I do not think Hitler would had restored the monarchy in Germany, I believe that this should be studied according to historical circumstances .. It is obvious that the Communists had become an important political force in Germany and other Europe countries .When Hitler appeared in the German political , many saw him as the antidote to the Communists .... I believe that Ernest Augustus saw that very reason, an antidote against the Communists, and this led him to believe he could hope for restoring the monarchy in Germany, I think the gesture of making public pictures of his children was a way to lure to Hitler ... They believed that Hitler could restore the monarchy in Germany ... but the evolution of Nazism, made see them that the monarchy had no place, Hitler did not worked for the Kaiser, Hitler worked for to be he same "Kaiser"... they saw Hitler as the antidote to communism and the restoration.
I think they (Ernest Augustus and family) saw Hitler as a man who came from humble social classes and they made the mistake of believing that they could manipulate him .
My conclusion, I believe that the family of Queen Federik was not Nazi, I think they dealt with these gestures to lure Hitler to them, in order to manipulate him and achieve the restoration of the throne, but became confused of person, Hitler wanted to be King
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Hitler was a master of propaganda and he probably appealed to people who longed for the good old days but when the mask fell from the monster's face, anyone of decent behavior was appalled. It is hard to say what people truly believed he could or could not do for them. We have politicians today who would like to wield immense power to do as they please but thank God for the internet and public exposure!
Could it simply be that Frederika and her family just saw Hitler as someone who would restore Germany to her prior glory and not necessarily restore the throne?
With respect to the above pictures of Frederika and her brothers in Nazi uniform, there was an ill-intended exploitation of the issue. The fact of the matter is that many many non-fascists Germans joined at some point the Hitler youth or other groups, to the same extent that many avowed anticommunists, centrist or conservative Greeks joined at some early point the EAM (National Liberation Front) before it became known that it was totally controlled by the Communist Party.
Of course not all people who joined the Hitler youth were not Nazis just like not only communists joined EAM. But the fact that the postcard was publishedto a newspaper controlled by the Nazis led me to think that the children's parents had some sumpathies at some point. That's all. And I mentinoed that maybe that's why Frederika got so blame , because at some point her family seemed sympathetic towards Hitler. But many people hadn't realised waht he trully was at first. Didn't Churcill I think appraise him once? And if you can fool Churcill , well you must be good at it ....
By the way, I always thought that frederika was not a Nazi in ideology because of one little thing.The fact that she was permitted to marry the Heir of the Greek Throne who was supported by Britain. I really doubt that George II would have given permission To Paul to marry a woman who would ever theaten to put an end to the British support they received. And if she was a Nazi, the British would have strongly disagreed to the marriage. Am I right?
I don't know that her personal beliefs would have been a bar that the British government would have raised in opposition to the marriage. It was well known that Hitler admired the Duke and Duchess of Windsor but if Frederika was a Nazi sympathizer, I think that would have been a good reason for any Greek royal to be opposed to the marriage, regardless of what the Brits wanted.
Here are some photos I ve found ( Flickr and Gettyimages ): 1) an official photo of Diadoch Paul and his wife ( this is one of the few pictures I ve seen Frederika wearing the Diamond Prussian Tiara). 2) Frederika with baby Sophia on Sophia's first birthday 3) With king Paul 4) during an officila ball at Tatoi
Paul was such a charmer (picture # 1 picture says it all) and quiet too. He and the Greek people interacted very well. In a lvideotaped interview to journalist S. Theodorakis, princess Irene said, "My mother loved my father". No Greek ever uttered a bitter word against him.
Frederika, albeit strong-minded, was not bad either. Her flaws that cost, in part at least, her son the Throne were:
1) Her up and outspokenness (that only harmed her in the end), and
2) Her insistence to mingle in politics and mingle with politicians
At a time that social and political changes were sweeping Europe, she should have followed a different course.
I do believe that she should have followed another course and I think the biggest tragedy for all was that the was the wrong queen consort ( concerning her behaviour in politics in some aspects ) in the wrong political environment at the wrong time. some more photos :
Yes, the wrong consort can cause immeasureable harm. Some consorts do good, such as Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who softened the royal family and made them seem more accessible and in touch with the common man or woman. Others, such as Empress Alexandra of Russia, and Frederika, cause the public to dislike the royal family, despite each woman's good intentions.
