Public Bonus: Selling Hitler (1986, 1991)
I Don't Speak German
IDSG
3.9 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 22 August 2025
⏱️ 68 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Daniel and Jack continue to be haunted by the fetid shade of David Irving as they discuss the 1991 UK television mini-series Selling Hitler (starring Jonathan Pryce, Alexei Sayle, and various once-and-future Doctor Whos)... and also the 1986 non-fiction book by Robert Harris upon which it is based... and thus also the real-life 1983 Stern Magazine fake Hitler diaries scandal which both are about.
Content warning: Jack is very enthusiastic about this.
The mini-series, free on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWzIjl-RsZKuDuoLINA6pvhzmAj_v9-eQ&si=2Q30UUkBb1_R7kyx
A good article about the real event: https://www.dw.com/en/how-a-german-magazine-fell-for-fake-hitler-diaries/a-65399517
Show Notes:
Please consider donating to help us make the show and stay ad-free and independent. Patrons get exclusive access to at least one full extra episode a month plus all backer-only back-episodes.
Daniel's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/danielharper/posts
Jack's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4196618&fan_landing=true
IDSG Twitter: https://twitter.com/idsgpod
Daniel's Twitter: @danieleharper
Jack's (Locked) Twitter: @_Jack_Graham_
Jack's Bluesky: @timescarcass.bsky.social
Daniel's Bluesky: @danielharper.bsky.social
IDSG on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-dont-speak-german/id1449848509?ls=1
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | So, I'm curious, did they do extensive forensic tests? |
| 0:05.0 | No, no, fried sorts are said, not to bother. |
| 0:08.0 | Paper was too difficult to date. |
| 0:10.0 | But they were all handwriting experts. |
| 0:12.0 | Yes, yes, they compared a sheet that we made a copy of |
| 0:15.0 | with a copy of Hitler's letter to Goering. |
| 0:17.0 | You know the one about the Russian invasion? |
| 0:20.0 | The one you bought from me? |
| 0:21.6 | Yes, exactly. |
| 0:22.6 | Valde thought it would make a good comparison. |
| 0:24.6 | And the handwriting was exactly the same. |
| 0:26.6 | Yes, it would be. |
| 0:29.6 | It was so obvious. |
| 0:31.6 | The Americans said he had absolutely no doubt whatsoever. |
| 0:34.6 | Even though he couldn't understand a word of German. |
| 0:59.6 | Well and welcome back to good old IDSG, and it's a, probably going to be a bonus. |
| 1:00.6 | A bonus. |
| 1:02.4 | That's a new word that I've invented, a bonus. |
| 1:03.5 | A bonus, yes. |
| 1:05.6 | Yeah, it means public bonus. |
| 1:08.0 | I'm a word smith now. |
| 1:09.9 | It also means to put in Latin. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from IDSG, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of IDSG and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.