| Original caption: “The military parade in Berlin to mark the fiftieth birthday of Adolf Hitler, 20 April 1939. Hitler salutes the marching troops.” The next target of German aggression after the occupation of Czechoslovakia on March 15-16, 1939 and the annexation of Memel on March 23, 1939, was Poland. In order to conceal his preparations for war with Poland, Führer und Reichskanzler (“Leader and Reichchancellor”) at Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) brought up the problems of the free city of Danzig and the Versailles Corridor, established in 1920 to give Poland access to the Baltic Sea. On April 18, 2 days before Hitler’s 50th birthday, the Gauleiter of Danzig’s National Socialists, Albert M. Forster (July 26, 1902 – February 28, 1952), entered the Reich Chancellery. He was a frequent visitor at the time. As Hitler normally didn’t get up before 1200 to 1300 Hours, Forster had to wait. He went into the so-called step room where Hitler’s secretaries worked. Along with the secretaries Fräulein Gerda Daranowski (later Christian; December 13, 1913 – April 14, 1997), and Fräulein Christa Schroeder (March 19, 1908 – June 28, 1984), he met Schutzstaffel SS-Sturmbannführer Heinz Linge (March 23, 1913 – March 9, 1980), Hitler’s valet, there. Forster expounded on the difficulties he faced as Gauleiter of Danzig. “If only war would come!” he exclaimed. “Then I could stop arguing with these damned Poles. And I wouldn’t be a mere Gauleiter of Danzig. No! I’d be Gauleiter of the whole of West Prussia as soon as we’d chased out all the Poles.” On the evening of April 19, Stellvertreter des Führers (“Deputy Führer”) Rudolf Hess (April 26, 1894 – August 17, 1987) and Forster sat together in the smoking room of the Reich Chancellery. They were waiting for midnight to congratulate Hitler on his 50th birthday, which was on April 20. Around midnight Hitler appeared in the smoking room, and Hess congratulated him on behalf of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP – “National Socialist German Workers’ Party”). He was followed by Forster, who said, “I am here, my Führer, to offer congratulations from the city of Danzig! Danzig looks on you full of hope and is waiting for the moment of truth.” Hitler expressed his gratitude for their good wishes. His breast filled with pride. Hitler sat up with Hess and Forster until the early hours discussing plans for Poland. The next day, April 20, Linge woke Hitler as early as 0800 Hours. The Führer donned his brown Party uniform, but instead of the usual Sam Browne holster, he put on the golden dress belt of a German general as Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht. He stood before the mirror in his bedroom for ages, feasting his eyes on his own image like a peacock and repeatedly adjusting his jacket. Then he assumed a solemn expression and went down the steps to the great hall. Linge handed Hitler his gold-embroidered cap and gloves. At a signal the band fell silent. A company of the historic 1st Battalion of the Berlin Garrison had arrived in the courtyard. Dressed in the dress uniform of the army, the commander gave the order to present arms. Hitler appeared in the doorway and the battalion commander responded with a fascist salute. The Reich Chancellery was a sea of flowers. The great hall was decorated with palms and exotic plants. Servants stood at the doors wearing magnificent uniforms with silver lanyards and medals on their chests. In the middle the adjutants and liaison officers were lined up, together with Hitler’s bodyguard and the pilots from his own flight. Then there were soldiers from the Leibstandarte in their black SS uniforms, their new belts made in imitation of Kaiser Wilhelm Il’s guards. Officers from the Leibstandarte – like those from the Wehrmacht – wore silver lanyards and dress-uniform belts. In the great hall Hitler’s adjutant Brückner congratulated him in the name of his personal staff, then the military band struck up in the cour d’honneur. The band now played “Deutschland Über Alles,” the Horst Wessel Song, the National Socialist anthem – and Hitler’s favorite piece, the Badenweiler March. 2 limousines then drove up, bringing Himmler and his closest colleagues from the SS and the police, clad in SS dress uniforms with black steel helmets. Hitler received their tribute and went out with them from the courtyard on to the Wilhelmstrasse. Standing in his Mercedes he reviewed the parade of SS and police units. He then returned to the Chancellery. Hitler greeted representatives from foreign nations to Germany to receive birthday greetings. At 0920 Hours, There was a reception for the Apostolic Nuncio to Germany, Father Cesare Orsenigo (December 13, 1873 – April 1, 1946). 5 minutes later, a reception for Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and the former President Emil Hácha (July 12, 1872 – June 27, 1945). Then, at 0930 Hours, Reception for Slovak President Father Jozef Tiso (October13, 1887 – April 18, 1947). 15 minutes later, a Reception for the Reich government, then the Wehrmacht leadership. Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (“Supreme Commander of the Air Force”) Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946); Hess; Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda (“Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda) Joseph Goebbels (October 29, 1897 – May 1, 1945); Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop (April 30, 1893 – October 16, 1946); Minister without Portfolio Konstantin von Neurath (February 2, 1873 – August 14, 1956); General der Artillerie Wilhelm Keitel (September 22, 1882 – October 16, 1946), Stabschef der Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW); and the other grandees of Hitler’s Germany had appeared meanwhile. Goering was hung with crosses from head to toe. Everyone congratulated Hitler and assured him of their loyalty. Now Hitler received his presents. Models – of tanks, field guns, aircraft, battleships and so on – sent to him by captains of industry found a special place, most of all a model of the West Wall (built between 1938-1939; 14,000 bunkers along Germany’s western border – Allies called it the “Siegfried Line”) equipped with electric lights. They were meant to personify the spirit of the 3rd Reich. Hitler valued these