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

154 DER FUEHRERwas one of those higher generals who realized what the captains andmajors, in their lust for action and recognition, did not and could notrealize: that the Reichswehr needed no more putsches in Bavaria. It hadmost of what it required; and the republic could not forever deny itsfurther needs. As for heavy armaments and planes, sternly forbidden bythe peace treaty, in the first place they could not be obtained byputsches, and in the second place, they were unnecessary for themoment.General Hans von Seeckt, who commanded the little army of therepublic, developed the theory that the war of the future could no longerbe carried on with mass armies, since two giant armies of half or badlytrained military bunglers would only slaughter each other without profit.He taught that the small, well-trained, highly mobile, superbly armedprofessional army would cut the numerically superior, ponderous massarmies to ribbons in a lightning attack; and that in defensive operationsit would paralyze the numerically superior foe by an aggressive defense,by constant thrusts at the flanks and rear. This ideal army of the futurehad been forced on the Germans by their unsuspecting foes in Versailles.Von Lossow and his like had to induce the Reichswehr to accept apolicy of silent, inconspicuous organization. The force remainednumerically small and offered little opportunity for advancement. Thecaptains and majors were doomed to years of waiting. This was theproblem, this was the conflict, this was the dynamite which threatenedGermany's inner security: the rebellion of the captains and majorsagainst the generals, the class struggle of the officers under theintellectual leadership of the unknown man from the Austrian lodginghouse.With unshaken confidence, Hitler assured his young followers: 'Whenthe day comes for us to march, no soldier and no policeman will shootat us. For that day prepare yourselves.'It was to dispel this illusion that the minister had sent for Herr Hitler.He told him he was mistaken: the police certainly would fire on him ifhe broke the law. Hitler replied that he would give the police and otherorgans of state power no cause to shoot: his intention was to smashMarxism, and this would enormously