In 1935, Adolf Hitler approached a man and offered him the position of ambassador to the United Kingdom.
That man was Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck—one of Germany’s most legendary generals from World War I. He had led a remarkably successful guerrilla campaign in Africa, fighting until the very end of the war without ever being defeated in battle. As a result, he received Germany’s highest military honors and became the commander of the only German army to surrender undefeated after World War I. At the time, he was widely regarded as one of the greatest German military figures still alive.
Lettow-Vorbeck had also been notably progressive for his era. Commanding many soldiers of African descent, he treated them as equals, defended them from racial discrimination by white officers—even those above him—and earned their fierce loyalty in return.
With his pragmatic, stubborn views on race and leadership, Lettow-Vorbeck had little admiration for Hitler.
So when Hitler personally asked whether he would accept the role of ambassador to Britain, Lettow-Vorbeck turned him down—forcefully.
How forcefully?
In the 1960s, one of Lettow-Vorbeck’s former officers was interviewed by British author Charles Miller. During the conversation, this exchange took place:
MILLER: “I understand von Lettow told Hitler to go to hell.”
OFFICER: “Yes… though his actual words were far less polite.”
This man stood up, face to face with Adolf Hitler—one of the most powerful and terrifying figures in history—and bluntly told him to go fuck himself.
That’s not just refusal.
That’s brutal.