The Sordid Life of Hitler’s Valkryie: Unity Mitford

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Unity Mitford. The name probably doesn’t ring any bells, however the English debutante made a name for herself among the Nazis and even Hitler himself.

The insatiable young woman planted herself in the middle of numerous sexual orgies; where she was blindfolded, bound, and ravaged by members of the Nazi party.

Some may say that Unity delved deep into sexual depravity. She was fascinated by Hieronymus Bosch, an artist who was famous for paintings of the souls in Purgatory who were found in explicit sexual and violent scenarios. It didn’t stop at viewing risque art, Unity began creating her own taboo art work. The Daily Mail reports

At 18 years old, Unity’s first sexual encounter was with Oswald Mosley who happened to be the Fascist leader in Britain. Even though Oswald was married and having an affair with Unity’s sister, Diana (who was also married), Unity lost her virginity to Oswald. Some say that it was Diana who urged the pair to have sex. It is also said that Diana enjoyed watching in on Unity’s sexual escapades during their time spend in Nazi occupied Germany.

Unity’s parents believed that it Unity was destined to be a part of Hitler’s rise to power. Ironically enough, Unity was supposedly conceived in the Canadian town, Swastika, Ontario.

Unity’s affinity for the Nazis doesn’t come out of nowhere. Her grandfather, Bertie Mitford invested in the town of Swastika and he supported Aryan supremacy and the nationalism of Germany–even before WWI.

Bertie’s political stances allowed an opportunity to meet and befriend the family of the German opera composer, Richard Wagner. Wagner created some of the patriotic ensembles that became favorites of Hitler.

Because of Bertie’s friendship with Wagner, he suggested that his granddaughter, Unity, have the middle name of Wagner’s famous opera, Die Valkyrie.

And that is how Unity Valkyrie Mitford got her name. We will see what is truly in a name when we see the impact it has on Unity’s life.

At 19 years old, Unity became enthralled with the Nazi party. She would greet the locals of Burford with the Nazi salute and proclaim, “Heil Hitler.” She traveled with her sister to Germany for a rally the Nuremberg party held in 1933.

Unity_Mitford

Unity’s fascination with Adolf Hitler was firmly cemented when she declared that “[from] the first moment I saw him, I knew there was no one I would rather meet.”

Believing that it was her destiny to meet Hitler, she convinced her parents to let her study in Munich. It was there she learned German so that she could prepare to meet with Hitler one day.

During her time in Munich, she picked up the German language quickly. She fell right in line with the Nazi beliefs and wrote in to a German propaganda paper that she wanted to let everyone know that she was a Jew hater.

Unity found great humor in the degradation of the Jewish people. One evening she had dinner with Julius Streicher, a man who was executed during the Nuremberg trials for being a “number one Jew-Baiter”. After the meal, Streicher had a handful of Jews brought in from the cellar and demanded that they eat grass, just to entertain his guests. This delighted Unity. Unity felt that by attending parties such as these would bring her closer to meeting Hitler himself.

Often times, Unity would show up at the same events that Hitler was at. Rumors say that she was sleeping with SS officers just to get information on Hitler’s whereabouts. One account states that ‘Her bed, draped with swastika flags and surmounted by iconic images of the Fuhrer, was the altar devoted to her messiah, on which she gave her body to those closest to him, his personal warriors.’

On February 9, 1935, Unity finally got her wish. Hitler invited her to join him at his table. While the two only spoke for a half an hour, she made an impression on Hitler. According to her diary, they met once a fortnight. The liaison lasted until September 1939.

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The friendship between Unity and Hitler appeared to be platonic, until one evening there was champagne and candles awaiting Unity in Hitler’s apartment. This was the moment Unity was hoping for. She believed that he was attempting to seduce her; however, Hitler asked her about the sex she had with his SS soldiers. Unity was surprised that he knew about the encounters, however she took the inquires as interest and arousal on his part. After the retelling of the stories, Hitler demanded that the encounters continue and Unity was to re-tell him the erotic sessions.

It was through these intimate moments did their morbid fantasy develop. Taking a cue from the Norse legend, Valkyrie was described to be an immortal female who decided who would live or die during battles. The Valkyrie would then bring the dead to Odin’s Kingdom of the Dead.

Hitler likened himself to Odin and Unity would portray the Valkyrie.  Through this tale, Hitler convinced Unity that they could only be together in death. The notion was encouraged by the Count Janos Almasy, a bisexual Hungarian aristocrat. Almasy would become Unity’s partner in a particular savage sexual encounter.

Taking place at his castle on the border of Austria and Hungary, the sadomasochistic sexual rendezvous happened. Almasy was much like Hitler and Unity when it came to depraved sex. He enjoyed denying his partners of oxygen during climax. He often achieved this by tying a silk noose around their neck. The experience was meant to be an ultimate sacrifice yet still highly pleasurable.

Hitler, however, was enjoying Unity’s company, and did not know when she should take her own life. The day finally came on August 5, 1939. It is said that Hitler turned to Unity and told her that it was time for her to wait for him “on the other side.”

On September 4th, Unity sat in the park in Munich. With a small pistol in her hand, she shot herself in the head. The gunshot did not kill her though. The bullet was stopped somewhere in the back of her brain.

Hitler arranged for Unity to be taken back to England via a train traveling through Switzerland.

Upon arriving in England, the public was enraged when they learned that the Nazi party consort would not face any charges, nor would she even be interviewed by any security agent.

When Unity recovered, she didn’t show any signs of remorse. It has been said that the thing she regretted was hearing that the war was over and Hitler took his own life.

In her final days, Unity remained unrepentant. She finally died of meningitis in 1948. She died believing that she would finally be reunited with her Odin in the after life.

Evette Champion

Evette Champion is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE