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RRAMARE PUBLICATIONS
EOlteO by RicbarO
Monnig
No.1
riJK
5
L
(
L
.^
i
!i
ADOLF HITLER
n SHORT
SKETCH OF HIS
LIFE
BY
[
;1
PHILIPP BOUHLER
ADOLF HITLER
A SHORT SKETCH Of
BY
HIS LIFE
PHILIPP
Head of
BOUHLER
Personal Chancellery
the .Fiihrfr''s
1938
TERRAMARE
OFFICE, BERLIN
Ws
Library
University of Texas
Austin, Texas
20, 1889, at
Braunau
Because
Upper
Austria, close to
frontier.
it
is
situated
the
German
senting for
of uniting
him "I'he Symbol of a Great Task", namely that one State. His father, who was all Germans in
the son of poor peasants from the forest district, had worked himself upwards through his ow^n study and perseverance
until
he became a civil servant. At the time that Adolf was born his father was Customs Officer at Braunau. Being proud of his own achievement and the status he had reached, his
dearest
service
;
desire
was that
his
son should
also
to this idea.
He would
be an
artist.
When
alone in
four years
he was thirteen years old Hitler lost his father and later his mother died. So that he found himself the world at the age of seventeen. He had attended
the primary school and subsequently the grammar school at Linz but poverty forced him to give up his studies and earn
;
his bread. to
He
studymg
be an architect but he had to w^ork for his livelihood as manual labourer at the building trade, where he mixed the mortar and served the carpenters and bricklayers. Later on he
earned a daily pittance
as
ing to depend entirely on himself, he experienced in his own person from his earliest years what poverty and hunger and
privation meant,
And
felt
where the
slioi-
Though
na meant
with
life,
pinched.
Thus
it
came about
tcnii^t
hard and
bitter struggle
He
this school
afterw^ards.
Pan-German
who
\v;if*
ing to live as
itself,
German
in
Germany
two men, an exhaustive study of the teachings of Karl Marx and here came to the important conclusion that one had l(t know Judaism in order to have the key to an inner and n-al
He made
of nations
w^hich
made
up
left
the
Habsburg
Empire. So he
to
live
knowledge of what Social Democracy meant. At the building site where he worked he came into
with Social Democracy for the
to
first tim.e.
comiii'l
''^^'^^
W'as
He
at
once began
it
;ni(l
the
The
a
Nti
Soldier
make
in
Germany.
name
for
him-
and the w^ays and means which were proposed to put it inlr) practice. This led to controversies with his fellow workcr.
And
time an architect, Adolf Hitler now devoted as at while architecture, and energy as possible to the study of and designing the same time he had to earn his daily bread by
self as
much
not behave
colouring placards. Recently he had been doing a good deal of reading for purposes of self-education. lie continued this during
his artistic studies
speciality,
He
only saw
lli;il
and w^ork in Munich, making history his which had been his favourite subject at school. But
this, for
idea as definitely
identical willi
as
he
literally
Marxism
something
would destroy
all
civilization.
him down from scafFolding. I'hey succeeded in forcing him to give up his job. In his next job he had to go through much the same experictur. But as he acquired a more thorough understanding of thecharacU-r
fellow^ w^orkers
His
threatened to fling
and hearing Grand Opera, especially the nmisic dramas of Richard Wagner, whom he revered as a German artist and reformer in the
money
'
grand
style.
It
was
foundations of that allround knowledge which surprises everybody wdth whom he discusses general questions today.
laid the
and tendencies of
his
August
2, llJl-l,
arrived.
spirit of fervid
workmen
how
they reacted
i(>
Wave
after
wave
of
German
He then saw^ clearly that the ( Ici-nian worker was by no means a bad fellow in himself, thjit he \v;m
his different view of things.
youth rushed enthusiastically to join the volunteer regiments and reser\-e battahons. Hitler, who had always felt that he -was
a
German
first
at the
head-
the front.
He
the R-hniury''
oblij^aliofi
months he was on his feet again. He March 1917 and immediately volunteered once
During the great
offensive of 1918, while
had been
definitely
more
On
he
Irll
li.i
hiriniii',
Regiment.
Destiny seemed to have preordained that Hitler shoultl sn\r
in the old
and about fifteen men and brought them back prisoners. For this he was awarded the Iron Cross of the First Class.
