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Reed - How I saw Hitler on my summer vacation : memoir of SS Normandie sailing to pre-WWII Europe including Nazi Germany

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Reed How I saw Hitler on my summer vacation : memoir of SS Normandie sailing to pre-WWII Europe including Nazi Germany
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In 1938, high-spirited Helen McPhail sails the SS Normandie to a Europe displaying signs of change due to Hitlers 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 Aunts eyes of that time in history. Her expressions, the music and cinema that she refers to, draw the reader right into the 30s. The historical time line, is so very helpful and provides a very powerful context to Helens travel experiences. I marvel at her stamina, which Im 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 readers (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

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How I Saw Hitler On My Summer Vacation A True Story 1938 Fearless - photo 1

How I Saw Hitler On My Summer Vacation:

A True Story

1938: Fearless Female's Amazing Adventures in Pre WWII Europe Including Annexed Austria and Nazi Germany

Helen and a French Sailor on the SS Normandie Kathleen A Reed Copyright - photo 2

Helen and a French Sailor on the SS Normandie

Kathleen A. Reed

Copyright 2012 by 1938 Publishing Company

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN 978- 0-9838196- 3-9

Kathleen A. Reed

Email the author: kreed1178@gmail.com

Web Site: www.howisawhitler .com

Preface

The setting is Europe, and the year is 1938, soon after Hitler annexed Austria, and weeks before he demanded and received an important section of Czechoslovakia!

This is a true story, taken from the pages of Helen McPhails two leather bound trip diaries. The narrative includes sailing aboard the SS Normandie and the RMS Queen Mary, and traveling by rail through nine European countries. Every evening of her two month journey, Helen meticulously logged the adventures of the day into her journals. She passed down these diaries to me along with photos, and ephemera . This is no ordinary travelogue/memoir! It reads like an exciting novel, and is a real page-turner in places.

Helen was a single lady of thirty years, with a Masters Degree in mathematics. She worked for the US Government Depar tment of Agriculture, in Washing ton D.C. The trip was prepaid so she traveled with coupons, tickets, and vouchers, for the hotels, trains and tours, plus a tight budget for souvenirs. Upon arrival at each train station, she was to be met by a representative of her hotel. That did not always happen , creating events both fascinating and chaotic . She traveled with a friend but at midpoint of the trip, they went in separate directions, as planned. Upon her arrival at Nuremberg on the eve of the annual Nazi Party Rally, the twists and turns commenced.

Helen toured 1938 Europe "u nawares, with the typical mindset of Americans, Europeans - and for that matter, world leaders - when it came to the aftermath of Hitlers annexation of Austria earlier that year . The prevailing sentiment was that another war was to be avoided at almost any cost. It was assumed (or leaders wanted to believe) that Hitler would be satisfied with his acquisitions of Austria and th e Sudetenland portion of Czecho slovakia. 1938 has been called the prelude to World War II.

Helen noticed evidence of military occupation of homes, forts and businesses, plus propaganda, but tourism seemed to proceed as a matter of course. She was not threatened with physical harm but did encounter several disturbing experiences during her travels.

Helen was optimistic by nature, and she embraced the philosophy that every time something unexpected happened, new and exciting experiences would follow. Possessing an outgoing nature, she was motivated to learn about people she encountered, regardless of their native language. She communicated fairly well due to her college courses in German and French, resorting if necessary, to using sketches and sign language.

Be sure to read the epilogue which includes copies of letters f rom soldiers she met in Europe. You will see photos of, and read enco unters with, several Austrian and German soldiers. It is never my intent to present these men in a positive or negative light, but just to relay what was in the diary and her scrapbook. Helen was as unaware as most people, when it came to the inhumanities that we re already taking place. M ost German citizens were kept in the dark by control of the media.

I have attempted to research every detail of this trip, with respect to the accuracy of dates, names, places, spelling, and grammar. The various-sized photos were taken from her scrapbook. I made them as crisp as possible.


Table of Contents

Chapter 1 :

Chapter 2 :

Chapter 3 :

Chapter 4 :

Chapter 5 :

Chapter 6 :

Chapter 7 :

Chapter 8:

Chapter 9 :

Chapter 10

with letter s from soldiers : Pre and Post WWII.

Chapter One

S ailing the SS Normandie to England

Date: August 2, 1938

Place: Washington D C to NYC

Weather: Everything was perfect .

What an exciting day, from beginning to end! After a mad scramble, Margy and I arrived at the train station toting our beautifully labeled luggage! We had asked the taxi driver to stop at places all over Washington D.C., so we could pick up some last minute things. I was so crazy happy when we arrived at the train station that I almost forgot to pay the cab driver - even with the money clutched in my hand! Our friends Elsie, Edwina and Stella, were at the station when we arrived. They gave us a big send-off which included a stunning bouquet of roses, icy cold fruit , and many good wishes. The train ride seemed quite short because Margy and I talked continually. Upon leaving the train, we boarded a gorgeous private bus that took us to the Victoria Hotel. During the ride, we caught our first glimpse of the SS Normandie ship. So stunning was the sight of this enormous ocean liner, that for once, we were speechless!

After settling into our room, we took a taxicab to 52nd Street, in New York City. We strolled past the little foreign dives and dined at the Chalet Suisse, which was a delightful place. I ordered slowly smoked Westphelian ham, after the waiter said it was imported from Germany. Before too long, we will be in Germany, enjoying the unique food and wine. After dinner, we proceeded to The Radio City Music Hall, where the magnificent decor far exceeded my expectations. The opulent splendor of the place left us breathless! On my next visit to New York, I would love to see a musical or stage show, but tonight we viewed the movie, Algiers, which starred Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr. It is difficult to wind down to anything as plebian as sleep, after such an exciting day.

Date: August 3, 1938

Place: Aboard the SS Normandie

Weather: HOT! No doubt!

Today has been a dream and more. We departed our hotel for the Normandie at 9:30 a.m. There it was, waiting for passengers and appearing even larger than it had yesterday. After passing through ticket and passport examination, Margy and I walked up the long gangplank, passing by rows of red-capped bellhops who were standing at attention, until we were finally on board! The ship was so vast that one moment we wandered around happily, and the next we were hopelessly lost. We just giggled, twirled around, and darted off in another direction. The temperature in New York today was heading for 96 degrees, and we nearly perished! We were not dressed for such hot weather because our destination is Europe, where it will be cooler. Friends and relatives, who came to see us off, were allowed to visit us on the ship. We had been dashing around so much that they had a hard time finding us! It was such fun chatting with them while taking in the wonders of our surroundings. A few passengers were whispering that movie actress Simone Simon was on board, as well as Kitty Carlisle and financier Bernard Baruch.


Photo Below: Helen on deck, wearing her gardenia corsage

Before too long it was necessary for our guests to leave the ship The SS - photo 3

Before too long, it was necessary for our guests to leave the ship. The S.S. Normandie dramatically pulled away with all the flurry of a moving-picture-type departure! Gigantic whistles were blowing and screeching, accompanied by wild hand-wavings between ship and shore. We about fainted from the heat, while standing at the ship railing in the sunshine.

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