Leni Riefenstahl’s shocking tour of America (1938-39)

Was Leni’s two-month trip to the U. S. the worst press junket of the 20th century? Perhaps. In any event, it certainly makes the shortlist. Her tour starred a pack of pro-Nazi American charlatans here and there, and a cameo appearance by later anti-Nazi whistleblower Emily Hall Tremaine (with details from her once-thought secret deposition unearthed by artdesigncafe).

R. J. Preece
Art Design Publicity at ADC | 27 December 2025

leni emily hall tremaine

Leni Riefenstahl, fimmaker and rumored to be Hitler’s girlfriend, arrived in New York from Germany in early November 1938. After Kristallnacht, the German Consul General to New York told her to go back to Germany. But she carried on... and on, across the US to California in what may be the worst press junket of the 20th century. Towards the end of her trip, she ended up in villa of Emily Hall Tremaine (then Von Romberg) in Montecito, for an hour, Emily said, in her secret deposition. But why?

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

In the meantime, see the article at the Connecticut Centinal: Why did the Meriden / Madison town art lady Emily Hall Tremaine host the alleged girlfriend of Hitler? (1938-39) (Click through the tweet to the article.)

Also check out the two-part podcast: "Leni Riefenstahl & Emily Hall Tremaine: Nazis in California"




NEW YORK (4 - 15 November 1938)

> Accommodation:

See events

Documentation - NY

See the articles


Selected sources




WASHINGTON, DC (15-16 November 1938)

> Accommodation:

See events

Documentation - DC

See the articles


Selected sources




CHICAGO (16 - November 1940)

> Accommodation: Drake Hotel

See events

Documentation - CHI

See the articles



DETROIT (18 November 1940)

> Accommodation:

See events



Documentation - DET

See the articles





CHICAGO (20? November 1938)

> Accommodation:

See events



Documentation - CHI

See the articles


LOS ANGELES (24- November 1938)

> Accommodation:

See events



Documentation - LA

See the articles



San Francisco (30 December 1938)

> Accommodation:

See events

Documentation - SF

See the articles




LOS ANGELES ()

> Accommodation:

See events


DATE: Event

Documentation - LA

See the articles

BERLIN, GERMANY (5+ February 1939)

> Accommodation:

See events

Documentation - BLN

See the articles





()

> Accommodation:

See events

Documentation -

See the articles





()

> Accommodation:

See events



Documentation -

See the articles




()

> Accommodation:

See events



Documentation -

See the articles





()

> Accommodation:

See events


DATE: Event

Documentation -

See the articles





(DATES)

> Accommodation:

See events


DATE: Event

Documentation -

See the articles





(DATES)


Documentation -

See the articles