On March 30, 1931, at the age of 41, Adolf . Hitler, a vagabond from Vienna, was appointed Chancellor of Germany by the elderly and deaf Hindenburg.

That night, the whole of Berlin was boiling!

Countless people, despite the bitter cold of the March night (which is still cold in Berlin), took to the streets of Berlin, carrying torches and men in various styles of military uniforms - some old German army uniforms, some brown SA uniforms - forming a tight formation, singing the military anthem and the German national anthem handed down from the Reich era, and walking through the wide and bustling streets of Berlin. Women, children, and elderly people stood on both sides of the street, dressed in their finest clothes, and cheered. It's as if you're welcoming a triumphant warrior!

"I didn't expect the children to capture so many Russian prisoners......"

Hindenburg muttered in an old voice, and then found Ludendorff and two German generals he did not recognize, looking at him with strange eyes.

"First Quartermaster, did I say something wrong?"

Hearing Hindenburg's question, Ludendorff replied with a smile: "Oh, Your Excellency the Chief of the General Staff, you are not wrong, I am wrong. ”

"Oh, it doesn't matter, just win." Hindenburg smiled, then pointed to Lieutenant General Schleicher and Lieutenant General Hersmann and asked, "Who are the two of them?" ”

"This is Colonel General Schleicher, who is Minister of Defense...... This was Lieutenant General Count Heinsberg-Hersmann, who was Deputy Chief of the General Staff. ”

"Minister of Defense, Deputy Chief of the General Staff......" President Hindenburg blinked, trying to remember when His Majesty the Kaiser, Germany, had appointed these two men to such important posts. Oscar. Feng. Major General Hindenburg went to the old president's side and helped him out of the balcony of the presidential palace.

Ludendorff looked at the back of his old boss and sighed heavily, "Last year was fine, why are you confused now?" ”

Last year was a presidential election year. Hindenburg's last term lasted from 1923 to 1930. Originally, Hindenburg did not want to be re-elected, but Hitler jumped out to run for president, and held back a lot of energy, chartered a plane to go around Germany, and had the Nazi Party print a million copies of propaganda posters. Eight million pamphlets and 12 million special editions of the party newspaper made a big splash.

The slogans of "dictatorship", "anti-Semitism", "tearing up the Treaty of Versailles" and "destroying Marxism in Germany" were also openly shouted in campaign propaganda.

This is actually a campaign tactic, not to elect president, but to make an impact, polish the signboard, and let all those who are dissatisfied with the status quo know that the Nazi Party has a way!

As for the presidency, Hitler also knew that he would not be elected - because Schleicher and Hersmann would not allow it! Moreover, Hitler's views were too radical, and although there were many supporters, there were not many people who were willing to hand over the country to him immediately (at this time, the economic situation in Germany in 1930 was much better than in history).

But Ludendorff and Schleicher were dazzled by Hitler's campaigns and propaganda campaigns. Think launched Ludendorff and Franz. Feng. Paben's combination could not win against Hitler. To be on the safe side. Let Hindenburg and Ludendorff join forces to seek re-election.

But no one expected that President Hindenburg, who was looking good at that time, would have symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in 1931, and he was confused and clear for a while. Looking at this way, it is unlikely that he will complete his term of office (until 1937).

"Your Excellency, if the President is unable to perform his duties, you may succeed him in accordance with the law. The entire Wehrmacht will stand behind you! Hersmann said to Ludendorff in a reassuring tone. Historically, Ludendorff seems to have died in 1937, just in time for the remainder of Hindenburg's presidency.

But what about the 1937 presidential election. It's really a big problem. This position could not fall into Hitler's hands under any circumstances!

"Germany. Germany, above all,

above all things in the world;

Whenever it is to protect and defend,

Brothers stand together forever.

From Maas to Murmur,

From Esch to Penta.

Germany, Germany, above all ......"

The high-pitched "Deutsches Song" was heard, and the crowd of marchers was passing through the square downstairs of the presidential palace. Thousands, all with torches. It is as if a river of fire formed by countless flowing points of light, surging away and unstoppable.

"It's really neat, most of the Wehrmacht troops who are training in the barracks can't compare to them!"

Ludendorff sighed. Schleicher said with some concern: "I always felt that these people were a bit dangerous, and that Hitler might have used his prestige among the people to turn himself into a figure like Mussolini?" ”

"Maybe in the future, but he doesn't have that ability right now!"

