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

WAR IN THE RUHR 165scene; as the police chief later reported to his superiors, Hitler 'beggedon his knees for approval of the parade.' When the police president, likehis minister, an elderly, gray-bearded man, stuck to his guns, Hitlerfoamed at the mouth and cried out that he would march with his men inany case, even if the police should fire; he would march in the frontrank and let himself be shot. In answer, the government forbade, notonly the demonstration of the storm battalions, but also twelve publicmeetings at which Hitler was to speak afterward.Who was Hitler, anyway? Did the state rise and fall with him? Was hereally the most controversial person in the country, the most mysteriousfigure of his day — or was he just a nuisance and disturber of the peace,who could be extinguished by a touch of the trigger without any specialrepercussions? The question was put to the Reichswehr, for it was theReichswehr which would have to do the firing. Lossow called hisofficers together and asked their opinion. Epp fumed: intolerable howthe government was treating a national movement like the NationalSocialists. Rohm openly accused the ministers of treason against thenational cause; he would not shoot at these men who were his comrades.Now a remarkable thing happened: the two conspirators encounteredopposition. The captains and majors no longer agreed amongthemselves. A part of them already saw and sensed how the newnational army was growing and coming to demand respect; they felt themagnetic force of this inwardly strong force drawing them away fromthe chaotic murderers' army of the Uprooted and Disinherited. 'How canyou combine your attitude with your oath to the flag?' Rohm was asked.Lossow hesitated, dismissed his officers, did not object to thegovernment's measures. The Reichswehr had let Hitler down.Epp went back to his office, deeply depressed. Rohm, in despair,assembled a few like-minded comrades and stormed into Epp's room.He pleaded with him to gather courage and besiege Lossow again. Inthe end, he personally dragged the hesitant infantry leader to thesupreme commander. Epp went into Lossow's study and spoke with himalone; panting and feverish, Rohm sat in the vestibule. The whole scenewas not far from military insubordina-