The party is over, and the lights are going out across Europe. In this intense penultimate chapter of the Unity Mitford saga, we witness the terrifying moment where high-society daydreaming meets the cold, hard reality of global conflict.

We track the escalating tension as Adolf Hitler moves beyond mere rhetoric, shifting into an aggressive land-grab across Central Europe. We dissect the infamous 1938 Munich Peace Accord—the high-water mark of the "Don't Mention the War" strategy—and explore Unity’s delusional belief that she was the living symbol of a British-German brotherhood. But the "perfect" plan falls apart when the Reich forms a cynical pact with the Soviets, turning the UK from an imperial idol and potential ally into an official enemy.

We reveal the haunting private conversations where the Führer looked the Mitford sisters in the eye and told them the "unthinkable" was now unavoidable– all that while Richard Wagner’s Dawning of the Gods rang through their ears. When the Declaration of War echoed across the radio waves, Unity’s world vanished in an instant and her reaction was as extreme as her life: a suicide attempt that left her hospitalised in Munich before her controversial return to England in January 1940. How do you go home when you’ve spent years cheering for the enemy?

It’s a story of shattered illusions, political heartbreak, and the tragic end of a "Valkyrie" who realised too late that you can’t have your tea and your fascism too.

Chapters:

0:00:00 Intro & Recap (sorry, but it’s all going to sh*t now…)

0:04:47 Hitler taking back “German” territories

0:09:35 Hitler going into full Invasion Mode (Sudetenland)

0:15:30 The Munich Agreement & the Peak of Appeasement

0:22:43 Unity’s destiny is…. unity! (between GB and the Nazis)

0:27:11 Things go wrong: Alliance with Stalin & war with the English

0:33:22 Hitler warning Unity and Diana that War is inevitable

0:36:38 The Declaration of War & Unity’s reaction

0:43:57 Unity in hospital & returning to England

0:50:42 Wrap & Outlook (Unity’s final years)

A museum tip if you want to visit Munich: We strongly recommend the NS Doku Zentrum. Their website is available in 14 languages :-)

We also recommend the excellent podcast of the Daily Mail about Unity’s diaries called “The Secret Diary of Unity Mitford”.

(even though the Daily Mail’s historic record on Adolf Hitler is questionable, that podcast is almost a rehabilitation)

You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod

And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com

And for Londoners: Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health? Or maybe organise a Team Event with us?

Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk

Tags: #UnityMitford #MitfordSisters #1930sHistory #WWIIHistory #MunichAgreement #Appeasement #AdolfHitler #1930sEurope #BritishUnionOfFascists #Chamberlain #RichardWagner #BritishAristocracy #HistoricalDrama

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: There will be some quotes that are anti-semitic and disturbing.

Unity Mitford is no longer just a guest in Munich—she’s practically part of the furniture. In this episode, we follow Unity from 1935 to 1938 as her proximity to Nazi power reaches a fever pitch; while Central Europe descends into fascism, Unity is in heaven.

We start with her chillingly close bond with the notorious Julius Streicher, the founder of the most virulent anti-Semitic magazine you’ve ever seen. Their friendship leads to Unity addressing the Hitler Youth, sparking a massive scandal in both the British media and the House of Lords. In a bit of "appeasement politics" (pun intended!), Unity tries to soothe her enraged parents by inviting them to Munich. And would you believe it? Lord and Lady Redesdale dropped by for a spot of tea with the most dangerous man in Europe. Was the British establishment—and the media—dangerously naive, or were they willfully blind?

As their friendship tightens, Adolf Hitler invites Unity to his mountain retreat, the Berghof, where she greets the Duke of Windsor (the abdicated King Edward VIII) with a Hitler salute—and he returns it! (Just try to picture that). At the peak of their relationship, Adolf even “gifted” Unity a new apartment in Munich; never mind what happened to the previous owners, a Jewish couple. Finally, we ride along as Unity witnesses the Anschluss—the annexation of Austria—from her seat in the front row.

Everything is going perfectly for fascism, and Unity is living the dream. But how much longer can this blissful life last?