Yes, the wrong consort can cause immeasureable harm. Some consorts do good, such as Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who softened the royal family and made them seem more accessible and in touch with the common man or woman. Others, such as Empress Alexandra of Russia, and Frederika, cause the public to dislike the royal family, despite each woman's good intentions.
Some people are just not fitted for certain positions. Alexandra might have been a wonderfull person, worthy mother and a an ideal match for Nicholas, but she was clearly not suitable to be the wife of the Tsar and Autocrat of all Russians. If he was a Grand Duke or A prince , their life would have been very different and certain things in the Russian history would also have been different.
Same goes to Frederika. She was a charming beautifull woman, intelligent, good mother and wife and a person of spiritual wonders, but being a Queen in Greece turned in the end catastrophic both for her and her family . If she was married to another royal house, for example to the British Royal Family, no one would have faced the same situation. I doubt the British Royals would have permitted her to declare her political opinions in public, but even if she did, she would have merely been viewed by the steady political system as " obnoxious". Greece on the other hand was an entirely different situation....
In a time when most of Europe had transitioned or was transitioning into constitutional monarchies, Frederika chose to rule instead of reign. She called it, in her Time interview, "boring" to be mere figureheads, suggesting that it was the duty/responsibility of royals to guide the people. Definitely shades of modern absolutism there. It contributed to Greece being the only European country to experience a dictatorship long AFTER World War II (Spain and the Eastern bloc nations were already under such rule).
The Time article also pointed out that Frederika was the first Hanoverian to occupy a throne in over 80 years. Since Hanover had been anexed by the Prussia/German Empire long before her birth, which she was born only a year before her grandfather Wilhelm II lost his throne, I feel like she had a power-trip to make up that dearth when she finally landed a throne for herself.
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Real princesses always wear sleeves so why do we all go for strapless?
The Queen and King Pavlo Federik were a good couple and she was a good consort,in the worst moments in Greece, after the war, she did an exceptional job for Greece, then their actions were not frowned upon, she was needed to attract the investment , but after when it was not necessary attract investment, when Greek politicians began their personal battle for power, her statements became the weapon against the monarchy ....... but it was not a bad consort. She had her heyday.
Turning to the family of Queen Federik, I said "this should be studied according to historical circumstances", it is with the evolution of Nazism, I think there was a time when Hitler was seen by many as the anti-communist, many joined him for this reason alone, but when he had power, He stopped being seen as anti-communist and became to be the tyrant who was.
The family of Queen Federik were not a Nazi, they were anti-communist, they were not nazis.
The Queen Federik worked during the Second World War to liberalize Greece
Can anyone help ID the folks in this awesome picture??
1. L-3rd from bottom looks like the Duchess of Kent
2. M - King Paul and Queen Frederika
3. R - 1st person - Olga or Elizabeth (of Greece - one of the Duchess of Kent's sisters)
4. M- 3rd row - (now) King Constantine, (now) Queen Sofia of Spain, (now) King Juan Carlos of Spain)
i think, Princess Margaret of Denmark, Princess Beatrice of Holland, George Willian of Hannover, brother of Queen Federika and his wife, Princess Irene, Kings of spain, King Constantine, Princess Marie of Bonaparte, Kings of Greece, Duchees of Kent, Princess olga of yugoslavia and I think:
Princess Eugenie of Greece and Lady Grahan and...???Princess Magaret of Hohenlohe
The late Count of Paris was very angry that at the Greek's royal weddings the Monaco's were seated at the best places. Princess Marie of Greece/Bonaparte( just behind King Pavlos), said to him : Well Henri they are reigning, don't forget.
I don't mean any disrespect but doesn't Queen Sofia of Spain look as dour then as she does today? That expression ages her by thirty years or more. Where are Irene and Beatrix? Does Beatrix have her face partially obscured by Juan Carlos?
According to these the famous prostitute, Denham Fouts, had a relationship with King Paul. In the second website, in the part "Lovers", you can see Paul of Greece, as well as Paul of Yugoslavia.
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"If you want something, go get it"
This photo was taken during the pre wedding festivities that were organized for Sophia and Juan Carlos and it was the last royal formal event that Princess Marie took part before her death(she died the same year). It was a great feast , because it has been years since the whole family had gathered again in Greece to celebrate such an occasion
Paul was such a charmer (picture # 1 picture says it all) and quiet too. He and the Greek people interacted very well. In a lvideotaped interview to journalist S. Theodorakis, princess Irene said, "My mother loved my father". No Greek ever uttered a bitter word against him.
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