German Army,
that organization
On
an attack with
phosgene gas
in the
sector south
of Ypres.
long time envisaged as the kind of social formation thr{jM|]i which the German people would finally reach its destined j^oul
Hitler's regiment suftered severely and the casualties were extremely heavy. Hitler himself suddenly felt an excruciating
Adolf Hitler threw himself body and soul into the work (if his new calling as a soldier. He received his baptism of fire in Planders, where he faced death in the ranks of that regiment which was made up of German youth who stormed the trenchon
own
back however and deliver his dispatch. After that he was sent to hospital, totally bhnd.
to struggle
He managed
still
fighting desperately
on \
and fought and fell while they sang Deiitschland ilher alln During the attack on the Bayernwald and in the subscqucni engagements around Wytschaete Hitler showed remarkiillibravery; so
was
lines
and
at
infiuence of the
much
so that already
first
on December
2,
1914,
Ifs^
agencies at
propagandist poison spread by anti-national home, civilian morale was steadily crumbling. This
awarded the Iron Cross of the Second Class. Having shtn\ii himself resourceful and courageous, without being foolhtirds', he was now given one of the most hazardous jobs in the ngiment, namely that of dispatch- runner, for which only
soldiers are used. In carrying out this task he
where it took on a graver character day after day. The coming downfall cast its darkening shadow even across the
fighting lines.
pkhA
dc.il
won
good
The
was the
of admiration,
especially because on more than one occasion he voluntarily stepped in and took on himself a piece of dan^rr ous work which otherwise would liave fallen to the lot of oldn
On November
It
9,
Germany
that
at
home.
On
the whole
it
the Fatherland
faith
in the
Fatherland and
i
in,
one's fellow
discipline.
won
Hitler
first
was in
hospital at Pasewalk in
Pomerania when he
how
opposed
Iiim
The
were
to his,
admired
his
courage and
less severe.
genuine
spirit of
G,
comradeship.
His sight began to return and he now had hopes The impression which
On October
splinter
1916, he was
wounded
by a
slu'iipncl
years later in
and had
home
hospitals im
npi
"So
all
had been in
and
priv.ii
hunger and
months,
in
viun
we
when
Think of those
hundrtnl;.
opeti, MOi
mud
and blood
home and wreak their vengeance on those wlio had despicably betra^^ed the greatest sacrifice which a Ihiukih being can make for his country. Was it for this that the solthein
should come
gave their
lives in
the*
the auliinin
Was
it
Was
thin
meant
made
which German motlK'n Fatherland when, with heavy hearts, they said
goodbye
to their sons,
who
never returned
Was
all
this
donp
Photograpli of painting by
in order to enable a
to lay
hands on
the Fatherland?"
Hitler
tors of
had
burning hatred agauist the
little
set themselves.
known nothing
it
of this
its
now developed
circle
of six
men had
with
perprti;i
what he considered to be a most dastardly crime and ut it became apparent to him that Fate had destined
him
On that
work.
GENESIS OF THE
In the
a
MOVEMENT
men
set
summer
about
forniiiij^
At the end of November 1^J18> he was back again in Munich and had rejoined the reserve battalion of his regiment; but this fell under the control of the Soldiers' Council, which was hateful to Flitler. So he went to Traunstein and remamed there until the camp was demobilized. Then he returned to Munich, in March 1 9. Shortly afterwards a Communist regune on Soviet lines was established there. On April 27, he was to have been arrested by
S-1 1
which they called the German Workem* Party. They had before their minds a vague idea of organixinK a national party which would oppose the Marxist Workcn Party. These six men certainly meant well but they had resources whatsoever and above all there was nobody aniont',
political party,
new
having
participated
in
anti-revolutionary
activities.
But the
came
when
and showed
them
his rifle.
Early in
May
up
Committee
And
so they
were helpless
which iIhv
10
II
Library
University of Texas
Austin, Texas
Lance-Corporal Hitler received instructions to participiiU' m the work of that Committee. This \vas the practical start of Hitlci
'
pohtical career. Courses of instruction were estabhshed for Un purpose of teaching the duties of citizenship to the soldiers iu tli army. It was during one of the debates which followed a leetuir
on
this
topic that
Hitler
first
opportunity
ol
In:;
luit-i
Munich
at
one of the regiments statioiH'd that time. One day he received orders to niakr
**
German Workers*
a
at
Party'*,
an organizalixn
I
unknown. He attended
meeting of
this party in
In-
Movement spoke and that brought Hitler to His speech in reply made a marked impression on
tin
became acquainted with the aiinn of this new workers' party. Subsequently he was requested In become a member. After turning the problem over in his iiiiml
for several days, Hitler agreed to join, one of the reasons
fni
"On January
Party Congress
2S,
-zcfis:
1923,
the first
On
February
24,
a piiriy
society,
although
it
had im
lie
programme
on
whicli
at last able to
German
National Socialist
own
ideas.
ilir.
