Chapter 91 Chapter Fifteen "Such a Tiny Human Insect" (3)

That year's party congress opened on September 6.Hitler arrived in Nuremberg on Monday afternoon.After reviewing his bodyguard, he drove into town.Flags were flying everywhere in the city; church bells were ringing; cheering crowds were everywhere.The next day, as usual, he appeared in the conference hall, accompanied by the Badenweiler March.Wagner, who read his proclamation, was his "other voice".After contrasting the violence and bloodshed of the Bolsheviks with the mildness of the National Socialist revolution, he attacked that in the past year there had been a concerted effort to sow communist chaos in the East and West.One thing is certain, and comforting: "The whole world may start setting fire around us, but National Socialist Germany will stand in the fire like platinum." Germany has settled her issues peacefully and fairly. social problems while other countries reeled from strikes and terrorism by Jewish Bolshevism agitators.

The purpose of the speech was to flatter the populace, not to stoke their belligerence, while he himself was prepared to flatter an ally—a conflict he knew was inevitable.Benito Mussolini has agreed to visit Germany, but on two conditions: that he does not bring evening clothes; and that he should be given the opportunity to meet the people. Wearing a brand-new fascist militia uniform specially tailored for this visit, he left Italy on September 23 with an entourage of 100 people.Two days later, he was greeted at the Munich station by his hosts in simple party attire.Hitler extended his hands in welcome.At this time, the drums blared, and the crowd shouted "Führer!" and "Prime Minister!"

Mussolini and his party walked slowly along the red carpet laid out in the station, and then took a grand ride to the residence of the head of state—Prince Regentanplatz.Here, they talk for the first time.Since Mussolini spoke German, the interpreter Schmidt had the opportunity to compare the two.Hitler's bohemian appearance was unruly due to his messy hair. "His voice was rough, sometimes even hoarse. Whether he was speaking to me or to Mussolini, he used to make a ruffling sound. Sometimes his eyes suddenly lit up, and sometimes they suddenly went dark." , as if the gods were out of control." Mussolini was quite different, "his body was straight, firm and powerful, and his hips kept swinging when he spoke (sic-translation notes). His Caesar-like head can be said to be that of an ancient Roman. He has a broad forehead, a big, broad mouth, and a big, square chin protruding forward. When it is his turn to curse the Bolsheviks or the League of Nations, his language is much more vivid than Hitler's. In his expressive Anger, contempt, firmness, and slyness alternated on his face. He also possessed a certain Latin affectation.” However, his words were just right, neither too much nor too little.The difference in their smiles also impressed Schmidt.Hitler laughed with sarcasm; Mussolini laughed freely and from the bottom of his heart.

During their hour-long meeting, they generally agreed to befriend Japan, support Franco, and thwart British and French ambitions.This was the only political talk of the visit, evidence that Hitler had begun to understand that there was little hope, even in secret, of trying to induce Britain to commit to its expansion plans.Since then, Mussolini has engaged in an intense series of visits, both to ceremonies and public appearances.He also inspected a massive march of the SS marching march - which he will never forget - visited the army maneuvers in Mecklenburg, and inspected the huge Krupp factory in Essen. On the afternoon of September 28, the visit reached its climax.When the two trains shared by the two dictators were about to arrive at their destination, the railway station near the Olympic Stadium, Hitler's special train traveled along another track side by side with Mussolini's special train for 15 minutes.The drivers of the two trains rehearsed for many days.So, the operation went very smoothly and successfully, allowing Italians and Germans to converse through open windows.Afterwards, Hitler's special train began to speed up—almost imperceptibly—to arrive at the station a few seconds ahead of Mussolini's special train.In this way, Hitler had time to walk across the platform, and when Mussolini's special train stopped, he extended his hand to welcome him.This was the most efficient, and this, combined with the soldiers' goose-step drill, produced the spectacle Hitler had anticipated.

more than this.From the station to the center of Berlin, along both sides of the Triumphstrasse - millions of people - many brought in by special trains from the neighboring provinces - lined the streets to welcome them.The city center was hung with fascist and National Socialist flags.Long banners hung from the roofs to the street.Towers were erected in each square, alternating with the German coat of arms and the coat of arms of the Fascists.Work stopped at 4 pm to allow the local population to join the welcoming procession.The authorities called out 60,000 SS troops—from all over the country—to keep order in the ebullient crowd.The tight security measures and the large number of plainclothes people placed among the masses are unprecedented in German history.In addition, armed longboats patrol the Spree.

Two pulling dictators stand side by side in a convertible.The welcome team spontaneously cheered them on.This situation really made Mussolini very happy.The reception was particularly pompous the following day - Hitler and Mussolini returned to the Olympic Stadium so that Mussolini could meet the crowd (as promised by Hitler.) This time, Hitler let Mussolini enter first , so that he could be happy in private.Hitler then delivered a short opening speech to "the 115 million citizens of both countries who are sharing with affection and affection this moment of historic importance."Their society, he asserted, was "not only a society of belief but also a society of action. Germany has once again become a world power. The strength of our two countries is ... the strongest guarantee for the maintenance of European civilization, and is loyal to its culture." Strength is the armed force against the forces of destruction."

Mussolini strode up to the microphone.Since he insisted on speaking German and was so excited by such a spectacular scene, he spoke faster and faster, so that the listeners could only understand a few words. The "Berlin-Roman Axis," he cried, "was established in the autumn of 1935. For two years this axis has served admirably for the greater unity of our two peoples and for the peace of Europe," he said. , his visit was not an ordinary diplomatic or political visit, but an expression of the unity of the two revolutions with the same goal. Suddenly, there was a torrential rain over the stadium.Mussolini's speech was soaked through. "The greatest true democracies in the world today are Germany and Italy," he said.His voice was distorted by rain-soaked microphones and amplifiers.He continued his speech resolutely, the audience sat motionless, and persisted to the end. "I have a friend with whom I will be in the same boat, through thick and thin, until the end." After the convention, the situation was even more chaotic.In order for the crowd to take another look at him, he had to travel slowly back to Berlin alone in a convertible.He is not wearing a raincoat.After returning to the city, he became a drowned rat.He went back to his room in wet clothes - but there was no hot water for a bath.Although he didn't have a cold, he slept badly at night.The next day, he was listless and exhausted, and he didn't regain his spirits until he left Germany by train to return home.When he visited Germany, he came with contempt for Hitler.How can you trust a man who is not married, has no children, and doesn't even have a mistress?When he went, however, he went away impressed by what he had seen.If he hadn't discovered Eva Braun, he had certainly seen far greater powers than he could have dreamed of.Since then, the roles of the two dictators have been reversed: the elder Mussolini was influenced by the younger Hitler.The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Juncker witnessed the two dictators and noticed how different they were.Compared to Mussolini, Hitler was a robot. "He seems to be a double of a real person, while Mussolini is like an appendix, deliberately hidden in the abdomen, the purpose is not to disturb the body's functions."

In Berlin, the two men did not sign an agreement, nor did they issue a final communiqué.However, the German Foreign Office informed its missions abroad that the leaders of the two countries had agreed that neither of the two countries would establish closer relations with the United Kingdom without the consent of the other; Italy would move freely in the Mediterranean, while Germany would The same privileges are available in Austria. Hitler, like Mussolini, was pleased with this arrangement, for he still held Mussolini in high esteem.Their toast at the Chancellery banquet was far more meaningful than a communiqué.Again Hitler asserted that the political aims of the two countries were the same, that sincere friendship had brought them closer; Stand firm in the face of these attempts." Once the "axis" had become a reality, Hitler could take the next step.