Adolph Hitler candid photograph at Christmas Party at the Reich Chancellery on December 18, 1937
Germany. May be a modern reprint of 1937 photograph. Photograph. Format is approximately 6 inches by 4 inches. Printed on Kodak xtralife paper. Minor bend at lower left corner. This is a picture in which Hitler is at a dining table, just to the left of center as one looks at the photograph. There are senior Nazi officials on either side of him. There are two individuals dressed each as white bearded Santa Claus and they are presented the Furhrer with a large rectangular gift. There is an SS officer standing behind the seated Furhrer. Hitler has at least one hand (his right) on the gift. There is a Nazi (Swastika) flag on the table along with lighted candles, an open bottle, and at least one glass. There are white coated wait staff and others standing in the background. It is possible that the seated senior Nazi officials are Goering and Himmler. This appears to be a copy of one of the images published by the German newspaper Die Welt, which offered an overview of 24 Christmases between 1920 and 1944. Despite his distaste, Hitler did not seek to outlaw Christmas traditions, but rather attempted to replace them with a celebration of National Socialism. A comparable image was seen on the interned referenced as ullstein bild via Getty Images. This appears to be from the December 18, 1937, Christmas party for the employees of the Reich Chancellery where Hitler received a gingerbread gift from two Santa Clauses. More