The
little
now
presented
itself
fift it
was
to gel
movement known.
it
and place
on
out of obscurity
attempt on the part of the communists to frustrated by a handful of Hitler's former meeting was wreck the taken on themselves the responsibility had w^ho war comrades,
Workers' Party.
An
attract
and hold
llie
for
maintaining order. Hitler's contention that the Marxist smashed by mental weapons, but also
force,
The
process
of
The
by physical
first
time
at this
meeting.
first meeting was composed only of the original seven mcmbei>., with one or two onlookers. So meagre were the propagaiidii
number
of people
11,
Iri,
who
attended subseqiieni
Hencefortli almost week after week the Munich hoardings displayed large red placards calling on the public to attend the mass meetings of the German National Socialist Workers' Party
17,
23 and H4 respectively
At the meeting after that 111 persons w^erc present. Hitler imw
spoke regularly
of his oratorical
at
conscioiiit
which Party Comrade Adolf Hitler w^ould speak. These posters, which had a footnote stating: "Jews will not be admitted", were They also displayed statements designed by Hitler himself.
at
gifts.
He
12
In December, 1920, the Party took over the Volkisclwr Beohachter and thus had a press organ of its own. At first llii^ paper appeared twice weekly. But early in 1928 it was brought oul
as a daily
first
in that year
i(
appeared in
present large
size.
Hitler
the party,
though in
reality
In-
was
all
Its
leader.
Some members
rid
oi'
was
that at
a general meetin|^
of the Party, held towards the end of July 1!I2 1, the whole direction was entrusted to Adolf Hitler and a new
statute
the
members
special plenipoten-
tiary powers.
able to go ahead with the work of reorganl/inr, whose meetings and decisions had hitherto bc<-ii conducted on parliamentary principles. In reorganizing tliemovr ment he proved that he was not only a coiivmcing speaker ami
He
Avas
now
the party,
was
also
an excellent organizer.
'I'lic
tlit-
governing principle
now adopted
it
for the
development of
movement was
that
should
first
ol
power and influence in one centre before it started to sprea.l out and form district branches. The party had to expand organicaliy. For a long time, therefore, Hitler confined his activiticM
exclusively to
local
in
hand
the task of
formiiij.:
groups outside.
llic
At the same time the foundations were laid on which Storm Detachment was subsequently established. In the
be-
ginning this detachment was simply a body of men acting as hall guards for the maintenance of order at meetings; but it lis been known as the Storm Detachment (Sturm AbUi/im-,
I
hence S.A.) ever since November 4, 1921. On that day the Pai-ty held a meeting in the banquet hall of the Munich Hofbrau i laus. The Reds turned up in force for the purpose of crushing out llic
The
fifteen years
new movement once and for all. But they met with a hitler disappointment. As the meeting progressed the op]iosili<.n raised an outcry and a furious fight ensued. Though the Nhiixisi
on the part
but, above
February 20.
1.9Sg.
.^'^^mr
disturbers
were
much
superior
in
numbers,
the
Natioji:
stormed the Red front again and again, beer mugs were flung from one side to the other and free hand-lohand fights raged, until finally the Marxists were cleared froiti
Socialist guards
many
of
them
sent
home with
bleeding skulls,
'I'lu-
Munich by
officially
tiniti
The
National Socialists
took part
autumn of that year, October 14, a Congress which was entitled "German Day". 'VUCoburg was held at National Socialists took part in it. Coburg had hitherto been a Red stronghold. At the head of 800 Storm Troopers from Munich Hitler entered Coburg and marched through its strcrh.
with flags flying and bands playing. Several fights took pLur; but the National SociaHsts succeeded in suppressing the Hc.l
terror once
and for
all in
that city.
"We
PrpQCSsion in Munichj in
Commemoration
of
Xavember
B;
19"^3
in a way which shows that henceforth the masters of the stn-ci are the National Socialists, as they will one day be the maslrr. of the State."
idea was clearly proved to be right,
namely
is
On January 28,
that the
first
strongest
when
alone.
1923, the
first
in
Munich and
was on
this occ;ishiii
in-rii
Soon afterwards, Flight Caiiliiin designed by Hermann Goring became Chief of the S. A. It was he who expanded and perfected their organization.
Hitler himself.
1923, the
first
German
was held in Niirnberg. On that day the National Party formed a coalition with the Ohedand League and
title
iiLit*
"The German
from Right
He saw
"November Criminals"
of 1918 would
iiii
The first manifesto issued by this coalition stated: "Revolution and Versailles are inseparably bound together in the relation of cause and effect. We want to free our Fatherland
Hitler,
:i^is<H in
1
disgrace.
