Paving the New Road (52 page)

Adolf Hitler eventually noticed the young, black-shirted Englishwoman who seemed to be at the Osteria Bavaria every time he visited the restaurant. He invited Unity Mitford to his table and came to consider her the perfect example of Nordic womanhood.

In October 1933, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith flew solo from London to Wyndham, Western Australia in just over seven days. The feat brightened his flagging prospects following the bankruptcy of Australian National Airlines, which he had jointly established
with Charles Ulm. The celebrated airman opened a flying training school—the Kingsford Smith Air Service—in Sydney. Rowland Sinclair was among his first students.

The authorities never officially connected Eva Braun with either Robert Negus or Rowland Sinclair. She acquired another Scottish terrier to keep her beloved Stasi company, naming this second hound Negus. Eva remained loyal to her Herr Wolf, though the relationship continued to cause her much heartache. She attempted to take her own life again in 1934, and then in 1945, just one day after she’d married the object of her obsession, and become Mrs. Adolf Hitler. This third suicide attempt was successful.

In the absence of competition from Alois Richter, Hugo Boss became the primary supplier of uniforms to the Reich.

Senator Charles Hardy took shipment from Germany of several objects d’art in the later months of 1933.
Backwards Mona Lisa
by Hans von Eidelsöhn ended up hanging in a shearing shed near Yass, where it was said to have had a calming effect on penned sheep. Two other works by von Eidelsohn form part of the Australian Club’s private collection. Joán Miró’s deformed duck painting, otherwise known as
Paysage
, passed through many hands before it was eventually acquired by the National Gallery of Australia in 1983. There is no record of what became of the pile of old hats or the empty pail titled
Drought
.

In 1937, the Nazis mounted an exhibition of “Degenerate Art” in Munich, consisting of modernist works hung chaotically beside deriding labels. Positioned between a Van Gogh and a Picasso, under the slogan “madness becomes method”, was the painting of a blue nude by a little known artist called Robert Negus. The accompanying label stated that the work was displayed as an example of art by the criminally insane.

Delighted with what he believed a successful tour, Eric Campbell was lavish in his praise of the fascist regimes of Europe. His return to the New Guard was marked with an increased autocracy during which he attempted to instigate the heel-clicking salute of the fascists, and a uniform. Campbell entertained an increasingly familiar association with Nazi representatives in Australia.

In 1934, Briton Press published
The New Road
by Eric Campbell: an argument for what the writer called a “corporate state”, in which he contended that “the spiritual and moral inspiration of Fascism is the Hope of Civilisation”, and condemned the press for censuring “either Italy or Germany for asserting their rights by force against the continued misgovernment of the sectional minorities”.

In December 1933, Eric Campbell launched a formal political party, the Centre Party, to contest all State and Commonwealth elections. Despite his sycophantic praise of the German Government, there remained no public show of friendship or endorsement from the Nazi Regime other than an autographed photograph of Adolf Hitler,
procured through the German Consul-General. Unlike Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party, the Centre Party failed to gain popular support and the rise of Eric Campbell was curtailed. The “New Road” was not taken. It seemed Australians preferred the well-worn route of democracy.

Acknowledgements

The road to the release of a book is no longer new to me, and, as always, it is not a road I travel alone. I’d like to thank those who have walked with me.

My husband, Michael, who walks by my side even when he’s convinced I don’t know where I’m going.

My sons, Edmund and Atticus, who run ahead but return every now and then to make sure I’m keeping up.

My father who is always within shouting distance, burdened though he is by multiple copies of my books.

My sisters, Devini and Nilukshi, who meet me at occasional crossroads and prod me on my way.

My mother, who long ago taught me to read.

My old friend, Alastair Blanshard, whose name I have borrowed for my gentleman spy, and whose company I seek regularly for inspiration.

David Tennant, a “scorner of the ground”, who came to my rescue with an airman’s insight into the plywood and canvas contraptions that forged Australia’s place in aviation.

Leith Henry, friend, advisor and confidant, who demanded the return of Lucy Bennett, and shared her memories of Nancy Wake.

Jason Henry, my photographer, who understands that true-to-life is not always a good thing.

My extraordinary publishers, the Greens, and the team at Pantera Press, who have guided the journey of all my novels from first draft to bookshelf. Tricia Deerborne, Desanka Vukelich and Graeme Jones who edited and proofed and typeset my dog-eared manuscript into a book.

John Green, fellow writer, who started me on this road when he returned from Germany, and told me of the Nazi book burnings in 1933.

Harald and Rosemary of Coffee and More in my hometown of Batlow, who allowed me to plug in and write in the corner of their café, who kept me supplied with excellent coffee and Bavarian sayings, and told me of the Munich they knew. Dankeschön.

My real friends who have accepted my imaginary friends with good humour and grace.

The greater community of booksellers, reviewers and readers who have let Rowland and his scandalous entourage into their lives. Your time, your attention and your enthusiasm is very deeply appreciated.

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Paving the New Road

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