Chapter 68 Chapter Eleven "Misstep" (3)

The case of the congressional fire is also beneficial to the head of state in the short term.With the election date looming, the fire increased the fear of revolution among most Germans.When bands of brownshirts tore down Communist campaign posters and replaced them with their own, opposition was few and far between.Hitler did not make the political mistake of declaring the Communist Party an illegal party, but decided to wait until after the elections to prevent working-class votes from falling into the hands of the Social Democrats.The Nazis spread a large number of terrorist news throughout the country, saying that the red elements would inevitably throw the people of the country into a pool of blood after taking severe measures, and called on voters to grant the National Socialist Party the right to rule.Goering was even more blunt: "My compatriots, no legal considerations can defeat my measures." On March 3, two days before the general election, he told an audience in Frankfurt: "No bureaucracy can defeat my measures." I am not troubled by laws, but by destruction and extermination. This is a struggle against chaos, and I will not use the police to fight it. A bourgeois state may do so. Of course, I Dear Communists who will use state power and the police to the maximum, so, don’t draw wrong conclusions. In this struggle, I will lead the brownshirts to fight to the death, and my hands will be tightly Grip your throats!"

It was a blunt confession: brutal violence outside the law, and it was a confession that could only be made in the charged air after a fire in Congress.Luckily for the Nazis, the likes of Papen Hindenburg, and the industrialists, were indifferent to these startling words and supported Hitler's campaign vigorously - albeit sometimes silently.The Prussian Chancellor of Finance told an Austrian visitor that the Nazis could not succeed as long as "practical and respectable" men like Schwerin von Krosigt remained in the cabinet.The fierce speeches of buffoons like Goering and Goebbels should not be seriously believed, for the reason is that "it is the conservatives who are actually in charge, and Hitler has to step aside."

The industrialists were confident in their ability to sway Hitler.At a meeting held not long ago, 25 industrialists actually undertook the expenses of the general election.After Krupp von Bollen expressed unanimous support for Hitler on behalf of the industrialists, Goering proposed to raise funds: "If you believe that there will be no elections within 10 years after this election, maybe within 100 years, then we The sacrifices required are easier to bear." This threat to end the democratic process was taken by the banker Shahit as a guarantee.He said: "Gentlemen, please pay now!" The industrialists then whispered to each other.The old Krupp donated 1 million marks (worth about 250,000 U.S. dollars) on behalf of the whole Ruhr, and the representative of I. G. Farben pledged 400,000 marks.Others also made pledges, totaling 3 million marks.

With this money at their disposal, the National Socialist Party, together with two other coalition partners, created a great publicity campaign throughout the country.The main speeches of the National Socialists were broadcast to the whole country by radio.For those who do not have radios, they set up loudspeakers in the streets and squares.The promises and threats of the new government howled through these trumpets.To prove his legitimacy, Hitler often mentioned Hindenburg's name.Those were the same people who called the old man a fool a few months ago; now he was a hero of immense power.

Foreseeing the consolidation of power after a landslide victory, party members enthusiastically threw themselves into this government-backed movement.The SA and SS were no longer suppressed by the police.Instead, they saw the SA and SS as helpers and turned a blind eye to their excesses in the name of patriotism. In his speech, Hitler criticized the opposition for not having a programme, but he couldn't come up with it himself.All he wants is a four-year term to prove his mettle.On the eve of the election, Goebbels turned the day into a half-holiday, calling the election day "National Awakening Day."It seemed that everyone supported Hitler.He is the hope of young idealists who hold high the banner like a patriot.People who are afraid of Moscow supporting the revolution have only two options: Germany is either red or brown, and the latter seems to be more pleasing.Many former critics, such as Theodor Hauss, who later became the first president of the West Germany, claimed to have seen moderation in Hitler. "His rhetoric is much less. He no longer breathes fire on the Jews, and he can give a speech for 4 hours without mentioning the word 'Jews'." Hitler even got the support of some Jews; "Jewish peddlers" entered Germany and supported his new government.

Despite superficial pretenses and a lot of money and effort spent in the general election, the National Socialist Party won only 43.9% of the vote, and its allies gave him only a slim majority in Congress.The victory was slim, but it was enough for Hitler to demand power from the people and to regain control of the states not under his rule.With the support of Berlin, the Nazis in Bavaria forced a showdown.They mobilized the SA in Munich. At noon on March 9, accompanied by Captain Rohm in the uniform of the stormtroopers, the local governor Adolf Wagner came to the office of the state premier Herder.They demanded that Herder immediately appoint General Rieter von Epp - the man who had helped smash the Soviet Republic in 1919 - as governor of the state.

