Hans Litten: The man who annoyed Adolf Hitler

[Gerald]

A new drama tells the story of a Jewish lawyer who confronted Hitler 80 years ago - earning the dictator's life-long hatred. So who was Hans Litten?

In the Berlin courtroom, Adolf Hitler's face burned a deep, furious red.

The future dictator was not accustomed to this kind of scrutiny.

But here he was, being interrogated about the violence of his paramilitary thugs by a young man who represented everything he despised - a radical, principled, fiercely intelligent Jewish lawyer called Hans Litten.

The Nazi leader was floundering in the witness stand. And when Litten asked why his party published an incitement to overthrow the state, Hitler lost his composure altogether.

"That is a statement that can be proved by nothing!" he shouted.

Litten's demolition of Hitler's argument that the Nazis were a peaceful, democratic movement earned the lawyer years of brutal persecution.

He was among the first of the fuehrer's political opponents to be rounded up after the Nazis assumed power. And even long afterwards, Hitler could not bear to hear his one-time tormentor's name spoken.

But although he was among the first to confront Hitler, Litten remains a little-known figure.

Now a drama and an accompanying documentary tell the story of a cantankerous, flawed but ultimately heroic man.

Litten was, long before he confronted the dictator, a staunch anti-Nazi. Although his father, a law professor, had converted from Judaism to Christianity and played down his background to further his career, the young Litten went in the opposite direction, joining a Jewish youth group and learning Hebrew out of a mixture of adolescent rebellion and sympathy for the dispossessed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14572578


Note: 19 August 2011 Last updated at 10:19 GMT

[Castout]

I don't know not all the time those who confront dictators are themselves good people.

This Jewish lawyer seems more like a chaotic anti Hitler, more by chance or circumstances than anything else.

He doesn't seem to embolden a moral rightness in his reason to confront Hitler as the Hitler he confronted was a Hitler not yet in power.

There are other greater opponent of Hitler those who still opposed him even when he took power. Those are the kind of people I respect the most. This Litten is at best circumstantial in his opposition to Hitler who was not yet in power, a Hitler who was a nobody. This Litten is more likely a government / ruling regime collaborator than a genuine Hitler opposition.

[MH]

Originally Posted by Castout

I don't know not all the time those who confront dictators are themselves good people.

This Jewish lawyer seems more like a chaotic anti Hitler, more by chance or circumstances than anything else.

He doesn't seem to embolden a moral rightness in his reason to confront Hitler as the Hitler he confronted was a Hitler not yet in power.

There are other greater opponent of Hitler those who still opposed him even when he took power. Those are the kind of people I respect the most. This Litten is at best circumstantial in his opposition to Hitler who was not yet in power, a Hitler who was a nobody. This Litten is more likely a government / ruling regime collaborator than a genuine Hitler opposition.

Hollly ****.....so spiritual.

Hollly ****....

That is better than my response as I was pretty well speechless after reading Castouts "reasoning"

[Gerald]

Spiritual or not, he gave his opinion!

[Catfish]

Hm,
you mean you need moral reasoning ... like we do today in morally judging our politicians and company leaders, and then do something about it ?
Or better: Nothing ?
What would you say when it comes out that 9/11 was a fraud, or going to war against the wrong country ? Build a new worldwide strategy on the reason or better pretext of a worldwide terrorist threat ?
We are in the middle of it, daily.

[Gerald]

I have no moral plays, I live in the moment very much, and that means that I do not believe in a delusion, with what happened for almost 10 years ago, as some claim ... yet, not all the spite, and it is true the war continues on many different levels around the clock empires over, and it is hard facts that strikes with force that not everyone can imagine.

[Castout]

Originally Posted by MH

Hollly ****.....so spiritual.

Ah you always a troll huh. As expected.

I merely giving out my opinion that this Jewish lawyer may not be a credible Hitler opposition. He is probably more a government collaborator prosecuting the then dissident Hitler.

