Chapter 24 Chapter 4 The Birth of a Political Party (1)

1919-1922 "When I step into the circle of this small group, there is no question about the party or the movement." But what the Workers' Party really gave Hitler that autumn was a platform to spread his ideas .Just as in Mannerheim's little study he had first vented his hatred and revealed his hopes, this small group of disaffected people gave him the impetus he needed. His first task was to turn what was essentially a debate society into a political institution. "The committee representing the whole party actually consisted of only seven people. It was nothing more than the governing body of a small club." In a newspaper serial describing those days, Hitler recalled with humor: "Munich in 1919 was very difficult. Dim lights, piles of rubbish, commotion, poorly dressed people, impoverished soldiers, all in all, a picture of the aftermath of four years of war and the scandal of the revolution."

In the conference room in Rosenbud's back room, when meetings are held, the meeting lights are a dim gas lamp. "What did we... look like when we assembled? Terrible, army shorts, dyed coats, shiny hats of all kinds, worn boots that were remade, and held wooden sticks for 'hand battles'." In those days Here, this is a symbol of magnificence, proving that he belongs to the people. "There are always a few of us... first a fraternal greeting; then everyone reports that the 'seeds' everywhere have been planted and even took root; finally they ask if we can do the same report. We often emphasize the need to act as a unit. The activity fee is generally only 5 marks, but one activity reaches a peak of 17 marks."

Hitler eventually persuaded the committee to increase its membership by holding larger meetings.In the barracks, using the company typewriter, he typed the invitations to the first meeting himself; he also wrote them by hand.On the night of the first meeting, seven committee members were waiting for "the crowd expected to come to the meeting."An hour passed and no one came. "We are still 7 people, the original 7 people." Hitler changed his tactics.The invitation was mimeographed; this time, several people came.Slowly, the number of attendees increased from 11 to 13, and finally to 34.

Conference donations are used for advertising costs.They placed an advertisement in a popular anti-Semitic newspaper announcing a mass meeting on October 16 in the basement of the Hove Bros Tavern. Had the attendance been as high as before, the costs this time would have bankrupted the Workers' Party.Halley was pessimistic, but Hitler insisted that many people would come; by 7 pm, 77 people had assembled in the smoky room.There is no record of how the evening's main speaker was received; but we do know that the audience was "shocked" almost as soon as Hitler stepped onto the crude lectern that was placed over the main stage.He originally planned to speak for 20 minutes, but the speech lasted for half an hour. Words of condemnation, threats and assurances spewed out of his mouth like running water.He was out of control and emotional; when he sat down to applause, his face was covered in sweat.Although he was exhausted, he was full of joy, "What I only felt in my heart before, but I couldn't test it, is now confirmed: I can speak!"

This was not only a turning point in his career, but also a turning point in the "German Workers' Party".An enthusiastic audience donated 300 marks on the spot; now they have money for more advertisements and printed slogans. On November 13, the second mass meeting was held.The congress was held in the Eberblau beer hall, and more than 130 people (mostly students, shopkeepers and military officers) attended the congress.There were four speakers at the convention; tickets were 50 pfennigs each—a novelty in local politics.The main attraction was Hitler.In the middle of the speech, some country bumpkins began to shout strangely, disturbing the venue.Fortunately, Hitler had already greeted his friends in the army, so within a few minutes, the disruptors "rolled downstairs with their bleeding heads in their hands." The interruption of the meeting actually aroused Hitler even more impassioned.At the end of his speech, he forced a revolt. "The tragedy in Germany must be broken with German steel. That time must come."

Hitler once again captivated audiences.He speaks in his original voice, with unrestrained emotion, which makes him very different from intellectuals who specialize in theory.A policeman who was present, after scorning Hitler as a businessman, reported that he was "remarkably well prepared" and bound to become a "professional publicist."His appeal speaks from the bottom of his heart—love the country, hate the Jews who brought about the defeat of 1918.This oratory, and the language of the street and the trenches he used, made veterans realize that he, too, had shared machine guns, barbed wire and dirty democracy, and embodied the brotherhood of holy fellowship on the front lines.