Herder telephoned Berlin to protest, but was told that Epp had been appointed governor.He protested to Hindenburg.Hindenburg's reply showed how powerless the Don was: he asked Herder to send his subsequent comments directly to Hitler.In this way, Bavaria finally and legally fell into the hands of the Nazis. The rest of the free states are also under the same procedure-threats from below, and intervention by Berlin Power Generation-and they have also followed suit one by one. On the day of the seizure of power in Bavaria, Hitler flew to Munich and received a grand welcome.He said proudly: "In Germany, the city that is closest to my heart is Munich. As a young man, a soldier, and a politician, I made my fortune here. This city is based on the comrades who died here in 1923. Baptized by the blood.” He issued instructions to local party leaders to establish a stable regime, even at the expense of recruiting non-party people into politics. "Your task, gentlemen," he said, "is formidable. But the imperial power must no longer be disturbed by special movements in Bavaria or riots by separatists. This is very important for the political stability of the country. I must accomplish it." Bismarck's unfinished business: A state is a state only if it is useful to the interests of the Empire."

Hitler was later asked what to do with the only competent prosecutor at his trial in 1924. "At that time, although he was strict, he was very objective and polite," Hitler said, "let him stay in the Ministry of Justice." Many foreigners mistakenly believe that Hitler has consolidated the Communist Party throughout Germany?regime.Although he was a flawless statesman, he came to power gradually and with the consent of the people. "Authority," he had said to Frank, "is nothing more than a springboard from one step to the next."As a result, making concessions to people from all walks of life in German society became his warning.Out of respect for the Hohenzollern family and Hindenburg, he chose the Jingtang in the Potsdam Garrison as the venue for the opening ceremony of the new Congress on March 21.This ancient city, which was deeply honored by Frederick William I and has the tomb of Frederick the Great, also has the Prussian military tradition.

On March 21, the whole city was joyfully decorated with swastika flags and the black, white and red tricolor flags of the old empire.Amidst the rumble of guns, the army, SS and SA formed a solemn formation, and under the bright spring sun, the official motorcycle team, ringing bells, drove towards the small church. As soon as the tall Hindenburg in the Prussian brown marshal uniform appeared, the audience immediately stood up.Hindenburg held his cane in one hand and the marshal's baton in the other, and walked forward majestically.As he approached the emperor's throne, he turned his back, raised his marshal's baton, and saluted Caesar's vacant seat—his relatives stood behind.The Field Marshal completely dominated the smaller Hitler standing beside him.He was in a tuxedo and he was restless.In the eyes of the French ambassador, François Bence; he was "like a timid stranger, introduced by a distinguished protector to a company of strangers."

The two sat down opposite each other.Hindenburg took out his glasses and began to read the speech.He said that the tasks facing the new government are complex and difficult.He called for a revival of the disciplined patriotism of old Prussia. Hitler's speech was not so much aimed at the ordinary people listening to the radio at home as it was aimed at the crowd crowded in the audience.The war, he said, had been imposed on Caesar and Germany; all he had inherited was recession and unemployment.After briefly laying out his plans for the future, he turned to Hindenken as if he were still his commander.He greatly extolled Hindenburg, calling him the head of the army and the leader of the people. "It is our happiness that you agree with us to do our best for the revitalization of Germany."

