Chapter 145: Peaceful Nazis

On March 30, 1931, 41-year-old Adolf Hitler, a tramp from Vienna, was appointed as the German Chancellor by the old and confused Hindenburg.

That night, the whole of Berlin was boiling!

Countless people, regardless of the severe cold of the March night (March in Berlin is still cold), walked on the streets of Berlin, holding torches, and the men were wearing various styles of military uniforms - some were old uniforms of the German army, and some were brown stormtrooper uniforms - lined up in strict formations, singing military songs and the German national anthem handed down from the imperial era, and walked on the wide and prosperous streets of Berlin. Women, children and elderly people put on their best clothes, stood on both sides of the street, and cheered. As if welcoming the triumphant soldiers!

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

Hindenburg muttered in an old voice, and then found that Ludendorff and two German generals he didn't know were looking at him with strange eyes.

"First Quartermaster General, did I say something wrong?"

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

"Oh, it doesn't matter, as long as we win." Hindenburg smiled, then pointed at General Schleicher and Lieutenant General Hessmann and asked, "Who are they?"

"This is General Schleicher, he is the Minister of Defense... This is Lieutenant General Count Heinsberg-Hessmann, he is the Deputy Chief of the General Staff."

"Minister of Defense, Deputy Chief of the General Staff..." President Hindenburg blinked, trying to recall when the German Emperor appointed these two people to such an important position. Major General Oscar von Hindenburg came to the old president and helped him leave the balcony of the presidential palace.

Ludendorff looked at his old boss's back and sighed deeply, "He was fine last year, why is he so confused now?"

Last year was the year of the presidential election. Hindenburg's last term was from 1923 to 1930. Hindenburg didn't want to run for re-election, but Hitler jumped out to run for president, and he was very motivated. He chartered a plane to fly around Germany, and asked the Nazi Party to print one million propaganda posters, eight million pamphlets and 12 million party newspaper special issues to create momentum.

He also publicly shouted slogans such as "dictatorship", "anti-Semitism", "tear up the Treaty of Versailles" and "eliminate Marxism in Germany" in the campaign propaganda.

This is actually a campaign tactic, not to be elected president, but to make an impact, polish the brand, 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 did not allow it! Moreover, Hitler's views were too radical. Although there were many people who supported him, not many people were willing to hand over the country to him immediately (in this time and space, Germany's economic situation in 1930 was much better than in history).

However, Ludendorff and Schleicher were confused by Hitler's repeated campaigns and propaganda activities. They believed that the combination of Ludendorff and Franz von Papen could not defeat Hitler. To be on the safe side, Hindenburg and Ludendorff were allowed to attack together and seek re-election.

But no one expected that President Hindenburg, who looked good at the time, showed symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in 1931, and was confused at one time and clear at another. It seems that it is unlikely that he will complete his term (until 1937).

"General, if the president cannot perform his duties, you can succeed according to law. The entire Wehrmacht will firmly support you!" Hersmann said to Ludendorff in a comforting tone. In history, Ludendorff seemed to have died in 1937, just completing the remaining presidential term of Hindenburg.

However, what to do about the presidential election in 1937 is indeed a big problem. This position must not fall into Hitler's hands no matter what!

"Germany, Germany, above everything,

above everything in the world;

At any time, to protect and defend,

brothers always stand together.

From Maas to Memer,

From Esch to Belt,

Germany, Germany, above everything..."

The high-pitched "Song of Germany" came, and the parade was passing through the square under the presidential palace. Thousands of them, all holding torches, seemed to be a river of fire formed by countless flowing light points, rushing away, unstoppable.

"It's really neat, the Wehrmacht training in the barracks is probably not as good as them!"

Ludendorff sighed. Schleicher said with some worry: "I always feel that these people are a bit dangerous. Maybe Hitler will use his prestige among the people to turn himself into a figure like Mussolini?"

"Maybe in the future, but he doesn't have that ability at the moment!"

