Chapter 100 We Just Need a Madman
One day at the end of November 1920, in the center of a small square in the center of Munich, among thousands of men wearing field-gray old military uniforms or khaki work clothes and women dressed in the same simple clothes, there was a podium made of several tables and chairs. The person who was going to give a speech - the man who was called a devil and a sinner of all mankind by future generations, of course, future generations in another time and space, Adolf Hitler, was already standing on it, wearing a shoddy suit and a signature toothbrush-like mustache.
The speech had ended, but the atmosphere was still warm. People were shouting slogans to overthrow the Treaty of Versailles and the Social Democratic Party government, like crazy. Some Nazi Party cadres were squeezing in the crowd holding donation boxes.
"For the German Empire!" A young man holding a box and wearing an old military uniform squeezed in front of Hersmann and Schleicher - both of them found the oldest and most worn suits in their closets, but they still looked like wealthy factory owners or senior civil servants.
Hersman and Schleicher both took out a few Mark banknotes and stuffed them into the box.
"Thank you, thank you." The young man thanked them and went to find someone else to raise funds.
"Kurt, what do you think?" Hersman turned around and asked Schleicher.
"Hysteria!" Kurt von Schleicher shook his head and looked around, "But it is indeed very inflammatory. Ludwig, is Lenin like this?"
"Of course!" Hersman nodded, "Lenin is the same as him, with a clear position, telling the masses what he wants to do at the beginning!"
"What?" Schleicher was stunned, "Do you think what Hitler said is what he wants to do?"
"Yes!" Hersman said, "That's it! If he comes to power, he will tear up the Treaty of Versailles, unite all Germans, destroy Poland, and contain the Bolsheviks, and then go to war with the French."
In the speech just now, Hitler attributed all the difficulties Germany is facing now to the oppression of the Treaty of Versailles, and strongly accused Poland of encroaching on German land-during this period, the territorial disputes between Germany and Poland have been escalating. After obtaining Posen and West Prussia, the Poles turned their attention to Silesia. However, the Poles in Silesia are only a minority, so they adopted the method of armed uprising and referendum cannibalization to try to divide Silesia. The Allies repeatedly sided with Poland on the issue of Silesia. Therefore, anti-Polish and anti-Versailles sentiments were heating up in Germany.
At the same time, the loss of most of the gold due to the payment of compensation and the excessive issuance of currency by the Weimar Republic government caused the paper mark to depreciate, further exacerbating the public's dissatisfaction with the Weimar Republic.
"He is a lunatic!" Kurt von Schleicher and Hersmann whispered as they walked out of the square. "If he comes to power, Germany will be finished!"
"But he will come to power eventually!" Hersmann looked back at Hitler who was shaking hands with his supporters, "Although not now... but he will come to power when we are ready! Kurt, we need a politician who can unite the middle and lower classes of Germany, and I am afraid that you and I will find it difficult to be competent."
Schleicher and Hersmann are basically the same kind of people - in the General Staff, many people call them "Little Hindenburg" and "Little Ludendorff" behind their backs. This is certainly an affirmation of their abilities, and it also shows that the current German Army really needs these two energetic, daring and daring guys.
"We can't leave the army to go into politics," Schleicher said, "General Seeckt needs us, and the army needs us too."
"And we also need a madman, either a corporal or someone else." Hersman raised his hand and pointed to a cafe in front. "Kurt, let's wait for him there."
They certainly didn't come to Munich to listen to Hitler's speech, but to talk to this newly emerging politician.
Hersman's eloquence is actually very good. He has persuaded Schleicher to use 1939 as the hypothetical time for the outbreak of the war - of course, the official documents cannot write that Germany is preparing to launch a world war, but write that Poland and France are preparing to divide Germany before 1940. At the same time, Schleicher also promised to support a party that can unite the middle and lower classes of Germany to fight against the Bolsheviks and support the future army.
"We need lunatics?" Schleicher looked at Hersman, "Do we in Germany need to be saved by a lunatic from Austria?"
"Yes, because normal people are afraid of lunatics!" Hersman smiled grimly, "Britain and France are driving Germany crazy, and once we in Germany go crazy, they will be scared to death."
"Will they?"
"Yes." Hersman said, "On January 19, the US Congress refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of the League of Nations, and vetoed joining the League of Nations. In addition, the overall situation of the Russian Civil War has been determined. The White Army's attack on Donetsk suffered a heavy blow, and the Don River State and the Caucasus were also captured by the Red Army.
Moreover, Britain and France are the victors of this world war. When our people suffered humiliation because of the Treaty of Versailles and lived a life worse than pigs and dogs, their people were enjoying prosperity and comfort.
Kurt, the next generation of Germans and the next generation of French and British will grow up in completely opposite environments. Their children live in heaven, while our children live in hell. When the children on both sides grow up, who will be afraid and who will be fearless?"
"Maybe." Schleicher sighed, "They are turning Germany into a madhouse!"
The two had already walked into the cafe, which was not doing well and had almost no customers. Schleicher and Hersman found a seat by the window and sat down, only ordering two glasses of water. After a while, Rosenberg came in with Hitler excitedly.
"The general is there!" Rosenberg saw Hersman and Schleicher, and whispered to Hitler, "Don't ask later, just answer whatever the general asks."
Hitler glanced at Hersman and Schleicher who were sitting side by side with interest, and then kept his eyes on Schleicher - this big bald head looked more like a general than Hersman.
"He is the corporal, his real name is Adolf Hitler." Rosenberg took Hitler to the opposite side of Hersman and Schleicher.
"Corporal, please sit down." Hersman said. "College student, go and order four cups of coffee, and bring them yourself."
"Yes." Rosenberg responded and walked to the bar of the cafe.
"Corporal, your speech is very good and inspiring." Hersmann said, "If the situation worsens, your supporters will surely grow rapidly. And the situation will definitely worsen!"
"Thank you," Hitler said expressionlessly, "I just spoke out the people's voice."
"The last parliamentary election was held in the first half of this year. If there is no early election, there will be a general election in 1924. At present, the Social Democratic Party and the Independent Social Democratic Party account for 185 of the 420 seats in the National Assembly, accounting for 44% of the total (so the Social Democratic Party lost the right to form a cabinet in June). If your German Workers' Party can divert some of the votes of the middle and lower classes in the 1924 general election, reducing the seats of the Social Democratic Party and the Independent Social Democratic Party to less than 138 seats, we will have a chance to impeach President Ebert."
Kurt von Schleicher said the solution he and Hersmann had discussed.
According to the Weimar Constitution, the German president has great power, including commanding the army, appointing and dismissing the prime minister and civil and military officials, dissolving the parliament, and "suspending all or part of the basic rights of citizens"!
Historically, Hitler turned himself into the head of state based on this "special emergency authorization".
Today, it is President Ebert who has this "special emergency authorization". According to the constitution, the president's term of office is as long as 7 years. This makes military personnel like General Seeckt and Colonel Schleicher feel uneasy.
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