Dorothy Thompson

Thomas Pierpoint

12/11/15

HR: none

Influencing the Anti Nazi movement as a female Journalist

Dorothy Thompson was an advocate against the rise of the Nazi party preluding the United States involvement in the war. She moved to Europe in 1920 and established herself as a respected journalist. In five years she headed the New York Times branch in Berlin and the Public Ledge. As a female in the early 1920’s this is quite an accomplishment. Her peers praised her work and her hard work ethic as a journalist. “Dorothy was different. She was the only woman ‘newspaper man’ of our times.” (2) Her notoriety gained as the first female to head an international bureau and her wide reaching columns and influenced gained her a sit down interview with Adolph Hitler.

The interview with Hitler was very difficult due to Hitler’s “long winded replies”, she noted that he spoke as if “addresses a mass crowd.” (1) Though the interview was difficult Thompson was able to ask one very candid question regarding the dismantling of the German Constitution, Hitler’s reply was honest and chilling . “I will abolish this parliament and the Weimar constitution. I will found an authority-state, from the lowest cell to the highest instance; everywhere there will be responsibility and authority above, discipline and obedience below.” (3) This is a chilling response to a question that other Nazi politicians would have most likely not answered due to the mounting pressure of mounting war.

The interview with Hitler would have been more of an indicator of his intentions as a possible leader of the Nazi party and Germany, but Thompson’s analysis of Hitler regarded him not as a leader, but a “propagandist.” () She described Hitler as a small man of insignificance. Due to her far reaching influence as a journalist, many in America most likely took this information and regarded Adolph Hitler with little significance as a leader. During the 1930’s avoiding war with Germany was paramount in both western Europe and the United States. This interview and Dorothy Thompson’s analysis of it most likely led to many believing that the Nazi party and Adolph Hitler could not take and maintain control of an authoritative state capable of waging war with all of Europe. It also led to her expulsion from Germany.

Dorothy Thompson was a great journalist. Considered by many as the “first lady of journalism.” Being the first female to lead an international newspaper syndicate her influence spread all across Europe and the United states, reaching millions. Her interview with Hitler gave insight to Nazi party plans of dominating Europe, but she misread Hitler as a leader and person. She wrote him off as a propagandist extremist incapable of leadership.

Help Received:

1. Carlson, Peter. “American Journalist Dorothy Thompson Underestimates Hitler.” History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online. American History Magazine, Oct. 2015. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
2. Update 6: First Woman to Head Intl News Bureau · The Silencing of Dorothy Thompson.” Kickstarter. Kickstarter, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
3. “Dorothy Thompson (1893-1961).” Dorothy Thompson (1893-1961). The Papers Project, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015