"Even if they betray us or abuse us as animals, we know our cause and are loyal to our country. The spirit of Hitler in the heart will never be erased, never forgotten, Hitler stormtroopers! ”

Since 1933, such songs have spread throughout Germany.

The Reichstag fire case will be in favor of the Führer in the short term. With the election date looming, the fires increased the fear of revolution among most Germans. When a group of brownshirts removed the GONG prostitutes' campaign propaganda signs and replaced them with their own, there were few opponents. Hitler did not make the political mistake of outlawing the GONG party, but decided to wait until after the election, so that the votes of the working class would not fall into the hands of the Social Democrats. The Nazis spread terror throughout the country, saying that the Red Elements would inevitably throw their people 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: "Fellow citizens, no legal considerations can thwart my own measures. ”

On March 3, two days before the election, he told a crowd in Frankfurt: "No bureaucracy can thwart my own measures. I don't worry about the law, my task is to destroy and eliminate. This is a fight against chaos, and I will not use the police to fight this fight. The bourgeois state may do the same. Of course, I will use the power of the state and the police to the fullest, dear people of the GONG Party, so don't draw the wrong conclusions. In this struggle, I will lead the brownshirts in a fight to the death, and my hands will be tightly stuck in your throats! ”

It's an outspoken statement: brutal violence outside the law, and it's only in the air that recharges after the Capitol fire. Fortunately for the Nazis, Papen . The likes of Hindenburg, as well as the industrialists, were indifferent to these astonishing statements and strongly supported Hitler's campaign. Although sometimes it is silent support.

The Prussian Chancellor of the Exchequer told an Austrian visitor that as long as he was "practical and respectable" such as Schwering. Feng. If Crosickett and others remained in the Cabinet, the Nazis had no chance of success. The fiery rhetoric of clowns such as Goering and Goebbels should not be taken seriously, because "it is the conservatives who are actually in charge, and Hitler has to get on the sidelines."

The industrialists were confident in their ability to sway Hitler. At a recent meeting, 25 industrialists contracted to pay for the election. In Krupp. Feng. After Pollan expressed unanimous support for Hitler on behalf of the industrialists, Goering proposed a collection of donations: "If you believe that there will be no more elections in 10 years, or perhaps in 100 years, after this election, the sacrifice we demand will be easier to bear." This threat to the end of the democratic process was taken by the banker Shahitt as a guarantee.

He said, "Gentlemen, please help me now!" ”

The industrialists then exchanged heads and whispered. The elder Krupp donated 1 million marks on behalf of the entire Ruhr, and the representative of I.G. Farben pledged 400,000 marks. Others also made pledges, totalling DM 3 million.

With this money at its disposal, the National Socialist Party, together with two other coalition partners, launched a nationwide propaganda campaign. The main speeches of the National Socialists were broadcast nationally via radio. For those who did not have radios, they set up loudspeakers in the streets and squares. The promises and threats of the new government were howled through these horns. To prove his legitimacy, Hitler often referred to Hindenburg by name.

A few months ago, these were the same people who called the old man a fool; Now, he's a mighty and heroic man.

Foreseeing the consolidation of power after a landslide victory, party members enthusiastically threw themselves into the 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 their excesses in the name of patriotism.

In his speech, Hitler criticized the opposition for having no program, but he himself could not produce it. What he wants is a four-year term to prove his talents. On the eve of the election, Goebbels turned the day into a half-holiday, calling it "National Awakening Day."

It seems that everyone is in favor of Hitler. He is the hope of young idealists and holds high the banner like a patriot. The Germans had only two options: Germany was either red or brown, and the latter seemed to be more pleasant. Many of the previous batches of others, such as Theodore. House, claiming to have seen a détente in Hitler.

"He has a lot less of a wild talk. He no longer breathed fire on the Jews, and he could not speak for four hours without mentioning the word 'Jew'. ”

Hitler even had some Jewish support; The Jewish National League not only advocated that the Führer should ban "Jewish peddlers" from the east from entering Germany, but also supported his new government.

Despite all the superficial efforts and the amount of money and effort spent in the general election, the National Socialist Party received only 43.9% of the vote, and its allies gave him a narrow majority in Congress!

The victory, though narrow, was enough for Hitler to reach out to the people and regain control of the states that were 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 9 March, accompanied by Captain Rohm in a stormtrooper uniform, the magistrate Adolf . Wagner came to the office of state Prime Minister Herder. They demanded that Herderi appoint Ritter. Feng. General Epp was the governor of the state. Herder telegraphed Berlin and protested, but received a reply that Epp had been appointed governor.

