Germans, wondering whatever has become of Adolf Hitler, were startled by an apparently pointless but planted paragraph in Hitler's Völkischer Beobachter. Headed The Man of Genius, it said:
"It happens in world history that at climactic moments a phenomenon familiar in everyday life repeats itself on a colossal scale—namely, the personality of a 'man of genius,' with its inhibitions, faults and weaknesses, separates itself from his creative achievements. Not always or forever does the genius completely fill the frame of his creation. Frequently it happens that the great work of a genius continues to develop, of its own vitality and according to its own laws, while the ego of its creator collapses and degenerates. In other words, the creation of the genius has become independent of himself and his earthly personality."
From Stockholm this week came a plausible rumor about Hitler's fate. It was reported to have been told by Chief Groupleader Friedrich Brückner, Hitler's former adjutant, at a Berlin dinner party where Brückner had drunk too much.
One day in September Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt and an armed escort drove to Berchtesgaden to visit Hitler.
For a whole hour Hitler refused to see his callers. Then he gave in. Rundstedt spoke first, announced that henceforth Hitler's military genius must not interfere with the conduct of the war. Hitler flared up, threatened to have Rundstedt hanged. Then Himmler cut in and said that "with all respect for the Führer." the war came first, and that the SS supported the Wehrmacht's demands.
Hitler turned contemptuously to Goebbels, asked: "And you?" Goebbels replied that neither the Wehrmacht nor the SS were "wavering in their love, reverence and loyalty for the Führer," that outwardly nothing would be changed. Hitler would still be Führer, but "waving aside expert generals' advice must cease once and for all."
For six hours they argued. Hitler screamed, wept, clawed the carpet. Later Rundstedt was reported to have said: "Rather ten carpets than one more defeat."