Der Fuehrer - Hitler's Rise to Power (1944) - Heiden

ARYANS OF ALL NATIONS, UNITE 111Munich Social Democrats by the name of Auer; the darkness of nightsaved the intended victim, but, as usual, his assailants as well. TheSocial Democrats were up in arms and decided to put an end to theNational Socialists once and for all. Early in November, they marchedseveral hundred strong to the Hofbrauhaus, where Hitler was scheduledto speak. Hitler ordered his gymnastics and sport division to throw thevisitors out by force. When a Socialist ventured an interruption,shouting the word 'Liberty!,' 1 the National Socialists under theleadership of Rudolf Hess jumped on him. A brawl ensued. TheNational Socialists were inferior in numbers and would probably havegot the worst of it, if President Pohner's police had not, as always, cometo their assistance. From that day on, the National Socialist private armywas known as the Sturmab-teilung (Storm Division), or S.A.It was the time when Hitler had just had a unique stroke of luck: hehad proved to be the successful prophet of the nation's doom, justifiedby events. His forecast that Germany would lose the coal basin of UpperSilesia, despite her success in the plebiscite, came true, October 20,1921. The Allies, basing themselves on a League of Nations' report,gave the larger part of the small border country to Germany, but thatpart, with about four fifths of the heavy industry and most of the coalmines, was given to Poland — a decision, by the way, made against thewill of England.From now on for twelve years the National Socialist Movement wasto be the negative barometer of Germany's fate in the world; it wasbound to grow with the decline of the country, to fall with its rise. Thiswas the picture of Hitler's success: disaster attracted the crowds; thecrowds attracted money. Financial backing came when the enterprisebegan to look promising.Success and money finally won for Hitler complete domination overthe National Socialist Party. He had grown too powerful for thefounders; they — Anton Drexler among them — wanted to limit himand press him to the wall. But it turned out that they were too late. Hehad the newspaper behind him, the backers, and the growing S.A. At acertain distance, he had the Reichswehr1 The word Freiheit (liberty) was used by the German Social Democrats as a greetingand cheer. (Trs.)