Hersman crossed his arms and looked at the city that seemed to be boiling in front of him, and said with a smile: "Most of the people actually stay at home, they just look at the Nazis and do nothing."

It is undeniable that the Nazi Party is very good at agitation, propaganda, and silence...... We didn't do these things well in 1918! We are divorced from the people, and the Nazi Party stands with a part of the people. They can stir up these people and use their power to silence the other people. But it's still too early to get the majority of people's support...... Earlier, we Germans were not as easy to fool as the Russians. They had to solve Germany's immediate economic problems, and then completely tear up the Treaty of Versailles and truly unite the German nation. ”

Historically, the Nazi Party has really done a lot of things. Six years before the outbreak of the World War, Hitler's government combined the "planned economy" and "private ownership" very well, and applied various policies to stimulate economic growth to the extreme -- later generations said that he was "borrowing foreign debt" to grow, but in fact Hitler's regime promoted high-speed economic growth by printing money for investment, expropriating Jews, and forcibly "cartelizing."

Moreover, while economic growth, full employment, and social welfare were quite good, Hitler miraculously completed the basic unification of Germany. Before seizing the lands occupied by Poland, Hitler had used peaceful means to make Germany expand aggressively. It did what the Second Reich did not do by force in history.

It was precisely because of this series of political, economic, and diplomatic miracles that Hitler established great prestige. But what really made him a god was the momentum in the early days of World War II.

"If we want to restrain Hitler, then we can't let him do everything." Hersman had already planned for a long time—he had been planning for more than a decade, and he had already calculated it.

Hersman took a breath: "The damned Treaty of Versailles is ours!" Our army will tear it up on its own...... In fact we have already begun, and the return to compulsory military service is the beginning of tearing apart the Treaty of Versailles! As for Chancellor Hitler...... He is an elected prime minister and a socialist, and he should do something to reassure Britain and France. ”

……

"What? Do something that reassures Britain and France? ”

In the Chancellery on Wilhelmstrasse, the excitement could not be concealed on Hitler's face, which once belonged to Bismarck, but now belonged to him, a former Viennese vagabond.

He must have stayed up all night, and when he met with the visiting deputy chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Hersman, his eyes were bloodshot, but his spirits were still high.

"The Wehrmacht wants to act as a villain and make the government a good man?"

Hitler understood what Hersmann meant after a moment's thought. The farce of the French accusing Germany in the League of Nations is over, and although it has not come to fruition, now is not the time to fall out with the French.

So someone has to come out and mend the relationship. The Wehrmacht had already done it, and Hitler, of course, could only be a good man.

Hitler pondered for a moment, nodded, and said in a tone that had calmed down: "Of course! This is the mission of the Prime Minister. Germany's current situation is not enough to fall out with Britain and France. Yes, there are people who go to détente, and there are people who are responsible for tearing up the evil Treaty of Versailles. But ......"

He paused, as if in great distress. But Hersmann knew that Hitler was pretending, and Briand's accusations were scarce. Even British Prime Minister Ramsay. MacDonald didn't react – the prime minister of the Workers' Party, who led a national coalition government and was busy saving the collapsing British economy. If sanctions against Germany are good for the British economy, MacDonald has no interest in taking over this hot potato.

Therefore, French Foreign Minister Briand is now also looking for the bottom of the stairs. And can a legitimate government elected by the people be a step for France?

But now Hitler is the Chancellor of Germany! is no longer the leader of the small party in the opposition, and naturally cannot be directed by the military's deputy chief of general staff.

"Ludwig, what do you think of the Jewish question now?" Hitler turned around and mentioned the Jewish question.

Jews are unpopular in almost all European countries - not invented by the Germans, but by a tradition that has been left over from the days of the Roman Empire. As for the reason, I'm afraid I can't say it for three days and three nights. There are religious and economic theories, and there are many conspiracy theories about Jews.

The Second German Reich was one of the few European countries that was not very predominant, but by the Weimar Republic, Jews had become persona non grata. Especially after the last superinflation, many bankrupt Germans suddenly find that there seem to be a bit too many wealthy Jews around them!

The catastrophe that impoverished "all" not only did not affect the Jews, but it also turned many Jews into rich people. (To be continued.) )