Chapter 31 Chapter 5 "A Man So Crazy And So Reasonable" (2)

In the autumn of 1922, the activities of Adolf Hitler aroused the interest of the Allies.At the suggestion of the American ambassador to Germany, the United States assigned Truman Smith—Yale student, West Point graduate, and deputy military attache in Berlin—to Munich "to assess the strength of the allegedly growing National Socialist movement. ’” Smith was instructed to meet Hitler and make an assessment “of his character, personality, abilities, and weaknesses.”He also wanted to make an investigation into the strength and potential of the National Socialist Workers' Party.More specifically, Smith had to try to find answers to the following questions: "Is it possible for Bavaria to declare independence from Germany? Is there any danger of another communist uprising in Munich? Is it possible for Hitler's Socialist Workers Party to seize power in Bavaria?" Is the Seventh Division of the Wehrmacht in Bavaria completely loyal to the Reich, or to Berlin and Bavaria separately? Should there be disturbances or rebellions of the Right or the Left, can it be used to suppress them?"

Before noon on November 15, Captain Smith arrived in Munich.After settling in the Mariambad Hotel, he immediately went to the U.S. Consulate on Redler Street to meet with Acting Consul Robert Murphy. Murphy, 28, who later became ambassador to Belgium, told Smith that Bavaria's new chancellor was "not a tough guy" because he was "just a tool" for Karl, the former chancellor.The Socialist Workers Party, he says, is growing rapidly and its leader, while "a simple adventurer", is still worthy of "a real character who is tapping into latent grievances".Hitler understood the state of mind of the Bavarians, but it is doubtful whether he was "enough to lead a national movement in Germany".

In the days that followed, he chatted with army generals, government officials, the successor prince Lup Kohit ("he certainly has no genius, but some political ability"), a liberal newspaper editor, and Mex Evan , von Schuberner Richter (of German origin, a refugee from the Baltic states, who borrowed his wife's title) had a conversation.Shubenner Richter was a close friend of Rosenberg's who had begun to exert considerable influence on Hitler.He assured Smith that the party's anti-Semitism was "purely propaganda."He then invited Smith to a SA parade in front of the new party headquarters.

"It's truly spectacular," Smith wrote in his hotel room that night. "1,200 strong men, which I have never seen before, carried the old Reich flag and wore bright red swastika armbands. They marched in front of Hitler and accepted his review. After the review, Hitler delivered a speech... Then chanting: 'Let the Jews die!' and other slogans. People cheered wildly. I have never seen such a scene in my life." The next day, Saturday, Smith spoke with Ludendorff at his home.The general admitted that he had believed that "Bolshevism must first be destroyed in Russia before it can be eliminated in Germany." "Created under the existing and chaotic parliamentary conditions" and "can only be organized by patriots".He firmly believed that "the fascist movement was the beginning of the awakening of European reactionary forces", and Mussolini had genuine sympathy for the German national cause.

At four o'clock on Monday afternoon, Smith met with Hitler in the place where he had met Shuebener Richter.The conference room was "incredibly drab; similar to a back bedroom in a seedy New York rental apartment".After the meeting, Smith wrote in his notebook at the beginning: "An outstanding leader of the opposition party. I have rarely listened to a man who is so crazy and so reasonable. His ability to control the crowd must be enormous." Hitler put him described the movement as "a union of physical and mental workers against Marxism".Also, "if Bolshevism is to be suppressed, the present invective against capital must cease." Parliamentarism must be replaced. "Only absolutism can make Germany stand firm."He wrote, "The decisive battle between our civilization and Marxism is better fought on German soil than on American or British soil. This is in the interests of the United States and Britain. If we (the United States) do not support German nationalism , Bolshevism will conquer Germany. Then there will be no reparations, and Russian and German Bolshevism, motivated by self-confidence, will inevitably attack the Western countries."