Giving this man a probable undeserving hero status while so many other more genuine ones lost their lives and sacrificed much for their stand against Hitler is an insult to their stand.

There's nothing spiritual about that opinion. But a troll is always a troll they pull you down their level I guess. That's what they do. Since they can't help themselves, God help them because other people can't. Not much of an intellectual are you. One of the reason I very much doubt you being an Israeli. They can't be that . . . .

If anyone think that moral is inconsequential and there should not be a moral judgment to anyone then I must ask why with the constitution and the idea of judiciary system? Why hang the Nazi accomplices? Why demonizing Hitler and making heroes of those who opposed him?

Last those who opposed an evil man or a wan who would turn out to be evil are not necessarily good people by nature. Stalin stood against Hitler. Stalin was far more USEFUL and EFFECTIVE in fighting Hitler than this Jewish lawyer did. It still doesn't mean Stalin was a good person. If not why not glorifying Stalin instead as the biggest personal nemesis to the evil Hitler, Hitler's biggest cause of rage and irritation.

[Gerald]

Hans Litten,should have some form of credit, as he was and remained an opposing leader to Hitler and its regime, which was not common during this time when most people did not dare say anything because of the punishment, or the like if they protested.

[MH]

Originally Posted by Castout

Ah you always a troll huh. As expected.

I merely giving out my opinion that this Jewish lawyer may not be a credible Hitler opposition. He is probably more a government collaborator prosecuting the then dissident Hitler.

Giving this man a probable undeserving hero status while so many other more genuine ones lost their lives and sacrificed much for their stand against Hitler is an insult to their stand.

There's nothing spiritual about that opinion. But a troll is always a troll they pull you down their level I guess. That's what they do. Since they can't help themselves, God help them because other people can't. Not much of an intellectual are you. One of the reason I very much doubt you being an Israeli. They can't be that . . . .

If anyone think that moral is inconsequential and there should not be a moral judgment to anyone then I must ask why with the constitution and the idea of judiciary system? Why hang the Nazi accomplices? Why demonizing Hitler and making heroes of those who opposed him?

Last those who opposed an evil man or a wan who would turn out to be evil are not necessarily good people by nature. Stalin stood against Hitler. Stalin was far more USEFUL and EFFECTIVE in fighting Hitler than this Jewish lawyer did. It still doesn't mean Stalin was a good person. If not why not glorifying Stalin instead as the biggest personal nemesis to the evil Hitler, Hitler's biggest cause of rage and irritation.

Whatever ... bless you...and have mercy on your soul.

[Gerald]

* The Man Who Crossed Hitler, starring Ed Stoppard (above) as Hans Litten, is broadcast at 21:00 on 21 August on BBC Two
* The accompanying documentary, Hans Litten Vs Adolf Hitler: To Stop A Tyrant, goes out on BBC Two on 27 August at 20:00 BST

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Vendor

Hans Litten,should have some form of credit, as he was and remained an opposing leader to Hitler and its regime, which was not common during this time when most people did not dare say anything because of the punishment, or the like if they protested.

Er, he did that before Hitler came to power and while he was still more or less a nobody. So what punishment was to be feared at that time? He actually did just what any good lawyer in his position would have done. So I actually don't understand the hype either. People who resisted Hitler while he was in power impress me much more and I can fully understand Castout's reasoning.

[Gerald]

Perhaps, Hitler had strong supporters before he came to the ultimate power ... and there were many who lost their lives before it happened.

[MH]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Er, he did that before Hitler came to power and while he was still more or less a nobody. So what punishment was to be feared at that time? He actually did just what any good lawyer in his position would have done. So I actually don't understand the hype either. People who resisted Hitler while he was in power impress me much more and I can fully understand Castout's reasoning.

Ok you have point....i just did not see it as big hype.
So whats the big hype?

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by MH

Ok you have point....i just did not see it as big hype.
So whats the big hype?

Tell us, what ya think