gifts highly and toyed with them for hours on end. After receiving his presents, he left the Chancellery with all of his entourage and went to the Brandenburg Gate. His black, armor-plated limousine carried the “Führer’s Standard” with a swastika and an eagle in each corner. At 1015 Hours, Hitler and his entourage departed via Wilhelmstraße, Behrenstraße, Charlottenstraße, Französische Straße, Werderstraße and Schlossstraße to the Berlin Command Headquarters at Unter den Linden 1 (today Bertelsmann) and the Lustgarten. There, Hitler received a message from the troops. Then he continued along the central promenade, Unter den Linden, and through the Brandenburg Gate to the tribune of honour near Technische Universität. Hitler took the salute of the Wehrmachter at 1100 Hours on the east-west axis (today Straße des 17.Juni). Lasting for 4 1/2 hours and at a length of 10 kilometers (6 miles), it is the largest parade ever held in Germany. Behind the Brandenburg Gate the troops were lined up on parade. Hitler stood up in the car and, with his arm outstretched, drove past the troops lined up along the Tiergarten. Twetny-5,000 Sturmabteliung (SA), 15,300 Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps (NSKK – “National Socialist Motor Corps”) and 600 SS men ensure Hitler’s safety. Lieutenant-Colonel Noel Mason-MacFarlane (October 23, 1889 – August 12, 1953), Military Attache to the British Embassy in Berlin, proposes a plan to shoot Hitler with a sniper rifle from his window that overlooked the Charlottenburger Chaussee. When Mason-MacFarlane proposed this plan to his superiors, it was turned down. The British Foreign Secretary, Edward Wood, Lord Halifax (April 16, 1881 – December 23, 1959) argued that “We have not reached that stage…when we have to use assassination as a substitute for diplomacy.” Grandstand seating, tribune-style, had been built in the square in front of the Technical University. When Hitler got out of his car, the diplomats and military attachés present stood up. Hitler, Goering, Hess, Goebbels, Ribbentrop, Neurath, Keitel and the Führer’s adjutants took their seats on a tribune covered with a red-velvet baldachin with golden tassels. The parade started. Hitler took a few paces forward. The march past began with the standard-bearing battalion, who lowered their banners as they passed Hitler. All present rose. The orchestra played “Deutschland über alles” and the Horst Wessel Song. After the standards came the infantry, marching in close formation and wearing camouflage, then Luftwaffe regiments and units of Marines. Onlookers were particularly struck by the paratroops in their marching kit and steel helmets, who were parading for the 1st time. Behind them followed a huge column of motorized infantry that filled the entire breadth of the street. Then the heavy artillery roared by, the noise of their motors mingling with the sound of the horn-players. After a short pause the cavalry appeared; then it was the turn of the tanks. As a finale, a squadron of the latest aircraft – planes Europe had not previously seen – flew over their heads. Hitler’s eyes glowed in triumph. He was in the best of moods when he returned to the Chancellery. In his wake came a column of cars bearing all the guests who had been invited to the banquet in the Chancellery – 1,600 ministers, Reichsleiters, Gauleiters, SA and SS leaders, the chiefs of the air staff, and the motorized corps of the National Socialist Party, as well as representatives of the High Commands. At 1700 Hours, there was a reception for the diplomatic corps in the Reich Chancellory’s large reception room and in the marble gallery. Then Hitler took the reception of various delegations in the study. Hitler inspected a Volkswagen and a model of the planned Berlin triumphal arch. In the evening Hitler received private well-wishers. 1 of them was the filmmaker Leni Riefensthal (August 22, 1902 – September 8, 2003) whose star was on the wane. Hitler had passionately admired her since 1931, with the result that she had been commissioned to make films about the 1934 Party Rally and the 1936 Berlin Olympiad. Riefenstahl stood a few meters away from Hitler and stared at her Führer with a wide-eyed and steadfast gaze. Suddenly, from her painted lips came a piercing shriek, and, visibly shaken, she covered her face with her hands. When she had composed herself she stammered in a scarcely audible voice, “My Führer!” Launching herself at her idol, with both hands she thrust an enormous bunch of carnations towards him. Hitler took the flowers with a self-satisfied air and handed them to Linge. Then he offered her his arm and led her into the music room. After Riefenstahl had left, Hitler received his sister Angela (July 28, 1883 – October 30, 1949), who was married to Professor Martin Hammitzsch (May 22, 1878 – May 12, 1945) from Dresden. After the death of her 1st husband Leo Raubal (June 11, 1879 – August 29, 1910), Angela had become Hitler’s housekeeper on the Obersalzberg. He threw her out in 1935, presumably because she didn’t like Eva Braun. Angela had also pleaded for a victim of the Röhm Putsch during the “Night of the Long Knives” on March 30, 1934. Since then, he had seen his sister, who lived in Dresden, but once a year – on his birthday. Hugo Jaeger (January 18, 1900 – January 1, 1970), a photographer, worked for Führer und Reichskanzler (“Leader and Reich Chancellor”) Adolf Hitler’s (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann (September 12, 1885 – December 16, 1957), from 1936 to 1945. This gave him direct access to the Führer and his entourage. He was a pioneer of color photography, working with Agfa film and developing chemicals. After the war, he managed to hide around 2,000 negatives near Munich, which he sold to LIFE magazine in the 1960s. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0821.jpg |
| Image Size | 367.98 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1102 x 1692 |
| Photographer | Hugo Jaeger |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 20, 1939 |
| Location | Alte Reichskanzlei |
| City | Berlin |
| State or Province | Berlin |
| Country | Germany |
| Archive | Imperial War Museum |
| Record Number | COL 140 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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