Chapters:

0:00:00 Intro & Recap (“my sweet Julius”)

0:01:56 Julius Streicher, the Hitler Youth, and Unity’s speech

0:10:03 The 1936 Olympic games - summer AND winter

0:12:58 Unity’s parents meet Hitler for Tea

0:18:25 Were the British naive about Hitler? Even the press?

0:24:24 1937 - the friendship of Adolf and Unity tightens

0:31:29 The Duke of Windsor and Unity at Hitler’s mountain retreat

0:36:51 Unity’s new apartment - with love from Adolf

0:40:33 Unity at the Anschluss (annexation) of Austria in 1938

0:54:30 Wrap & Outlook (when everything is going to sh*t)

A museum tip if you want to visit Munich: We strongly recommend the NS Doku Zentrum.

We also recommend the excellent podcast of the Daily Mail about Unity’s diaries called “The Secret Diary of Unity Mitford”.

(even though the Daily Mail’s historic record on Adolf Hitler is questionable, that podcast is almost a rehabilitation)

You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod

And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com

For Londoners: Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health? Or maybe organise a Team Event with us?

Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk

Tags: #UnityMitford #AdolfHitler #1930sMunich #1936Olympics #Anschluss #TheBerghof #BritishRoyals #DukeOf Windsor #Antisemitism #TrueHistory #TheDailyMail #MitfordSisters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: There will be some quotes that are anti-semitic and disturbing.

Unity Mitford hasn’t just entered the room—she’s moved into the inner circle. It’s 1935, and Unity is living her best life in Munich; and the most problematic one.

In this episode, we take a close look at Unity’s life and the Nazi circles she moved in. Why was the Gestapo watching her? And who reported whom to the Gestapo? - We also explore the terrifying "Mean Girl" side of the Third Reich, as Unity enters a "who’s more Nazi" competition that ends badly for the other girl.

But it’s not all grim politics—it’s also weirdly surreal. We look at Unity’s frivolities and her bizarre Munich lifestyle. We dive into her "fascist flings" with figures like János Almásy (whose brother was the real-life inspiration for The English Patient) and her surprising friendship with Ella van Heemstra—better known as Audrey Hepburn’s mother. And finally, we tackle the dark and a surprising evil side of Unity: her friendship with the sadistic anti-semite Julius Streicher.

We wrap up by looking at the German resistance and how effective the Nazi regime was in muzzling it. Methods still in use across the world today. Unity is no longer just a fan; now, she’s a participant. And from here, it only goes downhill.

Chapters:

0:00:00 Intro & Recap (Unity made it into Hitler’s inner circle)

0:03:44 It’s 1935 - Unity’s life in Munich

0:08:49 Was Unity a British spy? - the Gestapo is watching

0:13:55 Who’s more Nazi? - Unity destroying a girl’s life

0:17:39 How Aryan was Adolf Hitler? Was his grandfather a Jew?

0:19:30 Unity’s monkey, her Great Dane, and her convertible

0:25:35 Unity’s fascist affairs (János Almásy)

0:29:18 Unity’s fascist friends (Ella van Heemstra, aka the Hepburns)

0:39:37 “Mission from the leader”: the British fascist broadcast

0:41:38 Unity’s friend Julius Streicher (anti-semite, sadist, war criminal)

0:48:45 Resistance in Germany & the methods of authoritarian regimes

0:54:30 Wrap & Outlook (Unity’s spiralling down into anti-semitism)

A museum tip if you want to visit Munich: We strongly recommend the NS Doku Zentrum. Their website is available in 14 languages :-)

We also recommend the excellent podcast of the Daily Mail about Unity’s diaries called “The Secret Diary of Unity Mitford”.

(even though the Daily Mail’s historic record on Adolf Hitler is questionable, that podcast is almost a rehabilitation)

You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod

And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com

For Londoners: Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health? Or maybe organise a Team Event with us?

Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk

Tags: #UnityMitford #Hitler #AudreyHepburn #Gestapo #1930sMunich #Antisemitism #Fascism #DailyMail #TheBUF #BritishAristocracy #TrueHistory #TheCrown #Scandal #MitfordSisters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.