But
liberty can
be achieved only by
11
ihcsi' ruses
liilci 'n
16
State
in
On
its
September
date
Government
of Bavaria registercil
German
Fighting Leaj^nr,
Herr von Kahr was appointed General Stair Commissar. The conflict between Bavaria and the Reich becaiiir acute. The central figure in this conflict was General von Loss(jvv.
On
Commander of the Bavarian Army. The signs of a separatist movement in Bavaria became more and more pronouncc<l.
Currency
done.
inflation reached fantastic figures.
were heading
Something had
As the
weeks
Hitlci
who
in Baviiri;i
itl
Seisser,
who
w^as
Commander
November 8, 1923 meeting was held in the Munich Biirgerbrau Haus at which Kahr was to have announced befonthe assembled patriotic associations what his future policy wsm
to be.
m. Hitler appeared, at the head of his Storm Troops, and declared that the Government of the Reich wjih therewith deposed and substituted by a National Governrnt'iil.
At
8.45 p.
At
first
regarding
something directed against Kahr; but under influence of Hitler's magnetic speech, the audience gave enthusiastic consent. Kahr, Lossow and Seisser accepted
as
tlu'
ilw tlic
them.
Tow^ards morning it was repeatedly rumoured that Kulir, Lossow and Seisser had withdrawn from the new Governineni, As a matter of fact they \vere prisoners in the hands of the arinv generals who were deputizing for Lossow. Entirely on their own
i8
ai-imni,
army and
Hitler
police forces.
now decided
to take an
extreme
step, llierc
\v:r.
\ui
ili.
power
in the hantls
nl
final
Government and the idea would have been nonsensical. Uul move had to be made which ^\'0uld impress the public ;iii>l
.1
attitude.
On
n|
November
started
v:liiili
marched into the ccniu' marched at the head of it, with laidniand other popular leaders. With flags flying, the procession
from the
wound
of the
Odeonsplatz.
way through the Marienplatz and from there to llu The majority of the Munich inhabitants who wn. nationaHst way of thinking came out to greet and appl:nii
Its
the procession.
Sw^astika flags
were
its
flying
[<v>a
Inn!
push
the police
Berlin, Jiinuary
:-jO,
li);-57
And then
on
this
The
soldiers
opened
lire
1
column of men that w^as marching in the cause of Gennai liberty, led by Hitler and the famous Quartermaster- Genernl nl the World War. Sixteen of the marchers w^ere killed and two win
"were
Socialist Workers' Party and stipulating heavy penalties for anyone attempting to carry on the work of the party any further.
(.)n
Rekkszvehr.
wounded died subsequently in the barracks of the lonil A great number were wounded. Hitler himscll suffered damage to his arm after being thrown on the road. The
coup
d'etat
had
failed.
everything they could lay hands on. But they did not find the most valuable of all documents, which was the roll containing the names of members.
Some
him
to their
home
outside MunicliJ
later and imprisoned in tbt: Landsberg. Several of his comrades and fellow^ men)bers were arrested afterwards and imprisoned in the same
Munich was like an armed camp. The people were furious. They joined in mass demonstrations which w^ere scattered by mounted police using their trunchions freely. Kahr sat safely
behind
his
barbed
w'ire
entrenchment
who belonged
to the
On the same date, November 9, 192;-j, the General State Commissar issued an order dissolving the German National
20
much annoyance. The authorities confiscated all the property belonging to the party, which was now outlawed. The attempt to change the disastrous fate underwhichGermany
had been suffering
for the past five years
ended
in failure, at least
21
initiated
in
November 1918
whole nation.
still
And
were
November was
in
its
forces together.
it
result
tlie
November
ft
was that
CRITICAL DAYS
and Companions" was once the War Academy. The case was brought before w^hat was called the Volksgericht or People's Court, The result was that Hitler was sentenced to be imprisoned in a fortress for five years and he was given to understand that a term of probation would follow.
February
at
On
opened
Munich
in the
same building
that
terms of fortress
the prosecution
imprisonment,
felt
But the leading counsel for himself obliged to declare in his summing-u])
Germany among
"a highly gifted
He
called Hitler
his
own
efforts
had
risen
from a modest
estimation, a
who had
manner." and
He also
intention.
Hitler took
full
and
own
defence he
Marxism was
a necessary
his
this
was considered
essentially
ati
22
liberty. "It is
judgment on
history/'
not you, Gentlemen", concluded Hitler, 'Svho pass us. We shall be judged before the eternal bar of
Through
cause of the
so
in
Bavarian frontier.
