History Unfolded: US Newspapers and the Holocaust

Headline: Dorothy Thompson Says Hitler Is Now Religion

Publication Date: Monday, August 27, 1934
Historical Event: Dorothy Thompson Expelled from Germany
This database includes 724 articles about this event
Tags: Gannett full page downloadable; Women's Experiences
Article Type: News Article
Newspaper: The Asheville Citizen/The Asheville Citizen-Times
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Page Section and Number: 1
Author/Byline: AP
Article Text: PARIS, Aug. 26. (AP) — Dorothy Thompson, American newspaper and magazine writer who was "invited" to leave Germany, arrived here today, and in a spirited description of her adventure said, "Chancellor Hitter is no longer a man, he is a religion."

Miss Thompson, in private life Mrs. Sinclair Lewis, wife of the novelist, was asked by the secret police in Berlin yesterday to leave the country immediately. Presumably an article she wrote three years ago, when Hitler was still striving to become "Der Fuehrer" gave offense to the Nazis.

Part of "Terror" Drive
She was of the opinion today that her expulsion "is evidently a part of a campaign of terrorism against foreign correspondents."

"Germany," the American writer continued, "is a charming country, but it is becoming the most comfortable and most hygienic prison in the world."

Miss Thompson had memorized the letter from German officials asking her to leave. As French correspondents swarmed about her, when the Berlin express came to a stop, she repeated the letter verbatim.

She found that Paris was Intensely interested in her encounter with Nazi officialdom. The newspapers gave prominence to the incident.

Miss Thompson was the first American writer asked to leave Germany since Chancellor Hitter came to power. The "invitation" to her to leave, she said in Berlin yesterday, was extended "by a pleasant young man in civilian clothes."

"Advised To Leave"
The propaganda ministry hastened to announce that it is a mistake to say she was "expelled" from Germany adding, "she was only advised to leave."

There was more official clarification of the government's feeling in the matter, or its motives.

But Miss Thompson said she was told that if she did not leave at once police officers would escort her to the border. Through the American consul she asked permission to remain 24 hours to attend to

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History Unfolded Contributor: Charlene Y.
Location of Research: Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com)