Diana
January 1, 1938
Brandenburg, Germany
“Mein Führer, I believe it is your turn,” Magda Goebbels calls out, a cautious merriment in her voice. Diana could almost hear her incredulous thought: Is Herr Hitler really sitting in my country home playing a parlor game on New Year’s Eve?
“I believe that it is Lady Mosley’s turn.” Hitler nods in Diana’s direction, and even though they all know the Führer is not playing by the rules, no one would dare say it aloud. For reasons best known to himself, he wants Diana to go next.
“Of course, mein Führer, my mistake,” Diana says, lowering her head in apology. Magda squeezes her hand under the table, and Diana has to stop herself from giggling. Of all the surprising developments during her years insinuating herself into the Nazi hierarchy, her friendship with the golden-blond, statuesque Magda Goebbels has been the most astonishing. The unofficial First Lady of the Nazi Party and center of the small coterie of women Hitler admires, Magda is a canny, poised, social creature not unlike Diana herself, but she is warm where Diana is cool. Sometimes, Diana marvels that the woman who perfectly plays the ideal Aryan woman can also be so secretly shrewd.
“Let me think, let me think,” Diana says, tapping one long fingernail on the tabletop even though she knows precisely how she’ll answer this parlor-game question. Ever since Magda announced that they’d play Analogies after dinner, she began planning her response. Staring at the semicircle around the table—consisting of her, Magda, and Hitler’s Umgebung, or little court—she gives Hitler a small smile.
Only then, once she notes how Hitler is leaning forward, awaiting her response, does she say, “The flower analogy of our Führer is a tiger lily.” This is why he shuffled the game order, to see what Diana thinks of him. Curious, she thinks, how the soon-to-be world leader has his insecurities.
The Umgebung holds its collective breath, awaiting Hitler’s reaction. When he smiles and then launches into a full-bodied laugh, everyone else does as well. These men have witnessed many of his tirades—explosions that led to violence, even against the inner circle—and thus their relief at his welcoming reaction is palpable. Diana, by contrast, has never doubted her ability to charm him.
After a few more turns, the game finishes. As if operating by a secret signal, two maids enter the parlor, one with a tray of éclairs and pastries and the other with a bottle of mineral water for the Führer and coffee for everyone else. As the staff begins serving, Hitler says quietly, “We are taking dessert in here rather than the dining room?”
For a second, the entire room freezes. Dr. Goebbels, the Umgebung, Magda, and the maids are rendered immobile by the Führer’s small judgment, as if cast under a witch’s spell in a tale from the Brothers Grimm. Magda is the first to reanimate. “Of course not, mein Führer, our staff misunderstood our instructions, and they will be chastised accordingly. We will take dessert in the dining room.”
The guests rise and begin exiting the parlor, keeping an eye on Hitler’s movements as always. With a wave of his hand, he instructs them, “You all go ahead. I’d like a private word with Lady Mosley.”
Diana inhales deeply as the room empties and it becomes just the two of them. Silently, she prays that the reason for this moment alone with the Führer relates to her commercial radio proposal, and not something else. From Mosley’s dark moods and mercurial outbursts, she knows that he cannot prop up the BUF much longer. Even the influx of cash that Diana managed to procure from the Nazi Party will only stave off the inevitable for a little while. And then where will she and Mosley be?
If only Hitler would seize upon her commercial radio idea, the BUF could soar once again. She and Mosley would be flush with cash, like the Conservative MP Captain Leonard Plugge, who’d obtained a French radio license and created the successful commercial station Radio Normandie. Although Diana’s plans are much more ambitious. She hopes to knit together a network of German-based radio stations that would ultimately cover the entirety of Great Britain and offer light entertainment, something that isn’t currently available but surely people crave. Diana hopes that Hitler might see not only the financial but also the political benefit of this scheme.
Diana turns the full power of her gaze on Hitler who sits across from her in a tufted oxblood leather chair decorated with nailheads. Then she says, “I’m honored you’d like to speak with me, mein Führer.”
“I’ve been thinking about your proposal.”
It takes quite a lot for Diana’s heart to race, but flutter it does. “The fact that you’d take time away from running Germany, forging alliances with other countries, and expanding into other Germanic areas to consider my little idea means the world.” She placates him with the sort of compliments she knows he loves to hear, and her recitation of his litany of recent accomplishments—especially in the wake of the recent alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan in the Anti-Comintern Pact—makes his eyes sparkle with pleasure.
“My advisors are not in favor of it,” he says, studying her expression as he informs her of this. “But I think the plan shows promise that they cannot see, and I understand better than almost anyone the power of radio. Please, describe it to me again. Let me have the benefit of your vision.”
“With pleasure. As you know, the BBC holds the broadcasting license for the entirety of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and fights any attempt to encroach on its airwaves. Yet, the BBC offers very little in the way of light programming, and we feel as though there is a ready market for it in Great Britain and Northern Ireland—a market for which advertisers would pay handsomely. If the BUF could construct a commercial radio system outside Britain while developing a strong foothold in this light entertainment market within Britain by playing the programming within Britain, then a dependable stream of cash could be raised for Mosley’s organization and our investors. The ideal place to establish this commercial radio station—for both financial and political reasons—is Germany.” She pauses and lowers her gaze deferentially. “But only with your blessing and permission, of course.”
Hitler does not speak. Instead, his hands form a triangle as he studies her. Is he pleased with her short presentation, or is this the terrifying silence before the rendering of a savage judgment about which she’s heard tales but never experienced? Diana doesn’t know if she should continue or await a signal from him, and for only the second time in her life, something like fear overtakes her. The first time, of course, had also been with Hitler.
Diana decides to plunge forward in the direct manner to which he’s accustomed from both her and Unity. Willing her voice not to quiver and reveal her nervousness, she says, “We have already put the corporate structure in place to shield Mosley’s involvement from public view, not wanting to give any reason for British intelligence to investigate the radio station or us. All preparations in the event mein Führer decides that this plan is worthy.”
“Wise, very wise,” the Führer interjects, but before Diana can relax, he asks, “What would Germany gain by facilitating this radio-station arrangement other than the financial return on its investment?”
The question startles Diana. She had believed that the synergy between the Nazi Party and the BUF was plain, that she would not have to say aloud the prospect looming before them all. But it seems as though Hitler wants her to make the commitment explicit, and Diana did not make the sacrifice of her first marriage and her reputation to be married to a political leader who fails. Together, she and Hitler will make the BUF and Mosley succeed so they can join the Führer on that auspicious day when his party rules all of Europe.
“This would allow the BUF to be firmly in place when you—mein Führer—are ready to take the helm of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, providing you with a local government at your service.” She pauses for dramatic effect. “As well as dedicated airwaves ready to communicate with and command your new subjects.”