HITLER’S LUXURY HOME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 256, 30 October 1939, Page 10

HITLER’S LUXURY HOME

"BETTER THAN BALMORAL” AVSTRALIAN CABINET .MINISTER AMAZED SYDNEY, Oct. 19. "I was astounded at the size and luxury of Herr Adolph Hitler's house in Berlin—it surpassed in excellence and grandeur anything you could imagine,” said Mr. 11. P. FitzSimons, Minister ot Health, addressing members of the Industrial Arts Club. “In England I visited Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, and many of the Royal country seats,” he said. “Compared with Harr Hitler's palace they were just ordinary homes.” "One room 1 suppose it would be the sitting room - was 150 feet in length, and built on two levels. The furnishings were superb—and Herr Hitler supervised everything himself. On the floors there was a first carpet, overlaid with rubber, and then another carpet on top of I hat." Mr. FitSimons said that al. the lime of his visit to Herr Hitler's Berlin house artists of high repute were working on 15ft. high paintings for the walls of the house. He described one picture of a mother holding a baby in her arms, and a child by her side’. This was to symbolise German motherhood. Herr Hitler complained bitterly that the shoes on the woman were not typical, and ordered that they bo painted out -and another pair, which he personally selected, be painted in. Mr. FitzSimons said that when motoring through the German countryside last July he stopped for petrol. While waiting he wandered to the end of the lane, and casually peered over a hedge. "This was at a quarter to ten at night,” he said. “Imagine my surprise when I saw a. military aerodrome with 300 bombers ready for an immediate take-off.” Mr. FitzSimons was entertained by Admiral P-aeder, Chief of the German Navy, and met many of the Nazi leaders. Mr. FitzSimons also spoke of his recent trip through France, Switzerland, Italy and Belgium. Italians, he said, were nearly all pro-British. “Their fondness for Britain is almost sentiment al," he added.