He was
rightly looked
movement
to abolish the
much damage through the mismanagement of puMic Germany during the past five years. His attitude in
Court
enhanced his reputation and ^von sympathy for him in circlrs where he was hitherio more or less unknown. They began to
realize that this
man was
liis
associates
pack of rowdies.
On December
left
first visits
One
of bis
his
tlic
sole
was paid to the Bavarian Prime Minister, where request was that his comrades might be released for
festivities.
Christmas
Reich
Pisrty
Con^rtss Xurnbcrg,
1H8)>
Hitler was convmced that there could be no question of ever using the existing patriotic organizations as a pillar of suppDri for his future poKcy, and so he decided to re-estabhsh his old
faithful
penniless.
Many became
in Hitler.
wavering in their
it
faith in the
Move-
ment and
National Socialist Workers' Party. He assembled his comrades and on February 21, ]'J25, in the Burgerbriui Keller at Munich, that movement came to life again.
German
had to face government oppression and dishonest treatment on the part of the officials. Then came unbridled terror from the Left, on the streets and in the
factories,
Moreover
life.
Work on
In the meeting
Hitler
lines
at which the movement was re-established' announced that it would be conducted on constitutional
but that the fight against the existing order of governmenl would be a severe one, The Bavarian Government answered
forbidding the
]>y
members. But this was also a benefit; for in way the party was winnowed and sieved. The chaff was separated from the wheat. Hitler's political line of conduct was clear from the beginning, just as it had alw^ays been. In the sphere of foreign pohtics he
of the individual
this
at
an
And now a difficult and trying period set in for the youn^ movement. In the first place it had no business headquarters, of its own and not even a typewriter, to say nothing of bein^
24
^5
1
be beneficial to Germany. He considered that England and would be the most hkely and useful allies.
In domestic
political
Ihilv
struj^jdr
owr
ol
power,
fight for
German freedom.
the
llic
movement
in
Germany".
rij-lii
The
[m
liai!
book, Mein Kampf, for which his fortress imprisonment afforded him the necessary time to prepare it and assemble
material.
llu-
volume, which dealt principally with PlitlerV own development, was published at Christmas 1926; while \\\v second volume was completed the next year and dealt with liir
The
first
to the
minds and hearts of the people. But continued to be strongest in Bavaria, though in Saxony
still
the Movciiu-n(
iilsn
il
And
it
wants peace
owing
no war would be
Europe."
likely essentially to
showed
a rapid
development. At
Dr. Jom-I
thul
Hitkr,
May
'n, 1935.
1
the struggle in the Capital of the Reich showed an stage in its advance.
imp(M-(:iiii
Defence
Sqii;
now formed
of
specially selecU'd,
ol
They wear
protecting the
movement
its
;iiul
men
the control of
qk
llntlic
Youth,
which
spread
among
children of the working classes. Students soon began to crow( into the Movement and were grouped under ''The Nationiil
Socialist German Students' League", the leadership of w^hich is today in the hands of Ealdur von Schirach. In 9:-52 Schirach wiih
1
also
placed in charge of the Hitler Youth and the Nationiil Socialist School Children's League.
have seemed
to a
Despite the manifest progress that had been made it must a daring step when Hitler summoned his folbwc-rs
Party Congress at Weimar in June, 1926. But this Congress turned out a complete success. Several thousand S. A. and S. S. men took part the march-past and received a tumultuous
from the general public. They wore the brown uniforms on this occasion, instead of the waterproof jackris they had worn in 1923.
reception
it was now proved once agiiin Movement was not dead but very much alive ami steadily growing. And the Party members who attended this Congress gained new strength and new faith for the coming struggle. They felt that the Movement had now passed through
To
that the
"1 smrted the Xational Socialist KevoJution bv bringing the movement into beinj,^, and smce then
ha\e directed the Revolution into the path o I know that none of us will live to see more than the \-ery beginning of this great revoI
period and that the danger of stagnation was over. At the end of 1925 the number of members had reached
its
most
difficult
action.
27,117.
By December 1926
lutionary development.
it
had increased
What
then couLd
Hitl-er,
wish
to 49,523,
by De-
tranquillity.''"
cember 1927 to 72,590, by December 1928 to 108,717. In Dc cember 1929 the Party had a membership of 176,426.
28
May
2,1,
IflllO.
to Hitler in
in 1928.
