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

412 DER FUEHRERIn Germany there were eighteen parliaments to be elected, not tospeak of municipal bodies, and at every election the sworn enemies ofdemocracy descended on public opinion in the name of democracy.These were the armed bohemians sent into the parliaments by theNational Socialist voters. Goebbels called them P.o.F. and P.o.I.;Possessors of Free Tickets — that is, of the right to use the railroadsfree of charge — and Possessors of Immunity — that is, of the right tolie with impunity. By now the National Socialists were winning anoccasional cabinet post in the smaller provinces. For more than a yearFrick was a minister in Thuringia (1930-31); and when Frick finally, bya parliament intrigue, was forced out of his post, Hitler considered thisas the biggest defeat he had suffered since the Feldherrn Halle.Frick had tried to render his leader a service which might have beenmore important than a victorious election. He wanted to make Hitler aGerman (to be exact, a Thuringian) citizen by appointing him as civilservant of his little administration, and so he appointed him constable inthe small town of Hildburghausen.Two years before becoming dictator, Hitler became what his fatherhad been. With joyous solemnity, Frick gave him the certificate ofappointment as a surprise, just before a big meeting in the city of Gera(July, 1930). At first Hitler did not know whether to be thankful orangry, but finally decided that the elevation to the rank of small-townconstable was altogether too ridiculous to make up for the advantages ofbeing a citizen now. Better think it over, said Frick with annoyance;after all, it's not so easy to smuggle yourself into German citizenship.Hitler thought it over for fifteen minutes, then spoke again with Frickand muttered vaguely: better give the certificate back. Frick's feelingswere hurt. He told Hitler in no uncertain terms what he was throwingaway. Changing his mind again, Hitler obediently put the certificate inhis pocket. He made speeches to his Thuringian S.A. men, wearing thedocument over his heart; then he returned to Munich, a regularly appointedconstable of Hildburghausen. When the story came out andaroused widespread laughter, Hitler maintained that he had quiedydestroyed the certificate long since, and had never become what hisfather had been for forty years and had wished his son to become too: apoliceman in a small town.