Details

Defying Hitler is a memoir of life in Germany from 1914-1933. When Sebastian Haffner died at the aged of ninety-one in 1999 his son found the manuscript among his unpublished papers. Written in 1939 just before the outbreak of World War II it spans the period from 1914 to 1933. It is Haffner's personal history of Hitler's rise to power, exploring the attributes of German culture which provided fertile ground for the Nazis: the upheaval of the World War I defeat and subsequent revolution, factionalism and hyper-inflation which left the Germans addicted to excitement and action. Hitler provided this, and more. We experience a young man's growth, his schooling, a first love, his training to be a lawyer, his growing awareness of the world around him changing out of all recognition and finally his escape to Paris and then to England, where he married his Jewish girlfriend. Defying Hitler is a welcome opportunity to hear the voice of the ordinary German and to ponder with him the thorny question - whatever became of the Germans? Running time 1 hour.

Cast/Performers

Rupert Wickham

Creatives/Company

Book by: Sebastian Haffner
Adapted by: Rupert Wickham
Producer(s): Theatre Unlimited, New End Theatre
Director: Peter Symonds
Design: Michael Folkard
Lighting: Carol Weller