmler was in a state of fear before his audiences with the Führer. No one who had not seen it with their own eyes would have believed it, Kersten wrote, ‘nor would anybody believe how Himmler rejoiced if he came out of the interview successfully or, better still, received a word of praise.’