Hitler stepped up to Hindenburg's chair, bent down and squeezed his hand.The old man was deeply moved and walked slowly to the tombs of Frederick the Great and Frederick William I.Followed by his son and adjutant.The adjutant laid wreaths on the two tombs.At this time, the salute was fired. The celebration, directed by Goebbels, achieved the desired effect.Everyone present—soldiers, Junkers, monarchists—believed that Hitler would respect Hindenburg and follow Prussian ideals.After two days, however, he showed to objective observers that he was not servile to anyone.The venue was different—this time at the Kroller Opera House in Berlin—and the atmosphere was vastly different: SA and SS troopers paraded the corridors, and a large swastika hung behind the stage as a reminder of who was responsible. is the master of Germany.At 2:5 p.m., Congress President Goering announced the opening of the meeting.After a brief speech, he recited "Wake Up, Germany!" "The lyrics of the song.Then he asked Hitler to talk.Hitler wore the plain uniform of the Brownshirts. The venue was silent for a moment; then there was a unanimous shout of "Long live victory!" The shout was followed by crazy applause.Hitler strode to power through the arms.This is his first appearance in Congress.He is scripted.But the speech, for its care of wording and mildness of tone, is excellent.He vowed to respect private property and individual initiative; pledged aid to farmers and the middle class.He would end unemployment and make peace with France, Britain, and even the Soviet Union.But in order to do that, he needed Congress to pass the Relief of Suffering Act for the Empire and the People.This so-called enabling law gave him supreme power - even if temporarily.But he played it down to sound benign, pledging that emergency powers would be used "only when absolutely necessary to carry out measures of extreme necessity". After assuring Reichstag, the President, the states, and the Church that none of their rights would be violated, Hitler ended his speech with a strong word to cancel those assurances.If Congress denied him an "opportunity for friendly cooperation," the new regime was prepared to fight for its own principles. "Gentlemen of Congress, whether it's war or peace, it's up to you to decide." During the intermission, enemies opposed to the measure mobilized.As soon as the meeting resumed, the leader of the Social Democrats, speaking amid the rhythmic chants of brownshirts in the corridors (“We want enabling laws—or arson and massacres!”), spoke out in bold protest.Despite Papen's urging, Hitler responded in a manner reminiscent of the early days of the Munich Beer Hall Uprising.He attacked the Social Democrats with sarcasm and invective. "I don't need your votes. Germany will be free, but not through you. Don't mistake us for the bourgeoisie. The German star is rising, you are indeed falling. Your death knell is sounding. Hitler's surprise attack not only crushed the futile rebellion of the Social-Democrats, but also terrified the Center Party.Voting begins.When Goering announced the results of the election (441 votes in favour, 94 votes against, far exceeding the required two-thirds majority), the National Socialists jumped up at the same time and cheered loudly, like the end of a football match It looked like their team had scored the decisive goal in the first few seconds.They stretched out their arms and sang the "Song of the Wessel Forest": "Raise the flag high! stand close together, The stormtroopers marched forward, Steady pace, calm..." Democracy was expunged from the Reichstag with little opposition.Only the Social Democrats voted against it.The other parties handed over to Hitler the power he would not relinquish.And the powers entrusted to him that are useful to him are seldom given up. The leaders of the Center Party received a letter from Hindenburg expressing his support for Hitler. "I would like to inform you that the Prime Minister has made it clear that, even in the absence of a formal constitutional obligation, he is willing to take measures on the basis of enabling law after consultation with me." The betrayed Centerists regained their confidence.Most Germans were eager to regain confidence, and many rushed to join the Nazi Party.There are also many people who support it in a more subtle way.Civil servants and bureaucrats (like those in any other country) stick to their posts and keep the machinery of power turning as if the most conservative party had won. The victory in the Reichstag made public the identities of many industrialists who had secretly supported Hitler.The steel magnate Krupp greeted acquaintances openly on the street.In his congratulatory letter to Hitler, he said that he and his colleagues firmly believed that Germany had finally achieved "the foundation of a stable government."In return, Krupp was elected tsar of German industry, thus sanctioning the marriage of big business and National Socialism. It was no accident that Hitler chose Hegalmar Shahit as the head of the Reichsbank.The brilliant financier who helped Hitler get in touch with industry shared his hatred of democracy and parliamentarism (Hitler's chancellor approved the choice because he considered Schahit a financial genius). "At the same time, he was the most adequate liar I have ever known," recalled Schwerin von Krosigert, "who stretched the truth as far as he thought it was true." Ahead of this choice, Hitler had asked Schahit how much money the bank could provide to support his public works programs and plans to rearm Germany.Shahit declined to give specific figures.But announce that the Reichsbank will provide as much as it takes to "remove the last unemployed from the streets".He took the job, and as soon as he took office he issued "Mayford" bonds—an abbreviation for Metal Research, Inc., a portrait model company formed by four armourers—with the state responsible for its debts.Meifu bonds are mainly drawn by government contractors. In fact, they are no different from promissory notes. They are short-term loans with a term that can be extended to 5 years.The original intention of the Shahit plan was to provide unlimited loans to the government so that Hitler could arm Germany on a large scale. Officials and industrialists were not the only ones willing to serve the Führer.Many intellectuals and literati were also at the service of Germany's revival.Among these were the philosophers Crick and Baumler, the poets Bronck and Binding, and Gerhard Haupmann, Germany's preeminent dramatist - who refused to throw away the honor of whichever government was in power .Early that spring, Rudolf Binding wrote: "We should serve our country, and there is no reason to leave the Academy because of a change of government. Haupman agrees with me, to my heart's delight. The Academy should protect creation, not research." Political freedom." In this spirit of cooperation, Haupmann hung a swastika flag outside his window a few weeks later; and a few months later, he assured Harold Nicholson that Germany would never As Italy did, "liberate yourself".