Amazing new research has shown that Adolf Hitler apparently tried to teach dogs to talk, read and spell in order to build a ‘fearsome’ army of dogs during WW2.
The bizarre report has been detailed by Dr Jan Bondeson, a senior lecturer at Cardiff University, for his book Amazing Dogs: A Cabinet of Canine Curiosities. According to Dr Bondeson, one dog even uttered the words “Mein Fuhrer” when asked who Hitler was.
“There were some very strange experiments going on in wartime Germany with regard to the dog-human communication,” Dr Bondeson told the Daily Telegraph.
“It is absolutely extraordinary stuff. Hitler was himself interested in the prospect of using educated dogs in the war effort, and he advised representatives of the German army to study their usefulness in the field” he added.
Hitler’s plan was apparently to ensure that his “Wooffan SS” forces could communicate with their SS masters, with the hope of the dogs even taking positions as guards to allow human soldiers back on the front line, though there is no evidence that their plans came to fruition.
The Nazi leader even set up a dedicated school in Hanover, where a star pupil terrier named Rolf was able to tap out letters of the alphabet with his paws. Another dog was apparently able to bark: “Hungry! Give me cakes” in German.
“Hitler was himself interested in the prospect of using educated dogs in the war effort, and he advised representatives of the German army to study their usefulness in the field,” added Dr Bondeson.
“Still, it appears to have been very early days – there is no evidence it ever actually came to fruition and that the SS were walking around with talking dogs.” What a terrifying sight that would be.
