Expert: Benjamin Davidson - 8/18/2010

Question
Hi there, I have watched the film Downfall about Hitler's last days. On the cover of the DVD and in the film Hitler is quoted as having said something along the lines of... "If the war is lost then it is of no concern to me if the people perish in it... I still would not shed a single tear for them because they do not deserve better."

Could you please tell me if this is a reliable quote and what the source is, or the sources for the dialogue in the film more generally. I have looked on line and tried to find out without any luck - and even stumbled across a neo-Nazi blog which was claiming the quote to be a fabrication.

Best

Russell

Answer
Hello Russell

To the best of my knowledge this quote cannot be attributed to Adolf Hitler. Like all 'last quotes' from famous people in history, the vast majority are made up or an exaggeration on what was actually said.

There are a number of factors that make it unlikely that Hitler said this. Hitler kept very studious diaries and this does not seem to appear in them, but also it is not the kind of thing Hitler would believe or say. Hitler hated a great many nationalities, but German/Austrian people he loved, he was one of them. The public adored Hitler and he adored them.

I would say this is a quote that has been attributed to Hitler of the years by certain people, but in my opinion it doesn't hold much creedence.

I hope this helps.
Kind regards
Ben