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

194 DER FUEHRERHe began to shout at Pohner, his new premier, that he wasn't doingenough. Patrols should march through all the streets, ring at everydoorbell, and cry out: 'Hang out your banners!' The city should bebedecked with flags — 'then we'd see some enthusiasm among thepeople.' He had a constant flow of plans with which the others wereunable to keep up. Every minute he had some new idea for winningmore support, for bolstering up the ruined venture. Enraged generalshad decided to break him so that he would never rise up again. ButHitler and Ludendorff still believed that they could melt the souls of theopposing forces, make them open their fists, and put down their rifles.In Munich, Hitler commanded a well-armed little troop, numericallystronger than Lossow's Reichswehr and Seisser's police; outside in thecountry, he could raise double, perhaps triple, the number. For amoment he thought of retreating to the open country and waging realwar in his own way, rallying the peasants to his banners, morallycrushing the generals, at the same time tearing the captains and majorsaway from them. But Ludendorff rejected the idea, and Hitler himselfknew that it was not feasible. Only too well did he know his Uprootedand Disinherited who revolted to obtain bread and wages from theReichswehr. Later he said in court: 'We had to fear that our men, whohad to eat after all, would plunder.'And then this inventive mind suddenly had a new plan — mad,desperate, magnificent in its desperation. He wanted to avoid fighting atany price. The victory which was slipping through his fingers could besalvaged only by a compromise peace — perhaps even by an apparentcapitulation. Ludendorff's personal prestige had failed him. Lossow hadshouted at a messenger from the general and threatened to shoot even athim. Hitler cold-bloodedly decided to drop the Quartermaster Generalwho had proved useless. Another figure stood in the background: thepretender, Prince Rupprecht, since World War days Ludendorff's bitterpersonal enemy. Among the sleepy unshaved figures in the Burgerbrauwas Lieutenant Neunzert, an old armed bohemian, a good friend ofRohm's and a personal friend to the prince. In the dawn of November 9,Hitler summoned him and ordered him to Berchtes-