In the Garden of Beasts

Dodd meets with Hitler in the chancellor’s immense office: "Hitler, ‘neat and erect,’ wore an ordinary business suit" and “did not cut a particularly striking figure" (157). Dodd knows, however, that “the man had a remarkable ability to transform himself into something far more compelling" (158).

Hitler promises to punish those who have attacked Americans. Dodd asks about the German withdrawal from the League of Nations. Hitler becomes angry and rails against the French attempt to retain military superiority over Germany. Dodd asks whether Germany would go to war if, say, France makes an incursion into Germany’s industrial Ruhr Valley; Hitler answers that he would call for an international conference but that “we might not be able to restrain the German people" (159).

Both Dodd and Messersmith write to Washington: Dodd is optimistic, while Messersmith says Hitler’s assurances “are on the whole too good to be true" (159).

Hanfstaengl drives Martha to the Kaiserhof Hotel, where she is to meet Hitler. They sit for lunch with a famous Polish tenor. Hitler’s entourage arrives and they call the tenor over to the chancellor’s table to discuss music. Then Hitler summons Martha.

“Hitler rose to greet her. He took her hand and kissed it and spoke a few quiet words in German" (161).