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Hindenburg and Ludendorff

Event ID: 625

Categories: 

Ein Heldenleben, Ullstein & Co, 1920

02 May 1917

49.837291383185374, 7.852933158611976
Hotel Oranienhof
Bad Kreuznach

Source ID: 55

Ein Heldenleben, Ullstein & Co, 1920 p.  143 

‘The next day, I had to introduce myself to Hindenburg and Ludendorff. As usual, Hindenburg was swamped with civilians and uniformed personnel during visiting hours, so I spoke little with him.

I sat in Ludendorff’s anteroom for an hour and had the opportunity to observe how busy this man was. There were a lot of high-ranking and important personalities in the room where I was sitting. Ballin was sitting there, next to him a high-ranking general staff officer with a thick bundle of files; then the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Bethmann had also announced his visit, Helfferich was just coming out; so many generals were still waiting for an audience, and then I arrived.

After an hour, the adjutant waved me over and ushered me in. Ludendorff stood up, shook my hand, and instead of asking, ‘How are you? You look so plump and lively,’ he simply waved his hand toward a chair and asked, ‘How are flight operations at Arras going now?’ I began to tell him and probably went into a little chatter that contained less military information. Then he simply cut me off and started talking about things I had just mentioned. It was immediately apparent that he was going all out. After he had got out of me what he wanted to know about flight operations on the main battlefront at Arras, I was dismissed after a short while. I must say I was quite satisfied, because this serious, sober-minded man was uncanny to me.

On the evening of 2 May, Hindenburg was invited to the ‘Kogen’. The event was arranged in my honour. Ludendorff also appeared. I sat to the right of Hindenburg. At the table, he gave a speech about me. Everything went down smoothly! In the course of the conversation, he asked me in his good-natured, calm manner, which inspires unconditional trust: ‘Tell me, Richthofen, were you also a cadet?’ I told him that I had begun my military career in the 2nd Company in Wahlstatt, in room 6. Then the old gentleman said: ‘Well, you see, I also started playing soldier in room 6, and I gave the room my picture as a souvenir.’

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