Act of compassion
September 28, 1918 on the Western Front: Engraved in his trench, the English Private Henry Tandey fights against the German troops. The air is filled with the noise of exploding projectiles and the screams of its dying comrades - but all these sounds are only muted, as if from afar, to him. Because suddenly the 27-year-old recognizes between fire and smoke a German soldier in his line of fire.
Even before Tandey knows how to react, the German looks up abruptly and stares directly into his eyes. Wounded and tired, he does not even try to lift his weapon - and after what felt like an eternity, Henry Tandey finally drops his rifle. The spared one nods his thanks briefly - then he stumbles off. What the English soldier will learn only many years later: The young man from the Bavarian Infantry Regiment, whom he has spared from compassion, was none other than Adolf Hitler.
Without Tandey's hesitation, he would never have returned from the front. He would not have become either the leader of the National Socialists or the German Chancellor, and would never have been able to unleash the Second World War, which cost nearly 60 million lives. Was it the power of chance or the irony of fate that Adolf Hitler of the thousands of enemy soldiers on the battlefield had to meet the one who showed humanity and did not have the heart to shoot a wounded man?
Luck or providence?
Even before Tandey knows how to react, the German looks up abruptly and stares directly into his eyes. Wounded and tired, he does not even try to lift his weapon - and after what felt like an eternity, Henry Tandey finally drops his rifle. The spared one nods his thanks briefly - then he stumbles off. What the English soldier will learn only many years later: The young man from the Bavarian Infantry Regiment, whom he has spared from compassion, was none other than Adolf Hitler.
Without Tandey's hesitation, he would never have returned from the front. He would not have become either the leader of the National Socialists or the German Chancellor, and would never have been able to unleash the Second World War, which cost nearly 60 million lives. Was it the power of chance or the irony of fate that Adolf Hitler of the thousands of enemy soldiers on the battlefield had to meet the one who showed humanity and did not have the heart to shoot a wounded man?
Luck or providence?
A question that also arises in two similar incidents. The first occurred on January 8, 1894: Hitler is only four years old when he slips on the banks of the Inn and crashes into the river. The boy can not swim and therefore seems doomed to death - the five-year-old Johann Nepomuk Kühberger would not be nearby. He reacts in the presence of the spirit and pulls his friend out of the water before the current can carry him along.
Even more incredible, however, appears the episode, which takes place on November 8, 1939 - almost two months after the beginning of World War II - in the Munich "Bürgerbräukeller". Hitler is to make a speech there - but as luck would have it, this very evening a dense fog sets over the city and the airport has to cease operations. In order to get back to Berlin, Hitler is forced to switch to the night train and finish his speech 30 minutes earlier than planned. Only 13 minutes after he left, a flash of lightning flashes the "Bürgerbräukeller" into a blazing light.
The force of the detonation makes pillars burst and the ceiling collapse. Eight people die in the bomb attack, 60 others are sometimes seriously injured - the "leader" is far away at this time. There are three key moments in Hitler's life that are turning into decisive turning points in history - and yet they are barely known, as their fatal consequences should not be apparent until years later.
Even more incredible, however, appears the episode, which takes place on November 8, 1939 - almost two months after the beginning of World War II - in the Munich "Bürgerbräukeller". Hitler is to make a speech there - but as luck would have it, this very evening a dense fog sets over the city and the airport has to cease operations. In order to get back to Berlin, Hitler is forced to switch to the night train and finish his speech 30 minutes earlier than planned. Only 13 minutes after he left, a flash of lightning flashes the "Bürgerbräukeller" into a blazing light.
The force of the detonation makes pillars burst and the ceiling collapse. Eight people die in the bomb attack, 60 others are sometimes seriously injured - the "leader" is far away at this time. There are three key moments in Hitler's life that are turning into decisive turning points in history - and yet they are barely known, as their fatal consequences should not be apparent until years later.
Chain of unfortunate circumstances
When looking at Hitler's biography but it becomes clear that in addition to many other factors especially the vagaries of nature and a chain of unfortunate circumstances led to his rise. "Chance was Hitler's best bodyguard. Banal trivialities made world history, "confirms the historian Will Berthold. That seems to have been suspected by the dictator. When he meets British Premier Chamberlain in 1938, he shows him a painting with a scene from the First World War, according to the historian David Johnson.
Among the depicted British soldiers is also Henry Tandey, who has long been a famous war hero. Hitler points to his savior and whispers to the prime minister: "This man was about to kill me - but Providence saved me from the fiendish precision with which the English guys shot us." Providence - or an act of compassion, like the wingbeat of a butterfly.
Among the depicted British soldiers is also Henry Tandey, who has long been a famous war hero. Hitler points to his savior and whispers to the prime minister: "This man was about to kill me - but Providence saved me from the fiendish precision with which the English guys shot us." Providence - or an act of compassion, like the wingbeat of a butterfly.