Hitler also touched on other topics, but he didn't even mention the Jews.Later, it was Smith who pointedly raised the issue of anti-Semitism.Hitler replied that he had only "agreed to revoke their citizenship rights and exclude them from public affairs." This pushed Smith back.When Smith left the dark room, he was convinced that Hitler would be an important factor in German politics.Hitler was to give a speech on November 22; Smith accepted a ticket, but on his unexpected recall to Berlin, passed it on to Ernst Hanfstangl.He was a tall, long-jawed, eccentric, tall, Harvard graduate.Would Hanf Stangl bother to look at this guy Hitler and pass his conclusions on to him? "My impression is that he's going to make a big difference," Smith said. "Whether you like him or not, he certainly knows what he needs."

He dared to trust Hanf Stangel's judgment because the latter's background was very unusual.His mother was from a prominent New England family, the Devickers family; two of his ancestors were Civil War generals, one of whom held Lincoln's coffin.Two generations of the Hanfstangl family served as Privy Councilors at the Ducal Palace of Sachsee-Coburg-Gotha, and they were also connoisseurs and patrons of works of art.The family had their own art publishing house in Munich and was known for its fine art reproductions.Hanf Stangl himself was raised in an environment of art and music, his home was Hailey Rechmann, William Busch, Richard Strauss, Felix Wengner, The meeting place of William Backhouse, Fritzoff Nansen and Mark Twain, among others.He also plays the piano very well.In the most famous salons in Bavaria, people can often see his 6.4-foot body lying above the keys.His nickname is "Little Guy".

On the 22nd, Hanfstangl took the tram to the Kinder Tavern, which was an L-shaped beer hall filled with dense crowds.Among the audience were a few retired military officers and petty officials, as well as some small shopkeepers, mostly young people and workers.Many people wore the Bavarian national costume.Hanfstangel tried in vain to find an acquaintance from the press box.He didn't know where Hitler was; luckily a reporter pointed him out to the three men on stage.The short one was Max Ammann; the bespectacled one was Anton Drexler; the third was Hitler.Hitler wore ankle-length shoes, clumsy and heavy, and a black suit with a starched white collar.Hanfstangel couldn't help thinking that his attire looked like a waiter in a railway station restaurant.But when Drexler introduced him to the audience and he walked past the press booth quickly and confidently, he was "unmistakably a soldier in plain clothes."

The applause was deafening.Hitler spread his legs, hands behind his back, like a sentinel.In a calm, measured tone, he reviewed the events of the past few years.He deftly took aim at the government without using sarcasm or vulgar language.He spoke very carefully, in high-pitched German, sometimes with a little Viennese accent. Hanfsteinl, who was only more than 10 feet away from Hitler, was particularly impressed by Hitler's sincere blue eyes. "There is both honesty and sincerity in his eyes, and the dignity of suffering and silent pleading." After 10 minutes of speaking, Hitler fully grasped the feelings of the audience.Now he relaxed his posture, gesticulated like a well-trained actor, and began to insinuate himself with sly malice in the manner of a Viennese café.Hanf Stangel noticed that the women sitting nearby watched with gusto.Later, a woman actually shouted: "That's right. Well said!" At this moment, Hitler's voice suddenly increased, as if to express his gratitude to them.He also gesticulates broadly, strongly condemning those who make money for the country.

Hitler wiped off the sweat from his brow, and reached out to take the beer handed over by a bearded man.To Munich's beer lovers, it's quite theatrical.After resuming his speech, his gestures became more forceful.There are often people in the audience shouting and cursing. At this time, he calmly raises his right hand slightly, as if catching a ball, or crosses his hands in front of his chest, and simply answers him, smashing the attack of the scolding. "His technique is like the dashing and parrying of a fencer, and the masterful balancing of a tightrope walker. At times, he reminds me of a great violinist who would never draw his bow It's over, leaving only a faint lingering sound—a thought expressed without the artifice of words, an overtone." But as soon as he stormed his enemies, the Jews and the Reds, the caution evaporated. "Our motto is - if you don't want to be German, I'll blow your head off. This is because we can't succeed without a fight. To fight, we use our ideas, but, if necessary, with fist."

