Painter Adolf
Sir: In your publication of 22 August last, you allowed a Mr Timothy Ash to use the term 'house painter' when referring to the late Adolf Hitler.
A term such as that was at one time used as a 'smear', much favoured by the 'Jewish lobby' and the like, but in this day and age we are dealing with history not immature propaganda.
Hitler was an artist and the records show that in September 1907 he applied for entrance to the Art Academy in Vienna, along with some 113 other applkants, and although he passed the first part of the examination (33 failed) he did not pass the second, a 'test drawing'. Only 28 finally passed the tests.
Notwithstanding this setback he did support himself, for a number of years, by his art alone. Hundreds of his water- colours were printed as postcards, prior to the first world war. These exhibit exquisite detail and colour harmony.
I happen to own a small painting, done when he was in the trenches serving in the regimental staff of the 16th Bavarian Reg- iment, just after he had won his first Iron Cross for outstanding devotion to duty under fire.
So please, editor, when writing history `facts' no more 'bad guy house painter', it's not worthy of our tradition.
F. W. Bird
do Rozos Hotel, Porto Heli, Greece
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