Read Online Icon of Evil: Hitler's Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam by David G. Dalin, John F. Rothmann - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: David G. Dalin, John F. Rothmann
Tags: Historical, History, World War II, Military, 20th Century, Biographies & Memoirs, middle east, World, Leaders & Notable People, Israel & Palestine
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full staff of servants, a chauffeured Mercedes limousine, and a monthly stipend in excess of $10,000, as well as four other residences and suites in two of Berlin’s must luxurious hotels. 27 The mufti was also given a generous monthly food budget, which would enable him to lavishly entertain the many leaders of radical Islam residing in or visiting Nazi Germany, whom the mufti would be able to use in mobilizing further Arab support for the Nazi cause.
Everywhere he went in Berlin, he was greeted by adoring crowds of Palestinian Arab expatriates. When al-Husseini had left Baghdad for Berlin, he had been accompanied by an entourage of Palestinian Arab colleagues, including Rashid Ali al-Gaylani and other leaders of the recently failed German coup in Iraq. 28 Upon establishing his new residency in Germany, al-Husseini paved the way for other pro-Nazi Arab leaders to find a safe haven in the German capital, where they would remain throughout World War II. Berlin soon came to be home to the largest group of Arab leaders outside of the Middle East.
When al-Husseini met with German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop on November 28, part of their agenda was to discuss his forthcoming meeting with Hitler, scheduled for later that day. The mufti had been preparing for this meeting for much of his adult life.
One of the intriguing questions about the führer-mufti meeting is why Hitler agreed to meet, and to ally himself, with the mufti in the first place. Hitler had written about the racial inferiority of the Muslims in Mein Kampf, and he had a general contempt for all non-Aryans, including Arabs. 29 Al-Husseini, with his blond hair, red beard, and blue eyes, appears to have been an exception. Hitler even went so far as to accept the mufti as an honorary Aryan. 30 As Hitler would later remark, the mufti “gives one the impression that he is…a man with more than one Aryan among his ancestors and one who may well be descended from the best Roman stock.” 31 Despite his earlier comments in Mein Kampf, the German leader seems to have later developed a new respect for Islam. 32 According to documented private conversations he had with his staff, Hitler expressed admiration for the solidarity of the Muslim people and believed that they could be potentially valuable allies in his war against their common enemies, the British and the Jews. 33 The mufti especially, Hitler felt, would be a useful ally in the Third Reich’s effort to eventually conquer and rule the Middle East. Hitler took very seriously the principle of the Aryans’ sole right to rule the world. 34 His racial acceptance of the mufti, and his admiration for al-Husseini’s political sagacity and shrewdness, enabled the führer to envision a role for al-Husseini as a trusted political ally and future Aryan ruler of a Nazi-controlled Middle East.
For the führer, as for the mufti, in their shared war against the British and the Jews, the enemy of my enemy became an ally and friend. The mufti’s long-sought alliance with the Nazis provided him with the opportunity to fight for Palestinian Arab independence from Great Britain and against further Jewish immigration to Palestine, while at the same time helping his new ally to achieve their shared goal of the extermination of all Jews. Their passionately shared hatred of their common enemies brought them together, to the detriment of humankind. 35
By all accounts, al-Husseini’s long-hoped-for meeting with the führer went exceedingly well. The mufti and the führer shared much in common. The mufti had found his soul-mate in the German führer and thanked him profusely for his unbending commitment to the radical Islamic cause. Leaving the Reich Chancellery, al-Husseini had been elated and inspired and had been convinced that his destiny was now assured. A partnership had been forged, which if successful would reshape the Middle East. As he reflected, the mufti was well aware of his good fortune, realizing that as a
Everywhere he went in Berlin, he was greeted by adoring crowds of Palestinian Arab expatriates. When al-Husseini had left Baghdad for Berlin, he had been accompanied by an entourage of Palestinian Arab colleagues, including Rashid Ali al-Gaylani and other leaders of the recently failed German coup in Iraq. 28 Upon establishing his new residency in Germany, al-Husseini paved the way for other pro-Nazi Arab leaders to find a safe haven in the German capital, where they would remain throughout World War II. Berlin soon came to be home to the largest group of Arab leaders outside of the Middle East.
When al-Husseini met with German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop on November 28, part of their agenda was to discuss his forthcoming meeting with Hitler, scheduled for later that day. The mufti had been preparing for this meeting for much of his adult life.
One of the intriguing questions about the führer-mufti meeting is why Hitler agreed to meet, and to ally himself, with the mufti in the first place. Hitler had written about the racial inferiority of the Muslims in Mein Kampf, and he had a general contempt for all non-Aryans, including Arabs. 29 Al-Husseini, with his blond hair, red beard, and blue eyes, appears to have been an exception. Hitler even went so far as to accept the mufti as an honorary Aryan. 30 As Hitler would later remark, the mufti “gives one the impression that he is…a man with more than one Aryan among his ancestors and one who may well be descended from the best Roman stock.” 31 Despite his earlier comments in Mein Kampf, the German leader seems to have later developed a new respect for Islam. 32 According to documented private conversations he had with his staff, Hitler expressed admiration for the solidarity of the Muslim people and believed that they could be potentially valuable allies in his war against their common enemies, the British and the Jews. 33 The mufti especially, Hitler felt, would be a useful ally in the Third Reich’s effort to eventually conquer and rule the Middle East. Hitler took very seriously the principle of the Aryans’ sole right to rule the world. 34 His racial acceptance of the mufti, and his admiration for al-Husseini’s political sagacity and shrewdness, enabled the führer to envision a role for al-Husseini as a trusted political ally and future Aryan ruler of a Nazi-controlled Middle East.
For the führer, as for the mufti, in their shared war against the British and the Jews, the enemy of my enemy became an ally and friend. The mufti’s long-sought alliance with the Nazis provided him with the opportunity to fight for Palestinian Arab independence from Great Britain and against further Jewish immigration to Palestine, while at the same time helping his new ally to achieve their shared goal of the extermination of all Jews. Their passionately shared hatred of their common enemies brought them together, to the detriment of humankind. 35
By all accounts, al-Husseini’s long-hoped-for meeting with the führer went exceedingly well. The mufti and the führer shared much in common. The mufti had found his soul-mate in the German führer and thanked him profusely for his unbending commitment to the radical Islamic cause. Leaving the Reich Chancellery, al-Husseini had been elated and inspired and had been convinced that his destiny was now assured. A partnership had been forged, which if successful would reshape the Middle East. As he reflected, the mufti was well aware of his good fortune, realizing that as a
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