Hanfu Stangel was fascinated by what he heard, and when he woke up, he looked around and was surprised by the completely changed attitude of the audience. "The crowd that was shouting and shoving him about an hour ago, the people who shouted and shouted, are now silent and deeply moved. They listen with bated breath, they have long forgotten to reach for the beer bottle, it seems She drank every word of the speaker." "A young girl sitting next to him gazed at Hitler intently, as if immersed in the joy of love. She had forgotten herself, completely absorbed by Hitler's vision of the future greatness of Germany. Faith bewitched." By the climax of his speech, he had become "the organism of language."Suddenly, the speech was over.The audience banged tables and stools and cheered wildly.Hitler was exhausted, in Hanfstangl's view "like a great artist at the end of an exhausted concert".His hair and face were drenched with sweat, and even his starched collar had softened (“After giving an important lecture, I was always drenched and lost four to six pounds”). Hanfstangel took the opportunity to go to the rostrum, where Hitler smiled confidently and accepted the compliments of the crowd without arrogance. "Captain Truman Smith asked me to convey his best wishes to you," said Hanf Stangl.The name Smith aroused Hitler's interest, and he asked Hanf Stangl what he thought of his speech. "Well, I agree with you," he replied carefully so as not to hurt Hitler's feelings. "I agree with 95% of what you said, and we will talk about the remaining 5% later." What he opposed was, of course, Hitler's anti-Semitism. "For a small 5 percent of this, I'm sure we won't quarrel," Hitler said mildly.As he spoke, he wiped the sweat from his face with a wrinkled handkerchief, looking humble and friendly.He cleared his throat, coughed a few times, and held out his hand.His hands were "hard and thick" and held "like the hands of a frontline soldier". That night, Hanfstangel was sleepless. "The impression of that night sticks with me. All conservative politicians and orators were unable to communicate with the hearts and minds of ordinary audiences. This is where they failed miserably. But Hitler, a self-made man, succeeded in bringing the essentials of non-communism Handed over to the people, and the support of these people is exactly what we need." Hanf Stangl made up his mind to assist him. In Berlin, Captain Smith presented a report on his trip to Munich to his superiors. On December 5, Consul Robbins of the embassy submitted a private report to the Under Secretary of State.The report stated: "The general attitude towards the organization in Bavaria, I conclude, is that sooner or later there will be serious divisions. The young Austrian corporals who fought for Germany in the war are now leading a fascist movement known as the 'Browncoats'. The party's Hitler, is now advancing slowly and efficiently along the path taken by Mussolini. I have been told by our staff who have been there that he is an extraordinary orator, although not of the highest moral standard, But he was a great leader. Like Mussolini, he was heavily funded by the corporate world, but progress was slow. He told my Assistant Military Attaché, Truman Smith, who was there, that he would not He's raising money and equipment for a massive campaign next month, maybe even in two months, and everything is going well." In the State Department, which was busy with other more pressing matters at the time, the report caused little shock and was shelved.In Germany, however, the increase in the membership of the National Socialist Workers Party and the growth of the S.A. were a cause of growing concern. In mid-December, the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior submitted a disturbing report.The report claims that the movement led by Hitler "will undoubtedly endanger the government, not only the current form of regime, but any political system, because its evil conception of Jews, social democrats and bank capitalists, if it succeeds, will appear. Bloodshed and chaos." Almost at the same time, William Cournot, the new Chancellor of the Reich, also received an urgent report.This report, strangely enough, came from the Bulgarian Consul in Munich, and it is a frank conversation between the Bulgarian Consul and Hitler.Hitler said that the parliamentary government in Germany was about to collapse because the parliamentary leaders did not have the support of the masses.A dictatorship of the right or the left is inevitable.Although most of North Germany's big cities are left-wing controlled, his National Socialist Workers' Party, which has thousands joining every week, is sure to win in Bavaria.Also, in Munich's secret police, 75 per cent are members of the Workers' Party, and among the city's ordinary police, the percentage is even higher.Hitler predicted that the Bolsheviks would gain control in North Germany.To save the nation, Bavaria had to organize a counter-revolution, and for this they needed an iron-fisted dictator, someone "ready, if necessary, to march across fields full of blood and corpses." It was a dire forecast of future events, and in particular its prediction that Hitler's crushing of Bolshevism and opposition to the French plans to occupy the Ruhr would be cheered by the majority of Bavaria's patriotic nationalists.They have endured the terrible years of the "Red Reign" and are ready to take ruthless action against anyone who dares to preach the "Doctrine of the Left".