"Even if they betray us or treat us like animals, we know that our cause and loyalty to the motherland are unshirkable. The spirit of Hitler in our hearts will never be erased, never be erased, Hitler's Stormtroopers!"
Such singing has spread throughout Germany since 1933.
The Reichstag fire was beneficial to the Führer in the short term. As the election date was approaching, the fire increased the fear of revolution among most Germans. When groups of brown shirts removed the communist campaign signs and replaced them with
When they came to power, there were very few opponents. Hitler did not make the political mistake of declaring the Communist Party an illegal party. He only decided to wait until after the election to prevent the votes of the working class from falling into the hands of the Social Democrats. The Nazis throughout the country
A large number of terrorist messages were spread, saying that the Red elements would surely plunge the countrymen into a pool of blood after taking drastic measures, and called on voters to grant the National Socialist Party the right to rule.
Göring was even more blunt: "My compatriots, no legal considerations can defeat my measures."
On March 3, two days before the election, he told an audience in Frankfurt: "No bureaucracy can defeat my measures. I don't worry about the law, my job is to destroy and destroy. This is an opposition
In this chaotic struggle, I will not use the police to carry out this struggle. A bourgeois country may do this. Of course, I will use the state power and the police to the maximum extent. Dear communists, so don’t
Wrong conclusion. In this struggle, I will lead the brown shirts to fight to the death, and my hand will be tightly stuck on your throat!"
This is a blunt statement: cruel violence is used outside the law, and this statement can only be made in the charged air after the Reichstag fire. Fortunately for the Nazis, Papen Hindenburg and others, as well as the industrialists,
He ignored these astonishing words and strongly supported Hitler's campaign, albeit sometimes silently.
The Prussian Finance Minister told an Austrian visitor that as long as "practical and respectable" people such as Schwerin von Kroesigert and others remained in the cabinet, the Nazis would have no chance of success. Goering, Goebbels
The fierce remarks of such buffoons should not be seriously believed because "the conservatives are actually in charge, and Hitler can only step aside."
Industrialists were confident that they had the ability to influence Hitler. At a meeting held not long ago, 25 industrialists actually undertook the expenses of the election. After Krupp von Bohlen expressed unanimous support for Hitler on behalf of the industrialists, Göring
Proposed fundraiser: "If you believe that there will not be another election within 10 years of this election, perhaps within a hundred years, then the sacrifices we ask will be easier to bear." This threat to end the democratic process, the banker
Shahit took it as a guarantee.
He said: "Gentlemen, please give your money now!"
The industrialists then whispered among themselves. Old Krupp donated 1 million marks on behalf of the entire Ruhr, and representatives of i.g. Farben pledged 400,000 marks. Others also made pledges, totaling 3 million marks.
With this money at their disposal, the National Socialists and the other two coalition partners launched a nationwide propaganda campaign. The National Socialists' main speeches were broadcast to the country through radio. For those who did not have radios, they broadcast them on the streets.
Loudspeakers were set up in the square. The promises and threats of the new government were howled out through these loudspeakers. To prove his legitimacy, Hitler often mentioned Hindenburg's name. A few months ago, these same people had called the old man
A fool; now, he has become a heroic figure with infinite power.
Anticipating that power would be consolidated after an overwhelming victory, party members enthusiastically devoted themselves to this government-backed movement.
The SA and SS were no longer suppressed by the police. On the contrary, they regarded the SA and SS as assistants and turned a blind eye to the excesses they committed in the name of patriotism.
In his speech, Hitler criticized the opposition for not having a program, but he could not come up with one. What he wanted was a four-year term to prove his talents. On the eve of the election, Goebbels turned this day into a half-holiday, calling it a general election.
Today is "National Awakening Day".
It seems that everyone seems to support Hitler. He is the hope of young idealists, holding high the flag like a patriot. Germans have only two choices: Germany is either red or brown, and the latter seems to be more pleasing. Many previous
Others, such as Theodor House, claimed to have seen a moderation in Hitler.
"His arrogance is much less. He no longer spits fire at the Jews, and he can speak for four hours without mentioning the word 'Jews.'"
Hitler even received support from some Jews; the "Jewish National Union" not only advocated that the Führer ban "Jewish small traders" from the east from entering Germany, but also supported his new government.
Despite all the pretentiousness and spending a lot of money and energy in the general election, the National Socialist Party only received 43.9% of the votes, and its allies only gave it a slim majority in the Reichstag!
Although the victory was weak, it was enough for Hitler to reach out to the people and regain control of the states not under his rule.
