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Nazi propaganda book reveals Charlie Chaplin was on Hitler's death list
Last updated at 00:07am on 29.02.08
Charlie Chaplin: Attacked in book
But the Nazis never saw the funny side when it came to Charlie Chaplin.
Adolf Hitler's hatred of the politically outspoken movie star is apparent in a yellowing book of Nazi propaganda which includes Chaplin in a hit list of prominent Jews.
The fact that Chaplin was not Jewish didn't save him from being a target. The book, Juden Sehen Dich An (The Jews are Watching You), brands him a "pseudo-Jew".
He was in excellent company. Albert Einstein was among the international Jewish figures listed in 95 pages corroded with hate.
The book, which includes names and photographs of activists, bankers, economists, journalists, academics and entertainers, was written by Dr Johann von Leers, a notorious anti-Jewish propagandist.
Published in Berlin in the 1930s, it is thought to have inspired Chaplin's classic comedy The Great Dictator, in which he both directed and starred.
In the 1940 movie, Chaplin plays a Nazi-like tyrant, Adenoid Hynkel, dictator of Tomainia, clearly modelled on Hitler.
The book is to be auctioned in Shropshire next month.
Auctioneer Richard Westwood-Brookes said: "The book aims to attack leading Jews worldwide, warning the German people that these people were forming an international network aimed at world domination. Each leading Jew is featured with a photograph and a pen portrait, but by far the most remarkable and bizarre aspect of this book is the inclusion of Charlie Chaplin.
"He is attacked in a section named 'Artistic Jews', with the suggestion that he was of Jewish origin and therefore a pseudo-Jew.
"Chaplin must have feared for his life when he saw the book, because the majority of the people in this book were exterminated by the Nazis.
"These pieces of history serve as a reminder of what happened and what could have happened.
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Adolf Hitler: Chaplin mercilessly parodied him in The Great Dictator
"It's easy to look at movies, but when you have original pieces like this in your hand, it's chilling."
Film historian Kevin Brownlow said Chaplin made The Great Dictator in response to seeing himself on the book's hit list.
"The Nazis mistakenly thought he was Jewish because Chaplin never denied it," he said.
"He was sent a copy of this book and it is widely believed that this led to him to make the film The Great Dictator as an act of defiance."
Mr Brownlow said the picture of Chaplin used in the book was chosen because it was one in which he looked least like Hitler.
A film maker called Ivan Montague working in Berlin in the 1930s found a copy of the book and sent it to the actor.
"Chaplin even took the time to send a letter back to Montague, thanking him for sending the book," said Mr Brownlow.
"This shows us that Chaplin was very much aware of the book and was certainly roused by it."
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Just goes to show the Germans don't have a sense of humour.
- Jimbob, Kensington
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