A Nazi leader’s secret diary has been unearthed, containing accounts of his daily life in the Third Reich during World War Two – and includes some surprising entries
Personal Christmas cards sent by Adolf Hitler have been found inside a shocking WW2 diary written by a notorious Nazi.
The 75 page leather bound diary, which belonged to Otto Telschow, also includes chilling details of their meetings and how Telschow diligently carried out orders
On one occasion he wrote of Hitler having a hand injury saying: “The Führer greeted us with his left hand, as his right is still swollen. But when he speaks, he is the same as always.” Experts have confirmed it is authentic.
Telschow began his diary in March 1941. He was 65 and a committed National Socialist. In his role as’ Gauleiter’ – a Nazi chief who carried political responsibility for a region – and freely used his authority to mercilessly crush all enemies.
In his own handwriting, Telschow described how he used his power to remove supposed opponents. He wrote about clearing people “out of the way”.
Researchers say he was actively involved in decisions that led directly to countless death sentences. The diary was found in the United States and purchased by a German city council
It is now in the possession of Lüneburg City Archive. The Archive plans to publish the diary exposing, in plain words, how Nazi power was exercised from the inside.
Telschow was Gauleiter of Ost-Hannover, one of the most powerful Nazi officials in what is now the northern German state of Lower Saxony. The diary shows a man completely at ease with terror.
He wrote openly about internal Nazi rivalries and judged fellow party officials. He also carefully noted gifts he received – alongside passages filled with vile antisemitic rants.
At the same time, he recorded banal details in meticulous, twisted detail. This included the weather in Lüneburg. Daily routines. Ordinary life running alongside persecution and violence.
Historians say the diary is an extremely rare source because it shows the unfiltered thoughts of a Nazi Gauleiter.
Until now, only official documents were known. The diary also raises disturbing questions about forced labour. One unresolved case involves a Ukrainian forced labourer assigned to work for Telschow. Her fate remains unclear.
The book surfaced at an auction in the United States. How it ended up there is unknown and the Lüneburg City Archive bought it for £6,000
Experts examined the paper, binding, ink and handwriting. They compared it with other documents. Their conclusion: the diary is definitely real. Otto Telschow died in 1945, just days after a failed suicide attempt.