The
federative governnu'iihi
and the
parties supporting them found it no longer possibK- Ui maintamapoHcywhichdeniedthe rightofpubUc speech. Moreovci
theyhadto recognize thefactthatthis policy of throttlingtheMoviment, assisted by acts of terror on the part of the Marxists^ did
not hinder the
movement but
rather hastened
its
development.
26, 1221),
:im
With the
election of
President of the Reich, certain people thought that this would bring a change in the method of government and put an end h* the stupid policy which favoured a Francophile understandin).;.
But these people were bitterly disillusioned. While the govern ments sought by every means to prevent any movement of^hi:
national revival
feckless
from
all
raising
ail
its
own^^^
attitude towards
encouraged and
some backbone
Despite
Ids
The consequences
of the
Dawes Plan,
of Germany.
On
became apparent in all their bitter reality, although a little earlier that Plan was hailed as the salvation t)f i the nation, a Plan that would reinvigorate the national economic system and therewith furnish the conditions necessary for
of the year 1924,
ii
made
Twenty-four new standards were presented to the S. A. following a solemn commemoration service for the dead at the
War Monument
S.
political resurgence,
Against all this Hitler always maintained a determined stand, claiming that no economic revival w^ould lir
in the Luitpoldhain. The march-past of the A. at the close of the ceremony, when Hitler took the salute,
lasted close
stration.
politics Hitler
among
upon merely
began
to
was
a constantly
ml
be shown for
Hitler's
Answer
tions
to Her\'e", in
which he replied
was
meauH
of saving the
The
National
1927 and 1929 gavo development of the organization and llir growing influence which Hitler was exercising among the pcofilc
striking proof of the
his own opinions on disarmament and on how relabetween France and Germany should best be established, brought Hitler before the eyes of the public also in foreign coun-
and stated
tries.
The
6%
Young Plan led to the plebiscite of million votes registered on that occasion
31
30
,vere
throu<^h.
From that in the most energetic fashion leading person ^vho represented German enslavement. the fight against the policy of
from being earned not sufficient to prevent the Plan as the time onwards Hitler was accepted
General
lection of
On September 14, sent 12 deputies to the Reichstag. to number of votes which they received increased
The Brown Shirt
deputies
the
(),-l()(),000.
now numbered
107,
Reichstag. Only the Social the second strongest group in the having oi deputies. Democrats were numerically stronger,
1
anybody not to take the one hand this fact became National Socialists seriously. On the membership and, on the other evident by the rapid increase in extraordinary bitter opposition the by hand, h was demonstrated Movement. the against now put up by all sides
It
for
Men
of pr
The number
of 1430 totalled
to 806 294.
of registered
]93;i
On Mav 1,471,114. On
members of the Party at the end mi,m). In December 1931 this had increased on March ;n, mi, it .vas 1,118,270 and
purpose the Reichstag for the But the Prestdent. term of office as
in
new
election
became una
aviwe
h
I,
terro'rization increased at
oi the other hand the Marxist system was one that rate such ati enormous
.the
state
rar.k of counsellor ri^^.-"-^-; evil service, with the by the Govertiment of tha^ Brunswick, of
'
On
February
was made
member
of
|
j
federative state
This act
conferred on
by the Reds. Up to the political powc supreme time that National Socialism took over attack wounded 206 members had been murdered and 25,000
mstigated right in speaking of a civil war
Xenship;
so that he
now
of German him, ipso facto, the rights for the candidate became eligible as
'^?Sr!^^STthe
ranks of the
on them by
service of
These martyrs furnished spirit of sacrifice given to incontestable proof of the faith and and its Fuhrer. the National Socialist teaching
their
opponents.
the
Germatt .as closed m the story of German of born Hitler had been pohticd party Lreaucraey. the \\ ar through frontier. He had fought narcnts on the German l^ng one German Army. His life had
b-
office was nearing its en, As the President's regular period of into the foreground ,n Hitler brought a step was taken which Reich Governmenl the in persons negotiations with certain to consent ! Hitler get to Chancellor Bruning endeavoured
And
German
o^.
,
citizenship
presidential election of Mar Hitler took part in the von Hlndenburg. He received .s a candidate against
now
h
1.
1 1..
million
33
32
L.L.jL^l..i...L a.:
whereas Hindenburg received ^>^,i] million. The resuh was by no means a defeat for Hitler but rather a significant success. For this result practically showed that during the previous eighteen months since the last Reichstag election the number of votes cast for him had nearly doubled.
votes,
all
possible
means
by
six days.
may
be called
as
portions such
had never been experienced before. At the 10, he not only retained his votes but
2^1 million, to
l:),4
them by
million.
