The real Mitford Sisters - Unity 5

WARNING: There will be some quotes that are anti-semitic and disturbing.

Unity Mitford is no longer just a guest in Munich—she’s practically part of the furniture. In this episode, we follow Unity from 1935 to 1938 as her proximity to Nazi power reaches a fever pitch; while Central Europe descends into fascism, Unity is in heaven.

We start with her chillingly close bond with the notorious Julius Streicher, the founder of the most virulent anti-Semitic magazine you’ve ever seen. Their friendship leads to Unity addressing the Hitler Youth, sparking a massive scandal in both the British media and the House of Lords. In a bit of "appeasement politics" (pun intended!), Unity tries to soothe her enraged parents by inviting them to Munich. And would you believe it? Lord and Lady Redesdale dropped by for a spot of tea with the most dangerous man in Europe. Was the British establishment—and the media—dangerously naive, or were they willfully blind?

As their friendship tightens, Adolf Hitler invites Unity to his mountain retreat, the Berghof, where she greets the Duke of Windsor (the abdicated King Edward VIII) with a Hitler salute—and he returns it! (Just try to picture that). At the peak of their relationship, Adolf even “gifted” Unity a new apartment in Munich; never mind what happened to the previous owners, a Jewish couple. Finally, we ride along as Unity witnesses the Anschluss—the annexation of Austria—from her seat in the front row.

Everything is going perfectly for fascism, and Unity is living the dream. But how much longer can this blissful life last?

Chapters:

0:00:00 Intro & Recap (“my sweet Julius”)

0:01:56 Julius Streicher, the Hitler Youth, and Unity’s speech

0:10:03 The 1936 Olympic games - summer AND winter

0:12:58 Unity’s parents meet Hitler for Tea

0:18:25 Were the British naive about Hitler? Even the press?

0:24:24 1937 - the friendship of Adolf and Unity tightens

0:31:29 The Duke of Windsor and Unity at Hitler’s mountain retreat

0:36:51 Unity’s new apartment - with love from Adolf

0:40:33 Unity at the Anschluss (annexation) of Austria in 1938

0:54:30 Wrap & Outlook (when everything is going to sh*t)

A museum tip if you want to visit Munich: We strongly recommend the NS Doku Zentrum.

We also recommend the excellent podcast of the Daily Mail about Unity’s diaries called “The Secret Diary of Unity Mitford”.

(even though the Daily Mail’s historic record on Adolf Hitler is questionable, that podcast is almost a rehabilitation)

You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod

And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com

For Londoners: Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health? Or maybe organise a Team Event with us?

Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk

Tags: #UnityMitford #AdolfHitler #1930sMunich #1936Olympics #Anschluss #TheBerghof #BritishRoyals #DukeOf Windsor #Antisemitism #TrueHistory #TheDailyMail #MitfordSisters

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