History News Network

Departments

Within yards of Buckingham Palace... the day London played host to a Nazi funeral

It looks like a scene from Britain's worst wartime nightmare.

German soldiers parade down The Mall in sight of Buckingham Palace, hailed by arms raised in Nazi salutes.

The flag on the coffin bears a swastika. The respectful silence is broken only by the stamp of military boots.

Were it not for the Grenadier Guardsmen, the extraordinary top photograph might have been taken after Hitler's plans to dominate Britain and Europe came to fruition in London.

But this was 1936, three years before the start of the Second World War, and the event was the funeral of the German ambassador, Leopold von Hoesch.

Posted on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 7:51 PM | Comments (0) | Return

Home Newsletter Submissions Advertising Donations Archives Internships About Us FAQs Contact Us All Articles