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

252 DER FUEHRERthe movement went forward, or when later, though marching in hisname, it disintegrated and almost vanished — if the least mention of allthis was made, he viewed it as a disrespectful carping at his person orhis nimbus. In Rohm's opinion, he could only stand the 'flatterers andByzantines' who 'unscrupulously crowded around,' exploiting his vanity,feeding him on illusions and 'venturing no word of contradiction.' Rohmdecided, as he says in his autobiography, 'to speak openly to his friendas a loyal comrade.' His words were so open, such sharp insults wereuttered by both that Rohm leaped to his feet and left. He wrote a letter toHitler begging for the resumption of their old personal friendship, butHitler did not answer. Another letter and again no answer. This was inthe middle of April, 1925. Thus the real creator of Adolf Hitler partedwith his creature who had grown too great and thought himself evengreater.Others also vanished. Goring, a high-living beggar in his exile,traveled through Italy and then Sweden, where his wife's well-to-dofamily, horrified at the dope addict's dissolute behavior, treated himcoolly and for a time positively dropped him. Ernst Hanfstangl, a merryfriend in merry days, gave up politics and devoted himself to his latefather's art business, spending much time in America; Hitler still was hisdebtor for thousands of dollars; Hanfstangl had sold his claim toChristian Weber, one of Hitler's minor henchmen — but Hitler was notworth ten dollars at that time. Dietrich Eckart, long a sick man from toomuch eating and especially drinking, had died in the last days of 1923.That Hitler was free and allowed to speak again he owed partly to aremnant of loyal complicity in high places, and partly to the depth of hisfall, his apparent insignificance and harmlessness. Franz Gurtner hadput through Hitler's release contrary to the law and against the resistanceof his state's attorneys; and he had persuaded the Bavarian cabinet tolegalize the forbidden National Socialist Party. In return, Hitler had tomake humiliating concessions. He had to promise to break withLudendorff. The general had involved himself in a public fight with theCatholic Church, had openly declared the Pope to be an enemy ofGermany, as dangerous as the Jews and Free Masons — and Bavariawas an overwhelmingly Catholic state, governed by Catholicpriests and