although winifred remained personally faithful to hitler, she denied that she had ever supported the nazi party. her relationship with hitler grew so close that by 1933 there were rumours of impending marriage (there were similar rumours about her love for english novelist hugh walpole). "haus wahnfried", the wagner home in bayreuth, became hitler's favorite retreat. hitler gave the festival government assistance and tax exempt status, and treated winifred's children solicitously.