Ernst Hanfstaengl was born in Munich, Germany on Feb. 2, 1887. The son of a wealthy German publisher and American mother, Hanfstaengl spent most of his early years in Germany and later moved to the United States, where he attended Harvard University. After graduating in 1909, Hanfstaengl oversaw his family business until 1921, when he returned to Germany with his American-born wife, Helene, and their young son, Egon.
That same year, he had his first encounter with Adolf Hitler, who impressed Hanfstaengl while speaking before a large crowd at a Munich Beer Hall. One of Hitler's earliest financial supporters, Hanfstaengl was convinced the man would some day be the future leader of Germany.
In 1923, Hanfstaengl joined Hitler in the failed Munich Beer Hall Putsch and while Hanfstaengl fled to Austria, his wife Helene offered Hitler refuge in their home while he attempted to escape authorities. As police searched the Hanfstaengl residence, Helene prevented Hitler from committing suicide by forcing a revolver out of his hands. Following his arrest, Hitler staged a hunger strike in prison and Helene was summoned once again to convince him not to take his life. Taken with Hanfstaengl's beautiful wife, Hitler decided to continue his mission, focusing his energies on publishing the book Mein Kampf, which outlined his vision for the German people.
Following Hitler's release from prison, Hanfstaengl and Hitler remained in close contact. Although Hitler relied on Hanfstaengl as his link to the United States and the outside world, he also appreciated his talents as a skilled pianist and often summoned Hanfstaengl to play classical music for him. In 1931, Hitler appointed Hanfstaengl Foreign Press Chief of the Nazi Party. Over the next few years, Hanfstaengl attempted to use his contacts to improve the image of Hitler in other countries.
By 1933, Hanfstaengl became disillusioned with Hitler and the direction of the Nazi Party. After disagreeing with several key members of Hitler's cabinet, most notably Josef Goebbels, Hanfstaengl was eventually forced out of the Fuhrer's inner circle. Hanfstaengl also encountered trouble in his personal life when his wife Helene divorced him in 1936 and returned to the United States.
In 1937, one day before his 50th birthday, Hanfstaengl received orders from Hitler that he was to be sent on a mission to Spain to serve as an envoy. Sensing his disloyalty to the Nazi Party, Hitler had different plans for Hanfstaengl, planning to drop him in enemy territory where he would face certain death. During the flight, the pilot informed Hanfstaengl of their true destination and then announced the plane was experiencing mechanical difficulties. When the plane was forced to make an emergency landing, Hanfstaengl escaped and fled to Switzerland. After succeeding in getting his son, Egon, released from Germany, he emigrated to England where he eventually was placed in an internment camp. Hanfstaengl later spent most of World War II in Washington where, under the code name S-Project, he served as a political and psychological warfare adviser to the United States in the war against Germany. In 1944, he was returned to the British government. Hanfstaengl was released from an internment camp in Germany in 1946. He died on November 6, 1975.
Liev Schreiber was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for "RKO 281." His other television credits include the mini-series "Buffalo Girls" on CBS, and the movies "Since You've Been Gone" and "The Sunshine Boys." His feature film credits include "The Sum of All Fears," "Kate & Leopold," "Scream 3," "The Hurricane," "Jacob the Liar" and "A Walk on the Moon."
That same year, he had his first encounter with Adolf Hitler, who impressed Hanfstaengl while speaking before a large crowd at a Munich Beer Hall. One of Hitler's earliest financial supporters, Hanfstaengl was convinced the man would some day be the future leader of Germany.
In 1923, Hanfstaengl joined Hitler in the failed Munich Beer Hall Putsch and while Hanfstaengl fled to Austria, his wife Helene offered Hitler refuge in their home while he attempted to escape authorities. As police searched the Hanfstaengl residence, Helene prevented Hitler from committing suicide by forcing a revolver out of his hands. Following his arrest, Hitler staged a hunger strike in prison and Helene was summoned once again to convince him not to take his life. Taken with Hanfstaengl's beautiful wife, Hitler decided to continue his mission, focusing his energies on publishing the book Mein Kampf, which outlined his vision for the German people.
Following Hitler's release from prison, Hanfstaengl and Hitler remained in close contact. Although Hitler relied on Hanfstaengl as his link to the United States and the outside world, he also appreciated his talents as a skilled pianist and often summoned Hanfstaengl to play classical music for him. In 1931, Hitler appointed Hanfstaengl Foreign Press Chief of the Nazi Party. Over the next few years, Hanfstaengl attempted to use his contacts to improve the image of Hitler in other countries.
By 1933, Hanfstaengl became disillusioned with Hitler and the direction of the Nazi Party. After disagreeing with several key members of Hitler's cabinet, most notably Josef Goebbels, Hanfstaengl was eventually forced out of the Fuhrer's inner circle. Hanfstaengl also encountered trouble in his personal life when his wife Helene divorced him in 1936 and returned to the United States.
In 1937, one day before his 50th birthday, Hanfstaengl received orders from Hitler that he was to be sent on a mission to Spain to serve as an envoy. Sensing his disloyalty to the Nazi Party, Hitler had different plans for Hanfstaengl, planning to drop him in enemy territory where he would face certain death. During the flight, the pilot informed Hanfstaengl of their true destination and then announced the plane was experiencing mechanical difficulties. When the plane was forced to make an emergency landing, Hanfstaengl escaped and fled to Switzerland. After succeeding in getting his son, Egon, released from Germany, he emigrated to England where he eventually was placed in an internment camp. Hanfstaengl later spent most of World War II in Washington where, under the code name S-Project, he served as a political and psychological warfare adviser to the United States in the war against Germany. In 1944, he was returned to the British government. Hanfstaengl was released from an internment camp in Germany in 1946. He died on November 6, 1975.
Liev Schreiber was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for "RKO 281." His other television credits include the mini-series "Buffalo Girls" on CBS, and the movies "Since You've Been Gone" and "The Sunshine Boys." His feature film credits include "The Sum of All Fears," "Kate & Leopold," "Scream 3," "The Hurricane," "Jacob the Liar" and "A Walk on the Moon."