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

NOW I HAVE THEM IN MY POCKET! 427for spying on the National Socialist Party, and secretly or even openlysupporting Hitler's personal enemies; for example, the renegadeStennes, who marched around certain quarters of Berlin with a kind ofS.A. of his own. 'I hear you give Stennes money,' said Groener toAbegg, the Prussian State Secretary. Abegg replied that unfortunatelyhe could not do that, as he had no money; but he felt that Stennes shouldbe supported. Groener: 'That is absolutely wrong. Stennes is workingagainst Hitler!' Abegg was speechless, but Groener continued: Hitlerwas the man of legality, he had sworn to respect the constitution. 'Hemust be supported against the others, who are all wild men.' The 'others'were Hitler's lieutenants, concerning whom Groener was prepared tobelieve all evil; only Hitler, he thought, was trustworthy. Inconsternation Abegg asked if the minister believed a word of whatHitler said. Did he believe that Hitler would keep his oath ? Groenerrepeated: 'He will definitely keep it. He is a man of legality. We must donothing against him. We must support him!' Then he intimated that thiswas also Bruning's opinion.These soldiers in government had an idea that only Hitler couldrealize: a democratic dictatorship. What he actually desired, saidBruning on October 13, 1931, in the Reichstag, was 'a government ofthose parties which are responsible and prepared for responsibility,' andto such an idea he himself would gladly cede his post; but an 'agreementbetween the parties which are necessary for such a government isunfortunately out of the question in Germany.' In other words,democracy has destroyed itself. In leading a powerful unpopulargovernment, based solely on the authority of the Reichs President,Bruning thought perhaps that he was doing the will of Hindenburg andSchleicher; but he should have known what these two really wantedbetter than they knew it themselves: and that was a popular government.But Bruning believed that he was making himself more respected bymaking himself 'more independent' of the Reichstag parties, his ownCatholic Center Party included. Now he felt in an even stronger positionto carry on a sovereign foreign policy and to solve the problem ofreparations, which had defied friendly negotiations, by a violent coup.It was the right hour. The world — with the exception of France