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

WAR IN THE RUHR 173for. Lossow: 'As far as I'm concerned, you can call me a perjurer — Iwill not release the arms. And anyone creating disorder in the streetswill be fired on, regardless of who it is.'This was almost war with the Reichswehr. Hitler now ventured adesperate trick. Trucks drove up to the gates of the barracks, stormtroops jumped out, the troops in the barracks didn't stir — for secretly,behind Lossow's back, Rohm had given orders to offer no resistance.The storm troopers marched into the barracks as though quite at homethere, shouted a few comradely jokes at the regular soldiers, took theweapons they wanted, threw them into the trucks and drove off. Adaring venture — but it exhausted Hitler's store of courage. On ameadow outside the city some thousands of Socialists stood beneaththeir Red banners and quietly listened to their speakers, scarcelysuspecting the danger. The danger, meanwhile — stricken withindecision and discouragement — marched out the other end of the city.There Hitler assembled his followers on another meadow known as theOberwiesenfeld, where Reichswehr troops were drilling. Hitler hoped towin them over and incite them against Lossow: the former corporal hadgone far, he had lost his feeling for military discipline. With a steelhelmet on his head, his Iron Cross pinned to his chest, he randesperately from one Reichswehr officer to another, growing gloomierfrom hour to hour. For, as the hours passed, his hopes dwindled. Lossowhad learned of Rohm's disobedience; a torrent of rage broke over thecaptain, and worse was doubtless in store for him. Sharp orders reachedthe Oberwiesenfeld. The Reichswehr drew a cordon around Hitler'stroops and demanded that they lay down their arms. Hitler could onlycapitulate. He was granted permission to take the weapons back to thebarracks himself, spared the disgrace of surrendering them in the open.Nevertheless, the whole episode was an ignominious defeat.At the decisive moment Hitler had not shown a warrior's heart — andhis men had seen this. Worst of all, the Reichswehr had not onlydeclined to help Hitler, but had also given him an actual rebuff. Moreand more clearly the solid core of the army was casting off the armedadventurers; they were still comrades, they still had the same past andmore or less the same ideals; but their roads