Hitler’s Cosmopolitan Bastard: The Forgotten Father of Europe

Martyn, who studied modern languages at Queen’s and had an illustrious career spanning the BBC, political media, and the European civil service, led the talk.  He recounted the compelling story of Coudenhove-Kalergi, a man virtually unknown in Britain but who played a pivotal role in shaping the vision of a unified Europe.  Born half Japanese and half Austro-Hungarian, Coudenhove-Kalergi was deeply influenced by the political upheavals of the early 20th century. Appalled by the Treaty of Versailles, he proposed a peaceful unification of Europe, which brought him into direct conflict with Hitler.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Coudenhove-Kalergi’s vision for a Pan-European Union made him a significant adversary to Hitler, who infamously referred to him as the “Cosmopolitan Bastard” in Mein Kampf. Despite Hitler’s efforts to undermine him, including burning his books and forcing him into exile in the US, Coudenhove-Kalergi remained committed to his cause. After World War II, he returned to Europe and continued his advocacy, engaging with influential leaders like Churchill, and De Gaulle. His efforts culminated in the establishment of the first Europe-wide Parliament, which met in 1949 as the Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Although the bar at The Orchard closed early at 8pm, cutting short our usual post-lecture mingling and discussion time for which the venue has apologised, the evening was intellectually stimulating and provided valuable insights into a figure whose contributions to European unity are often overlooked. We look forward to the next installment of CamSocTalks and the continued opportunity to learn and engage with our vibrant community.