This tremendous
in
way
which Hitler
fight.
x\lthough Hindenburg was finally elected the Reich GovernmoiiL had not counted on Hitler being able to obtain the large number of votes he actually obtained. They then took a desperate step.
On
April
l.'i
the
S.,
The measure
Interior,
Minister of the
who
own
resi-
rest
Cabinet and
declared a
new General
was the central figure of the: battle and went through the length and breadth of the countiy as a triumphant hero. Within a fortnight he spoke at 4M ui:iss
for purposes of rapid travel, Hitler
meetings.
The
now
acquired
230 seats in the Reichstag. Thus the appeal which the Govercito the country turned out a. failure.
act
on the
logical
consequences of this expression of the popular will. They still attempted to exclude what was now by far the largest pohtica!
party from the responsible government of the country.
The
derogatory ofler
of a
Vice- Chancellorship
received
dircci
He had
movement
for
the
purpose of lending
name
to
the
When
whereby
at the
Hit]er
five
of the
Reuthner
verdiel,
lie
Silesian S. A.
men were
sentenced to death,
He
scoffed
boasted impartiality of a Government which could make no distinction between men who represented the national spirit of the people and a canaille of scoundrels who were traitors to the country. He now announced that he would hght to tlic verv bitter end to save the lives of these live men.
HITLER IN POWER
A
fresh election was held on
result
showed
a reduction
November 0. This time the from 18,400,000 to 11,800,000 of favour. There was a corresponding reduction
lUfl
number
Hitler's
Government adopted
a dictatorial attitude
on the other
side,
The
his
situation
the impression that Hitler had missed his opportunity and that!
movement was weakening. But the jubilant cries of \\\\^ opponents were short-hved. Hitler had the courage and iirni
mind
to wait.
ness of
19,^:-3,
the then
THE BERGHOF
Hitler's
On
th
House oa
the Obersalzbertj
."!()
36
new
Cabinet.
of the
first
The formation of a new^ Reich Government and the abohtion duahsm between the Reich and Prussia created for the
time a basis
for
Unes in Germany, as well as the possibihty of exterminating all elements of an anti-national character. Therewith the National
Socialist
Movement
entered
is
its
to say,
German
Some
The assumption
off
He
power at last enabled Hitler to throw those shackles w^hich had hitherto fettered his endeavours. was now able to address the outlying districts through the
of
i
W'^hose
ci
ung
Auto
j;
r n
p h fI u n
c rs
name
lieaded
the
list
of candidates
in
every district
radio.
The
broadcasted
speeches he held at gigantic mass meetings and to the whole nation expressed his determined
German liberty and received an enthusiastic response from the public. This wave of enthusiasm reached its
intention to restore
new Reichstag election the Day of Awakening when the Chancellor spoke from East Prussia to the whole nation. The announcement of the firm will to victory, the determination to restore German freedom and the appeal for loyalty to the fatherland raised new hopes in the hearts of millions of Germans at home and abroad.
height on the eve of the
throughout the country. 28S Reichstag seats were won by the National Socialist Party and this gave the Government a :V2% majority in parliament. Although if the result had been different the Government were determined to follow the one and only road which would lead to the restoration of German liberty;
yet the actual result made it possible to carry out the new policy on a strictly parliamentary basis. Marxism and its supporters had received a severe bio\s. The Communists lost twenty
seats
National
its
key position.
Church
hilltops.
burned on the
were
gaily
The
The
streets
flags.
in
villages
decorated with
paralleled in
the victory
history.
won on March
it
5 was
unas
il
And
was
as
unexpected
was unparalleled.
38
had reduced the once great and proud German nation In relation to the outside world it was a nation without arms and without rights, respected by no one
affairs
to a state of chaos.
39
.liLLL.iii;..
;l,
"
series
of humiliating
It
treaties
which
fulfilled.
was
a rtatioa that
totally
collapsed and
now
payments.
Part}^ strife
riot.
