Music: Strauss v. Hitler

Richard Strauss, of Nazi Germany, whose only rival to the title of greatest living composer is Jean Sibelius, of Nazi-dominated Finland, has dared to defy the Führer. The story came out last week in the Schweizer Illustrierte Zeitung of Zurich, Switzerland.

Strauss had been ordered to put up a dozen air-raid refugees from Munich "as Hitler's guests" at the composer's country house in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is near Hitler's Berchtesgaden eyrie. Strauss refused. As an old man of 80, he said, he felt entitled to privacy and peace. Nazi officials took the matter to Hitler himself. The Führer declared that Strauss's recalcitrance would...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!