In less than two weeks another lively mass meeting was held, with 170 participants. On December 10, they used a larger tavern, the "German Reich".Crowds left despite an announcement that there was heating in the hall.At this time, several committee members said that the meeting was too frequent.A heated debate ensued.Hitler argued that in a city of 700,000 inhabitants, ten meetings a week, let alone once a fortnight, could be afforded.He said they were on the right path and victory was bound to come sooner or later.His persistence really paid off.The new location for the mass meeting was on the Avenue Dachauer, near the barracks.During the meeting, soldiers flocked to the meeting, making the number of participants break through 200.

Hitler's rise to prosperity deeply disturbed the other committee members.They objected to his volcanic, breezy style.Plus, he's changing the face of the entire organization by attracting a slew of rude military men.They are afraid of the destruction of the party.Although Drexler was equally worried, he firmly believed that Hitler was the hope of the party.With his support, Hitler became the head of the party's propaganda department.After being promoted, Hitler made more severe criticisms of the inefficiency of party affairs.How can the party work without offices and equipment?He took it upon himself to find an office in Sternaka, where he had been introduced to the party.The house was small and had been used as a wine room.The rent was also cheap, 50 marks a month; the committee did not complain when the landlord removed the wooden partitions to make it "more like a funeral hall than an office."He used the money given by Captain Mel and the party fund to install electric lights and telephones in the room, and also furnished tables and chairs, bookcases, cupboards and other furniture.Hitler's next move was to hire a manager to work around the clock.He found a sergeant in the barracks who was "honest, absolutely loyal and honest."He brought his Adler portable typewriter with him to work.

In December of that year, Hitler called for a comprehensive reform of the party organization, transforming a debating society into a real political party.As they were content with a far-right group, most of the commissioners opposed the reforms.They did not see, as Hitler did, that propaganda was not an end in itself, but a means to the overthrow of the Weimar Republic.The hard-working Drexler backed Hitler again.At the Drexler home, the two were actively drafting party plans and programmes, discussing them for hours.Their relationship was mainly maintained by distrust and hatred of the Jews.According to Drexler, he became "a radical anti-Semite and anti-Marxist" after losing his job several times because of his Jewish and trade union ties.He lived in the cozy Nymfen district, where Hitler often took the tram to him.The two of them were often buried in work, and Mrs. Drexler had to call several times to even have dinner. “My little girl used to be on Hitler’s lap,” recalls Drexler, “and she knew she was welcome.” To her, he was Uncle Adolf.

One night in late 1919, Hitler arrived at Drexler's house "with a large bundle of manuscripts".This is the draft of the party programme.The two put their heads down and worked for hours, "compressing" it down to as simple as possible. "I'll tell you, we were racking our brains!" recalls Drexler.It wasn't finished until the next morning.Hitler jumped up to the boxing table. "These opinions of ours," he cried, "are to rival the Luther's sign on Whidenberg's gate!" The program includes 25 points.Hitler demanded that it be published at a mass meeting.

