Over 100 Years Ago, A Twist Of Fate Saved Adolf Hitler's Life

This morning, I am going to introduce you to a woman you have not met and never will meet. Helene Elsse Hanfstaengl was an American citizen born on Long Island. She married a remarkable and wealthy German man, Ernst Hanfstaengl. Fate placed her in Munich, Germany, in early Novermber of 1923. Hitler staged a coup to overthrow the Weimar Republic on November 8-9, 1923. After the coup failed, Hitler took shelter in Ernst and Helene's mansion. The Bavarian police knew exactly where he was hiding. On the morning of November 10, 1923, two truckloads of police surrounded the home. They came inside with a warrant for Hitler's arrest. Hitler came running down the stairs with a pistol in his hand. He announced that he was going to commit suicide to avoid capture. Let us stop right there. If Hitler did this in the modern US, he would have been quickly and unceremoniously shot to death. Fate remained on Hitler's side that morning. In our modern world, many women work as law enforcement officers, military units, and private security. They are well-trained in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. Many women also take private lessons to learn self-defense. Over 100 years ago, it would have been quite rare for a woman to know the martial arts. Helene was that rare exception. She used a judo move to knock the pistol out of Hitler's hands. Please reflect for a moment. If Helene had not been there, most likely the police would have shot Hitler dead, or he would have killed himself. Please imagine how different the world would have been had Hitler died in 1923. Ernst and Helene became disillusioned with Hitler. They made their way to England, Canada, and the US. Ernst went to work for President Roosevelt. Their son served in the US Army Air Corps.