Chapter 71 Chapter Eleven "Misstep" (6)

In the bursts of cheers cheering Hitler's victory, but there is also a piercing voice - the delay of the parliamentary arson trial.The trial did not start until the first day of autumn, but by then the German Communists had convinced most of the world that the fire in Reichstag was at the hands of the plaintiffs.First, they published a book in Paris that aimed to expose the horrors of Hitler, but the content of the book was based on imagination. "We have no direct evidence, we can't find witnesses, and we can only secretly communicate with Germany," Arthur Kessler later confessed, "In fact, we don't know anything about the specific situation."

With this success, the communists in exile staged their own trial, which opened in London on September 14, 1933, before a trial involving D. N. Preet of Great Britain and Arthur Garfield of the United States. The international jury in the presiding judge.Celebrities in the audience included George Bernard Shaw - whose works Hitler admired, especially Joan of Arc.George Bernard Shaw refused to sit on the jury and only appeared as a dissident: "If the prisoner is used as a stick to beat the government", he said, "his fate has already been sealed." After the trial, the long-anticipated conclusion of the court was announced: "There are serious grounds for doubt that the Reichstag was set on fire by National Socialist leaders or their representatives."

The next day the German trial opened in Leipzig.Goering personally intervened in the prosecution, and was utterly embarrassed by the refutation of the four accused Communists.Goering was furious and yelled at Dimitrov (later Prime Minister of Bulgaria): "You scoundrel! We'll deal with you after we're out of court!" Goering had the final say, but victory was on the side of the Communist Party— — All were acquitted by the court.Van der Loub, who said again and again that only he was guilty, was sentenced to death and executed. Outsiders believed that the Dutchman was nothing more than a tool of the Nazis, and the purpose of arson was to create an excuse to destroy the Communist Party.Many historians, including Bullock and Sheila, feel the same way; but their speculations were made before Fritz Tobias's book was published.Tobias's writing is very detailed, and the conclusion is that neither the Communist Party nor the Nazis had anything to do with the fire, and Luber was the only one who set it on fire.Many historians, including Bracher, questioned Tobias' book.Nevertheless, he lists the same facts as Hans Momsen.Momsen's authoritative article was published by the Institute of Contemporary History, which is unlikely to agree with the Nazi interpretation.Furthermore, examination and research of Luber's history and trial records show that he was of above-average intellect and that his arson was the act of a vagabond who preferred to act alone.

The judgment in the Leipzig trial, while influenced by foreign opinion, also showed that the court retained some independence.Goering was full of complaints, calling the judge's behavior disgraceful ("You can almost say that we are on trial, not the Communist Party").Hitler's answer gave away the secret: "My dear Göring, it is only a matter of time. We will soon let the old guys speak for us. Anyway, they should all retire. Our men put in. But as long as the old man is alive, there's not much we can do." Hanfstangel said he overheard the remark over lunch at the Chancellery.That fall, he tried again, trying to steer Hitler on a path more acceptable to the West.He called the charming Marta Dodd, the daughter of the American ambassador, and said: "Hitler deserves an American woman—a lovely girl who can change the whole destiny of Europe. Marta, you are This woman!" (Like many of the Führer's confidantes, Hanfsteinl did not know that Hitler already had a mistress, Eva Braun, but was abandoned).

Marta Dowd was "excited" by "the opportunity that came to her door."She agreed to meet the Führer and "change the history of Europe".In the tea room of the Kaiser Hotel, Hitler kissed her hand and mumbled a few words awkwardly.She could hardly believe that she was looking face to face with one of the most powerful figures in Europe. “He seemed humble, middle-class, rather inactive, and shy—but with a strange tenderness and an interesting resignation.” Over dinner she described her impressions of him.Her father "was very amused by my impressionability" and told her not to wash hands kissed by the great man.

Ambassador Dodd had little impression of Hitler, but his British counterparts took him seriously.With regard to the Führer's demands for rearmament, they were willing to make considerable concessions and were anxious to reach some kind of agreement.This was revealed in early 1934 when Lord Anthony Eden, Keeper of the British Seal, visited Berlin.Eden's impression of Hitler was that he was much more than a political demagogue. "He knew what he was talking about. The meeting was long and, as it progressed, he showed that he fully grasped the subject matter." As for international assurances, all Germany asked for was the possibility of self-defense.If such a treaty were to be signed, Hitler promised to guarantee the disarmament of the SA and SS.The next day, February 21, Hitler made the unusual gesture of going to the British embassy for lunch.That seemed to underscore his intention to reconcile.This is the first time a head of state has stepped into a foreign embassy.He took little interest in food and drink, but was "greatly free" when it came to talking about his personal experiences in the Great War.Veterans are the last thing that want another war, Eden said.Hitler "readily agreed" to this statement.

After lunch, Hitler made detailed proposals.He demanded 30 percent of his neighbor's fleet and agreed that Germany's aircraft would never exceed 60 percent of France's.To Eden's amazement, he readily offered to reduce the number of SA and SS troops.He also said, "His common sense and political instincts would never allow him to authorize a second military at home. Never! Never!" It was the season of concessions—another friendly gesture from Hitler.This time it was addressed to the Americans on March 14.Von Neuwright of the Foreign Office telegraphed the Consul General in New York to deliver the following message to Ambassador Dodd, who was about to arrive in New York on the Manhattan:

The Reich Chancellor asked Mr. Dodd to convey his regards to President Roosevelt.He congratulated the president on his heroic efforts for the benefit of the American people.The President has fought successfully to overcome the economic crisis, and the entire German people is following with interest and admiration.The Prime Minister agreed with the President that the virtues of responsibility and discipline should be the highest standards of the nation.This moral demand that the President places on every citizen is the very essence of German philosophy.The motto of our country, "the public interest before the private interest," expresses this.

The message fell far short of its purpose.Not only is it harshly worded, it's also poorly timed.A week earlier, the American Jewish Association had held a mock trial in Madison Square Park entitled "The Story of Civilization Against Hitlerism, the Laws and Practices of the Hitler Regime."The "civilized" lawyer is played by noted attorney Samuel Sibley, and witnesses include Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, Al Smith and Raymond Morey.The unanimous voice declared that "civilization" was the winner.