Summary

Chapter 20: The Fuhrer's Kiss

Hitler's physical presence was unimpressive, a stark difference from when he spoke before a crowd. Hitler assured Dodd that Americans would no longer be attacked. Hitler was sent into a rage when asked about his withdrawal from the League of Nations. He bitterly complained about the French, who he claimed wanted to maintain a superiority over the Germans. Hitler indicated that further incidents on the French/German border might result in his call for an international conference rather than in military action--unless the German people insisted. Dodd reported to the State Department that the hope of world peace was better than he thought, but Messersmith did not believe Hitler's words.

Putzi, Martha and Jan Kiepura, a Polish man, arranged to meet Hitler for lunch. Hitler and his entourage sat at a different table. After a...