Hersman crossed his arms, looked at the boiling city in front of him, and smiled: "Most people actually stayed at home. They just watched the Nazis and did nothing.

It is undeniable that the Nazi Party is very good at agitation and propaganda, and can make people keep silent... We did not do these things well in 1918! We are separated from the people, and the Nazi Party stands with a part of the people. They can incite all these people and use their power to shut up other people. But it is still early to get the support of the majority... It is still early, we Germans are not as easy to fool as the Russians. They must first solve the economic problems facing Germany, and then completely tear up the Treaty of Versailles and truly unify the German nation. "

Historically, the Nazi Party did a lot of things. Six years before the outbreak of the World War, Hitler's government combined "planned economy" and "private ownership" very well, and used various policies to stimulate economic growth to the extreme. Some people in later generations said that he grew by "borrowing foreign debts". In fact, Hitler's regime promoted rapid economic growth by printing money for investment, depriving Jews and forcing "cartelization".

And while economic growth, full employment and social welfare were quite good, Hitler also miraculously completed the basic unification of Germany. Before seizing the land occupied by Poland, Hitler used peaceful means to expand Germany massively. He did what the Second Empire did not do with force in history.

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

"If we want to restrict Hitler, then we can't let him do everything. "Hersmann had a plan long ago - he had been planning this for more than ten years, and had already figured it out.

Hersmann took a breath: "The damn Treaty of Versailles is ours! Our army will tear it up... In fact, we have already started. Restoring the compulsory military service system is the beginning of tearing up the Treaty of Versailles! As for Chancellor Hitler... He is a democratically elected prime minister and a socialist. He should do something to reassure Britain and France."

...

"What? Do something to reassure Britain and France?"

In the Chancellery on Wilhelm Street, Hitler could not hide his excited expression on his face. The throne that once belonged to Bismarck now belongs to him, a former Vienna tramp.

He must have stayed up all night. When he met with the visiting Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Hersmann, his eyes were full of bloodshot, but his spirit was still excited.

"The Wehrmacht wants to play the villain and let the government be the good guy? "

Hitler understood what Hessmann meant after a little thought. The farce of the French accusing Germany in the League of Nations is not over yet. Although there is no result, now is not the time to fall out with the French.

So someone must come out to repair the relationship. The evil Wehrmacht has done it, so of course Hitler can only be a good guy.

Hitler thought for a while, nodded, and said in a calm tone: "Of course! This is my mission as the prime minister. Germany's current situation is not enough to fall out with Britain and France. Yes, someone will ease the situation, and someone will be responsible for tearing up the evil Treaty of Versailles. But..."

He paused, as if he was in great trouble. But Hersman knew that Hitler was pretending, and Briand's accusations were met with little response. Even British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald had no reaction - he was the Prime Minister of the Workers' Party, leading a national coalition government, and was busy saving the collapsing British economy. If sanctions against Germany were good for the British economy, MacDonald would not be interested in taking over this hot potato.

Therefore, French Foreign Minister Briand is now looking for a way out. And can a legitimate government elected by the people be a way out for France?

But now Hitler is the German Chancellor! No longer the leader of a small opposition party, he naturally cannot be directed by the deputy chief of the military's general staff.

"Ludwig, how do you view the Jewish issue now? "Hitler changed the subject and mentioned the Jewish issue.

Jews are unwelcome in almost all European countries - this is not invented by the Germans, but a tradition left over from the Roman Empire. As for the reasons, I am afraid it will take three days and three nights to explain them all. There are religious and economic ones, and there are many conspiracy theories related to Jews.

The German Second Empire was originally one of the few European countries that was not very anti-Semitic, but by the Weimar Republic, Jews had become unwelcome. Especially after the last hyperinflation, many Germans who had lost their fortunes suddenly found that there seemed to be too many wealthy Jews around them!

The disaster that made "everyone" poor not only did not affect the Jews, but also made many Jews rich.