The
separatist
became acute and threatened the dismemberment of Germany. Tlie Governments of the federative states appropriated ruling
functions to such a degree as to impair seriously the authority
of the Reich. In the Reichstag the representatives of the innumerable parties frittered
controversies
away time and energy with interminable and bartering for ministerial posts. Meanwhile
after
Farmers had to forfeit and crops because they were unable to pay the arrears of ta?:es and interests on mortgages. The ominous spectre of seven millions unemployed stalked the roads and streets.
their cattle
In Hitler's Studio
L\t
O b er sal zberg;
a plebiscite, the
The
his
I'he
number
it
Communist Party
increased
stewardship by giving
favour.
to a portentious degree
Indeed
would
set
from one general election to another. seemed only a question of months before Bolshevism up Its rule of terror in Germany, unless the National
No
course of history has ever given a statesman a similar vote of confidence. This overwhelmmg unanimity in giving judgment
Socialists
When
when
all
at the last
moment
formation of a
had failed the most decisive turning point in German history had been taken.
on the policy of the Fiihrer was the deserved fruit of the tireless and successful efforts which he had made on behalf of the country and the people. Here, if ever, the voice of the people could indeed be called the voice of God. One of the first measures which the Fiihrer enacted was that
which established
On March
the
for
German
this
nation. The law which gave him unlimited powers purpose was constitutionally passed by Parliament,
and administrative unity throughout the Reich, replacing the governments of the various federative states and their legislatures by a strong central Government in Berlin. At the same time parliamentary parties were dissolved
legislative
a public
remained the sole trustee of of the people. For the first time in German
Socialist Party
40
41
and government history the division between political interests was unemployment of problem The interests was abolished.
then
tackled
vigorous
manner.
As
resuh of large-
revived and thrived scale measures, trade and industry were unemployment^ in any longer no so well that today there is degeneration racial agamst laws Hie Fiihrer enacted
Germany.
of the unfit ^vhlch defimtiveiy prevent the further propagation costing the w^ere who unhealthy, and mentally deficient or marks anmially for support and attendance.
of to prevent the further mongrelizing who the Jews, with intermixture through the German people
down price further series of laws, especially those laying estabhshing the law and products regulations for agricultural
hereditary farms,
classes
unions, with
dissolved
improved the position of the agricultural IVadeand prepared the way for more prosperous times. were class-hatred, of policy and class-war their
an and replaced by the German Labour Front, under Germany in worker every embraces organization which
raises the dignity the aegis of the ideal of work as a factor that Socialist National The it. lowers than of human nature rather Sociahst National the founded by Welfare Organization, already been has^ power, political supreme acquired Party before it had it has Help, Winter the with conjunction greatly enlarged. In sacrifice become an eloquent expression of the spirit of ready problems with dealing in nation whole inspires the
which
relating to the
another.
Service organization of the youth, the Reich Labour which institutions standing now are and'^Strength through Joy" the of wiU creative the to response have been "established in
The
Fuhrer.
has been adopted whereby a clcansnig every distorted and degenerativ abolished process has not only the same time bronglil nboiil a has at kind of Eolshevic art but
cultural
policy
42
revival of
German art and fostered its development in artists have again come into their German every direction. himself an enthusiast for architecture, Fiihrer, The rightful place.
genuine
but has not only planned various gigantic building projects personally. erection their supervised and designed has also largely
Those acquainted with the intentions which Adolf Hitler had in mind kncA^- that he would not rest content with merely
restoring order in the
it
German domestic
situation.
He
regarded
prestige
as
one
of his
paramount
tasks to re-establish
German
modern
and
at the same time he has of German honour champion come could be no there therefore Hitler Adolf For and freedom.
question of rest or contentment until the shackles of dishonourable treaties were shattered and until Germany once again resumed her rightful position of equality among the
nations, supported
a powerful army; not only that but also peace and in readiness to defend maintaining as a strong factor in forces of Bolshevism. destructive the against European culture
by
When w^e consider the changes which have taken place Germany since January ;10, :1.93P>, and review the problems that
are
still
just,
and solved
and courageous logic to the support of his arguments, judicious prepared always time same at the yet in making decisions, and
to share "the sorrows
fall
and
indestructible faith.
For
it is
this faith in
Germany's
men
inseparably to
unknown
War and
it
is
this
same
faith
which has
Party. given hfe and shape and purpose to the National Socialist small this from and party a founded individual An unknown
band
of
sprang a
men, enduring many trials and tribulations, there people's movement and finally a new Cierman Reich,
all this
and has has the magnetic appeal of the genuine orator their voicing is he that feel the power of mabng his audience he because is probably That thought and speaking for them.
He
himself has
come from
is
with them.
And
it
is
German youth
his personal
To
understand
45
44
Hitler
on
his
way
to Vienna,
March
12,
1038
requirements Hitler
is
extremely modest.
;
lie
does
not
eat
any alcoholic drinks IS simply because he feels it suits stemious in regard to these things.
or take
meat
be ab-
His movement has restored the nation to its old position of lionour. Because of this achievement and because he himself has the qualities of the born leader, he has become the idol of
the whole nation. They thank him for 'their national renaissance, the restoration of their honour and their prestige, for their
And
wisdom
46