With the support of Berlin, the Nazis in Bavaria forced a showdown. They mobilized the stormtroopers in Munich. At noon on March 9, accompanied by Captain Röhm in a stormtrooper uniform, the regional governor Adolf Wagner came to the state chancellor.
Herder's office. They asked Herder to immediately appoint General Ritter von Epp as the governor of the state. Herder called Berlin to protest, but the reply was that Epp had been appointed governor. He
Protest to Hindenburg.
Hindenburg's reply showed how powerless the old man was: he asked Herder to submit the opinions he proposed directly to Hitler. In this way, Bavaria finally fell into the hands of the Nazis legally.
The other free states also made threats under the same procedure, and Berlin Power Generation intervened one by one.
On the day he seized power in Bavaria, Hitler flew to Munich and received a grand welcome. He proudly said:
"In Germany, the city closest to my heart is Munich. As a young man, a soldier, and a politician, I made my fortune here. This city was baptized with the blood of the comrades who died here in 1923."
He issued instructions to local party leaders to establish a stable political power even at the expense of absorbing non-party members into politics.
"Gentlemen, your task..." he said loudly, "is difficult. However, the imperial power must no longer be disturbed by special movements in Bavaria or riots by separatists. This is detrimental to the political stability of the country.
Very important. I must complete Bismarck's unfinished business: a state is a state only if it is useful to the interests of the empire."
Later, someone asked Hitler what he should do with the only competent prosecutor who tried him in 1924. "At that time, although he was strict, he was also very objective and polite." Hitler seemed very tolerant: "Let him
Stay at the Department of Justice."
Many foreigners mistakenly believe that Hitler has consolidated power throughout Germany. Although he was a flawless politician, he only gained power gradually and gained the consent of the people.
"Authority..." he said to Frank, "is nothing more than a springboard from one step to the next."
Therefore, 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 Potsdam Garrison Hall as the opening ceremony of the new parliament on March 21.
The location. This ancient city, which was deeply honored by the birth of Frederick William I and has the tomb of Frederick the Great, also has the Prussian military tradition.
On March 21, the whole city was decorated with swastika flags and the black, white and red flags of the old empire. Amid the roar of artillery, the army, SS and stormtroopers lined up in a solemn queue under the bright spring sunshine.
Next, the official motorcycle fleet, ringing bells, drove towards the small church.
As soon as the tall figure of Hindenburg, wearing the Prussian brown marshal uniform, appeared, the whole audience stood up immediately.
Hindenburg held a cane in one hand and a marshal's baton in the other, and walked slowly and majestically. When he arrived in front of the emperor's throne, he turned around, raised the marshal's baton, and saluted Caesar's empty seat. The royal family
The state marshal stood behind him. The marshal completely dominated the smaller Hitler standing next to him. He was wearing a formal dress and was restless.
In the opinion of French Ambassador François Bensay, he was "like a timid stranger being introduced to a group of strangers by an illustrious protector".
The two sat down across from each other. Hindenburg took out his glasses and began to read out his speech. He said that the tasks facing the new government were complex and difficult. He called for the redevelopment of Prussia's old disciplined and patriotic spirit.
Hitler's speech was not so much aimed at the civilians listening to the radio at home as it was aimed at the crowds in the audience. He said that the war was imposed on Kaiser and Germany; all he inherited was economic recession.
and unemployment. After briefly stating his plans for the future, he turned to Hindenburg as if he were still his commander. He lavished praise on Hindenburg, calling him the head of the army and the leader of the people. "You agree.
We work hard for the revitalization of Germany, and this is our happiness."
Hitler walked to Hindenburg's chair and bent down to hold his hand. The old man was deeply moved and slowly walked to the tombs of Frederick the Great and Frederick William I. Following him were
His son and his adjutant laid wreaths at the two tombs.
At this time, the salute was fired!
The celebration directed by Goebbels achieved the desired effect. Everyone present - soldiers, Junkers, and monarchists believed that Hitler would be respectful to Hindenburg and would follow Prussian ideals.
However, two days later, he made it clear to objective observers that he was not servile to anyone.
The venue was different. This time it was the Kroll Opera House in Berlin.
The atmosphere was also very different: stormtroopers and SS troops roamed the corridors, and a large swastika flag hung behind the stage to remind people who was the master of Germany.
At 2:05 pm, Reichstag President Goering announced the start of the meeting. After a brief speech, he recited the lyrics of the song "Wake Up, Germany!". Then he invited Hitler to talk. Hitler was wearing a brown shirt.
plain uniform.
The venue was silent for a moment; then everyone shouted "Long live victory!"