The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 11.2264  Thursday, 7 December 2000

From:           Terence Hawkes <
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Date:           Wednesday, 6 Dec 2000 13:56:54 -0500
Subject: Hitler Stratford
Comment:        SHK 11.2230 Hitler Stratford

Hitler probably ordered the Luftwaffe to refrain from bombing Stratford
because he had for some time thought of the birth-place of 'unser
Shakespeare' as a potential refuge for himself, should things turn out
badly.  From 1945, there were persistent rumours that the former Fuhrer
had been glimpsed at various points around the town, sometimes strolling
stiffly across Clopton Bridge, sometimes drinking Lager in the old
Anchor Inn, once even taking tea at Hall's Croft. Apparently he attended
the Theatre regularly, rarely missing a performance of Coriolanus, where
his high-pitched laugh punctuated the performance, often  -so it seemed
to some-  at inappropriate moments.

T. Hawkes