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5. The Little Man

Episode 5 of 8

The story of how in just 13 years, Adolf Hitler led a fringe sect with less than a hundred members and outlandish ideas to be the dominant force in German politics.

By 1929, Berlin may be cross-dressing and dancing to jazz but governments still rise and fall with banana-republican regularity. As Chief Foreign Correspondent for the New York Post, it’s Dorothy Thompson’s job to report on this maelstrom.

Meanwhile, Joseph Goebbels, now Party District Chief for Berlin is generating daily street disturbances, Jewish-owned department stores are one of his favourite targets. He is now forced to choose between Hitler’s Nationalism and Strasser’s Socialism.

On the first day of the new Reichstag, the 107 Nazi Members of Parliament deliberately create chaos. But with the Nazis now the second largest voting bloc, journalists have to start taking Hitler seriously – even if he can be hard to pin down. Rarely rising before 11am, and not often in his office, he’s more usually to be found in a nearby café, cramming his face with cream cakes. One way or another, Dorothy must land an interview with him.

Starring Laura Donnelly as Dorothy Thompson, Alexander Vlahos as Joseph Goebbels, Tom Mothersdale as Adolf Hitler and featuring Corey Johnson as Putzi Hanfstaengl.

Cast:
Dorothy Thompson - LAURA DONNELLY
Adolf Hitler - TOM MOTHERSDALE
Gregor Strasser - JOSEPH ALESSI
Heinrich Himmler - OSCAR BATTERHAM
Sefton Delmer - ADITOMIWA EDUN
Putzi Hanfastaengl - COREY JOHNSON
Herman Göring - SCOTT KARIM
Rudolf Hess - GEORGE KEMP
Sinclair Lewis - FORBES MASSON
Joseph Goebbels - ALEXANDER VLAHOS
Other parts were played by: EDWARD BENNETT, WILLIAM CHUBB, MELODY GROVE, SORCHA KENNEDY,
JACK LASKEY, MICHAEL MALONEY, LYNNE MILLER and ANDREW WOODALL
The Narrator is JULIET STEVENSON

Sound Designer – ADAM WOODHAMS
Studio Manager – MARK SMITH
Casting Director – GINNY SCHILLER
Original Score – METAPHOR MUSIC
Producer – NICHOLAS NEWTON
Writer and Director – JONATHAN MYERSON

A Promenade production for ±«Óãtv Radio 4 and ±«Óãtv Sounds

44 minutes

Last on

Thu 9 Feb 2023 14:15

Broadcast

  • Thu 9 Feb 2023 14:15

Listen to the whole series of Nazis: The Road to Power

Listen to the whole series of Nazis: The Road to Power

The rise of fascism and the cult of the leader, in a Germany shattered by defeat.