He protested to Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's reply shows how powerless the old man was: he asked Herder to present his subsequent comments directly to Hitler. In this way, Bavaria finally and legally fell into the hands of the Nazis.

The other free cantons were also threatened under the same procedure, and Berlin Electric Power intervened one after another.

On the day of the seizure of power in Bavaria, Hitler flew to Munich and received a great welcome. He said proudly:

"In Germany, the city closest to my heart is Munich, where I made my career as a young man, as a soldier, as a politician. The city was baptized with the blood of comrades who died here in 1923. ”

He instructed local party leaders to establish a solid regime, even at the cost of recruiting non-party figures to participate in politics.

"Gentlemen, your task. One," he said aloud, "it's tough. However, the imperial regime could no longer be disturbed by the special movement in Bavaria or the riots of the separatists. This is important for the political stability of the country. I must finish Bismarck's unfinished business: a state becomes a state only if it is useful for the interests of the empire. ”

Later, Hitler was asked what to do with the only competent prosecutor who tried him in 1924. "At that time, although he was strict, he was very objective and polite." Hitler was very tolerant: "Let him stay in the Ministry of Justice." ”

Many foreigners mistakenly believed that Hitler had consolidated power throughout Germany. Although he was a flawless politician, he gradually came to power with the consent of the people

"Authority One." He told Frank that it was "nothing more than a springboard to jump from one step to the next."

As a result, making concessions to all strata of German society became his warning. Out of respect for the Hohenzollern family and for Hindenburg, he chose the Potsdam garrison as the venue for the opening of the new parliament on 21 March. This is due to Frederick. The ancient city, which was honored by Wilhelm I and has the mausoleum of Frederick the Great, is also in Prussian military tradition. …,

On March 21, the city was decorated with word flags and the black, white and red flags of the old empire. Amid the rumbling of artillery, the Army, the SS, and the SA lined up in a solemn procession, and in the bright spring sunshine, the official motorcycles, with their bells, drove towards the chapel

As soon as the tall figure of Hindenburg, dressed in the brown Prussian marshal's uniform, appeared, the audience suddenly rose

Holding a cane in one hand and a marshal's baton in the other, Hindenburg walked slowly and majestically. As he reached the Emperor's throne, he turned and raised the marshal's baton in salute Caesar's empty seat. The royal relatives stood behind. The marshal completely dominated the smaller Hitler, who stood beside him. He was dressed in a gown and was restless.

In France, Ambassador Francis. Bense seems; He was "like a timid living man, introduced by a prominent protector to a group of strangers."

The two sat down across from each other. Hindenburg took out his glasses and began to read out the text. He said that the tasks facing the new government are complex and difficult. He called for a revival of Prussia's old patriotic spirit of discipline.

Hitler's speech was not so much addressed to the ordinary people listening to the radio at home as to the crowd gathered in the audience. The war, he said, was imposed on Caesar and Germany; His inheritance was nothing more than recession and unemployment. After a brief account of his plans for the future, he turned to Hindenken as if he were still his commander. He praised Hinden, calling him the head of the army and the leader of the people. "It is our happiness that you agree that we will do our best for the revitalization of Germany."

Hitler stepped up to Hindenburg's chair and bent down to clasp his hand. The old man was deeply moved, and walked slowly to Frederick the Great and Frederick. In front of the tomb of William I. He was followed by his son and adjutant. The adjutant laid wreaths at the two tombs.

At this time, the salute is fired!

The celebration, directed by Goebbels, achieved the desired effect. Everyone present - the military, the Junkers, the monarchists - believed that Hitler would be respectful to Hindenburg and would follow the Prussian ideals.

Two days later, however, he showed objective observers that he was not subservient to anyone.

The venue is different. This time at the Kroll Opera in Berlin.

The atmosphere was also very different: SA and SS roamed the corridors, and a large flag hung behind the stage to remind people who was the master of Germany.

At 2:05 p.m., the President of the National Assembly, Mr. Goering, called the meeting to order. After a brief speech, he recited "Wake up, Germany!" The lyrics of the song. Then he asked Hitler to talk. Hitler wore the modest uniform of the Brown Shirts.

There was a moment of silence in the room; Then came the shouts of "Long live victory!" ”1