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

542 DER FUEHRERLippe. But if he dissolved the Reichstag now, he had everything in hisfavor that he had lacked since August: the magic of triumph, theirresistibility of power. 'Now it is easy to carry on the fight,' writesGoebbels. 'For we can call on all the state's means. The radio and thepress are at our disposal. We shall furnish a masterpiece of agitation.And this time of course [of course!] there is no lack of money.'Hugenberg resisted stubbornly, for he had experience enough tosuspect that Hitler alone would be the victor in this election, and thateveryone else would be defeated. What he needed, he insisted, was astrong government, no parliament! Send the Reichstag home — yes.Elect a new one — no! Hitler replied that this was in sharp contradictionto the injunction of strict constitutionalism which the field marshal andPresident had given the new government. If the National Socialistsshould gain an absolute majority — Hitler was asked — would they notform a cabinet to suit themselves and throw out all the other ministers?In reply, Hitler gave his word of honor 'that, regardless of the results ofthe coming elections, all the ministers active in the present cabinetwould remain.' A tactician of uncanny adroitness, he forced his will onhis startled cabinet with arguments and words of honor. Hugenberggave in. The following morning Hitler and Papen called on Hindenburgand bade him dissolve the Reichstag. The situation had changed sinceSchleicher; Schleicher had been unable to hope and promise that hewould have a majority in a new Reichstag. Hitler could make such apromise, and hence the dissolution of the Reichstag was no longer anact of violence against parliament, but a hand outstretched to the people,a questioning of public opinion. Once again Hindenburg signed a paperin which he declared the Reichstag dissolved, 'since the formation of aworking majority has proved impossible.' In an unctuous letter, Hitlerexplained to Kaas why he had preferred not to answer his questions:Such an answer, he wrote, would have served a purpose only if it hadbeen clear on principle that the Center was prepared to give thegovernment a year in which to work. A discussion of the questions putby Kaas would only 'lead to bitterness as sterile as it is to meundesirable.' And Hitler did not abandon hope of still reaching anunderstanding