Ernst Hanfstaengl

Date of Birth: 2 February 1887

Place of Birth: Munich, Germany
Family: Helene Elise Adelheid Niemeyer (Wife), Egon
Hanfstaengl (Son), Erna Hanfstaengl (Sister), Hertha
Hanfstaengl (Deceased daughter), Edgar Hanfstaengl
(Father), Katherine Heine (Mother), William Heine
(Grandfather)

Ernst Hanfstaengl, was the son of a wealthy publisher and art

dealer and was born in Munich, Germany, on 2nd February, 1887.
His mother was American and his grandfather, William Heine was a
general who fought in the American Civil War. In 1920, he married
young secretary Helene Niemeyer, who he later had two children with.

What happened to him after WW2?

Before WW2 Ernst made his way to Switzerland. During his time there he worked on securing
his young son's release from Germany. Soon after he moved to Britain, where he was
imprisoned after the outbreak of the second World War. He was later moved to a prison
Camp in Canada. But in 1942 he was turned over to the US, where he worked undercover for
the US President, Franklin Roosevelt. His project was known as the “S-Project” and revealed
information on approximately 400 Nazi leaders. As well as providing a total of 68 pages on
Hitler alone, including personal details regarding Hitler’s personal life.

Why was the character featured in this mini series? What was important about their role
leading up to WW2?
For most of the 1920s, Ernst spent his time introducing Hitler to the Munich high society whilst
also helping to polish his image. He helped to finance the publication of Hitler’s Mein Kampf,
the NSDAP’s official newspaper and the Völkischer Beobachter (People’s Observer). Hitler’s
relationship with Hanfstaengl was so intimate that Hitler became the godfather to
Hanfstaengl first son, Egon. But further into the series the two have a falling out and
Hanfstaengl is removed from Hitler’s staff in 1933. Things continued to worsen when he and his
wife, Helene divorce in 1936. Soon after Hitler and Ernst completely fell out after Ernst was
denounced by Unity Mitford (British Socialite), a close friend of both Ernst and Hitler.

How well was the character portrayed by the actor in the movie?
Overall the actor, Liev Schreiber played the role of Hanfstaengl very well. He made sure to
portray his personality and personal problems accurately and professionally. He applied
emotion to make it seem he was actually the role he was playing and that he was there
during the time of these real events.

Any interesting facts?

https://www.theglobalist.com/the-woman-who-prevented-hitlers-s
uicide/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler:_The_Rise_of_Evil

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Hanfstaengl#:~:text=Hanfst
aengl%20was%20removed%20from%20Hitler's,both%20the%20H
anfstaengls%20and%20Hitler.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Hanfstaengl

https://spartacus-educational.com/GERhanfstaengel.htm