Germany’s Declaration of War Against the United States Hitler’s Reichstag Speech of December 11, 1941
It has often been said that Hitler’s greatest mistakes were his decisions to go to war against the Soviet Union and the United States . Whatever the truth may be, it’s worth noting his own detailed justifications for these fateful decisions. On Thursday afternoon, December 11, 1941, four days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hitler spoke to the Reichstag in Berlin. The 88-minute address, which he had written himself, was broadcast to the nation. In it the German leader recounted the reasons for the outbreak of war in September 1939, explained why he decided to strike against the Soviet Union in June 1941, reviewed the dramatic course of the war thus far, and dealt at length with President Franklin Roosevelt’s hostile policies toward Germany. Hitler detailed the increasingly belligerent actions of Roosevelt’s government, and then dramatically announced that Germany was now joining Japan in war against the United States. The day after it was delivered, an inaccurate and misleading translation of portions of the address appeared in The New York Times. Although this historic address should be of particular interest to Americans, a complete text has apparently never before been made available in English.
This translation is my own, as are the brief clarifications given in brackets.
Following the speech text is Germany’s formal note to the U.S. government declaring war, and a short list of items for suggested further reading.
Eyes shining bright with unspilt tears, Thinking about all these wasted years. Everything worth living for is gone, Brother, i find it hard to keep fighting on. Falling down towards the abyss, The reaper embraces me with his kiss; It makes me want to refuse to care, To watch this all unfold – too much to bear.
If this is the way it ends – If this is the way my race ends . . . If this is the way it ends – i can’t bear to witness
Disease encroaching on all i hold dear, Somehow i gotta get my soul outta here. Heart of agony, faint burning hope, I’m finding it hard to try to cope . . .
Because liars own the world with conquering poise, In a wasteland of meaningless noise; We don’t stand a chance with dormant pride, The heroes of our race have already died . . .
If this is the way it ends – if this is the way my race ends. . . If this is the way it ends – i can’t bear to witness . . .
To imagine it has all come down to this, Apathy and suicidal bliss . . .
It’s all over except for the cryin’, With a whimper instead of the roar of a lion . . .
The greatest race to ever walk the earth, Dying a slow death with insane mirth, The tomb has been prepared, our race betrayed, White man, fight the flight towards the grave . . .
If this is the way it ends – if this is the way my race ends . . . If this is the way it ends – i can’t bear to witness . . . If this is the way it ends – if this is the way my race ends . . . If this is the way it ends – i can’t bear to witness . . .
Don’t let it end this way, Don’t let it end this way, Don’t let it end this way, i can’t bear to witness . . .