Predictably, the committee was against it.Not only did they oppose many of the viewpoints contained therein, but they also opposed the holding of mass meetings.Drexler, too, was skeptical at first, but finally agreed with Hitler and gave him his full support when they met again.The Opposition was overruled and a meeting date was fixed: February 24, 1920. Slogans and street signs printed in striking red letters are all over Munich.At this time, Hitler became frightened. He was afraid that his speech would make "the masses yawn."The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. At 7:15, when Hitler stepped into the banquet hall of the Hof Bros Hotel, he found that the hall was full, with about 2,000 people.He was so happy that his "heart almost jumped out."He was especially pleased that more than half of the participants were Communists or independent socialists.He believed that the truly ambitious people in the hostile audience would turn to him, and he welcomed them to disrupt the venue. The meeting started, and the venue was very quiet.The speaker was Dinglefeld, an experienced "folk" speaker.He attacked the Jews obliquely.He quoted Shakespeare and Schiller; his attacks were soft enough not to provoke even the Communists.Afterwards, Hitler stood up.No one screamed loudly.He was wearing an old-fashioned blue coat, which was very worn.He looked nothing like an orator.At the beginning, he spoke very calmly, without any emphasis.He briefly talked about the history of the past 10 years.Yet when he spoke of the revolution that swept Germany after the war, his voice was full of emotion; he gestured and his eyes blazed.Angry shouts came from every corner of the hall.Beer gas was flying in the air.Armed with rubber clubs and riding whips—Hitler’s supporters in the army—“swift as hounds, tough as cowhide, hard as Krupp steel,” they rushed into battle.The troublemaker was kicked out of the house.The order in the hall was restored, but the shouts of ridicule continued.Hitler resumed his speech, not dumbfounded by the shouts.His experience at Mannerheim had accustomed him to this kind of trouble, and he seemed to draw strength from it.His spirit, and his words, warmed the audience.The audience began to applaud, and the applause drowned out the strange cries.He scolded the authorities for printing tons and tons of paper money, accusing the Social Democrats of only persecuting petty bourgeoisie. "What can a petty bourgeoisie do if he isn't named Hammelberg or Isidorbach?" Applause drowned out shouts as the attack turned on Eastern Jews.Many people were shouting: "Down with the Jews!" Unaccustomed to speaking in front of such a large audience, his voice rose and fell.But even his inexperience is attracting interest.His true feelings deeply moved a 20-year-old law student named Hans Frank. "The first thing he feels is that this person speaks very sincerely, telling what he feels, instead of making mysteries, telling the audience what he has not absolutely grasped." In the gorgeous speech used by the first speaker After the rhetoric, his speech had an explosive effect.His words are often rough, but rich in expression.Even those who come to make trouble have to listen carefully.He speaks clearly and clearly, even to those seated farthest away.What impressed Frank most was that he "could make the most muddled mind understand...he could get to the heart of things." In the end, he handed over the 25 main points of the program to the audience and asked them to "judge" them one by one.This program has something for almost everyone—except the Jews.For the patriots, all Germans unite in one great empire; the solution to overpopulation is colonies; equal rights for Germany among the nations of the world; the abolition of the Treaty of Versailles; the creation of a people's army; the criminals "Struggle relentlessly" to enforce law and order.For the workers is the abolition of free reaping; the repatriation of war profits; the confiscation of land without compensation for social ownership; profit sharing within large corporations.For the middle class, immediately socialize large department stores and lease them to small businesses and hawkers at low rents; "vigorously improve" the health standards of the elderly across the country.For those with a "national" mindset, it was demanded that Jews be treated as foreigners, that they be deprived of the right to open offices, that they be deported when the state found it impossible to feed the whole population, and that Jews who immigrated after August 2, 1914 , immediately deported. After reading a point, Hitler stopped and asked the audience if they understood and agreed.Most of the audience shouted their assent, but there was also organized jeering; some dissenters jumped on chairs and tables in protest.Suppression teams armed with sticks and whips threw themselves into action again and again.Hitler spoke for two and a half hours, and when he finished, everyone agreed with almost every word he said.At the end of the meeting, there was thunderous applause, and the young Frank believed, "If anyone can control the fate of Germany, it is Hitler." For Hitler, that evening's congress, including the troubles of the opposition, was a complete victory.As people lined up to leave the venue, Hitler felt that the door to his future had finally opened. "When I declared the meeting closed, I wasn't the only one thinking that a wolf had been born. The wolf was destined to rush into the pack of crooks who abducted the people." He lived up to his name, for Adolf - derived from the Germanic "lucky wolf" the word.Since then, the word "wolf" has taken on a special meaning to him—a nickname among relatives and friends; a pseudonym for him and his sister Paula; his name. Hitler's rise did not attract much attention in the Munich newspapers, but the mass meeting represented a big step forward for the German Workers' Party, attracting 100 new members.At Hitler's insistence, a roster of party members was created and party cards were issued.In order to give people the impression of a big party, the number of the first party card is 501, and the numbers will be in alphabetical order according to the names of party members. "The Painter" Hitler's party card number was 555.