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

550 DER FUEHREROn February 22, Goring, as Prussian Minister of the Interiorshamelessly forgetting what Frick as Reich Minister of the Interior hadpromised two weeks before, issued the following decree, a model forthe coup d'etat cloaking itself in legality:The demands made on the existing police force, which cannot beadequately increased at the present juncture, are often beyond its power;by the present necessity of utilizing them outside of their places ofservice, police officers are often removed from their proper field ofactivity at inopportune times. In consequence, the voluntary support ofsuitable helpers to be used as auxiliary police officers in case ofemergency can no longer be dispensed with.Some fifty thousand men were mobilized in this way in Prussia. Afifth of them belonged to the Stahlhelm; some twenty-five thousandcame from the S.A., the remaining fifteen thousand from Himmler'sblack-shirted S.S. They served in their own uniforms and wore whitearm-bands inscribed with 'auxiliary police.' This auxiliary police wentaround with rubber truncheons and pistols in their belts, traveled free ofcharge on the street-cars and buses; with pistols in their belts, theymarched into restaurants and cafes. Fingering their weapons, they soldthe frightened guests photographs of Hitler, Goring, or Goebbels atexorbitant prices. At side tables terrified waiters served the auxiliarypolice their meals. From the police treasury each auxiliary policemandrew three marks daily. Thus, the first fifty thousand of the Uprootedand Disinherited were scantily provided for.The army of the coup d'etat stood ready, at least in Prussia. But in theSouth, distrust and resistance grew. In Bavaria, plans were forged toproclaim Prince Rupprecht regent, or even king. At the same time asimilar group was active in Prussia; it is not clear whether Hitler, byambiguous talk or significant silence, encouraged these people to hopethat he was really their friend. He could point to Prince AugustWilhelm, who called him 'my Leader.' But his profound, heartfelthostility toward princes could escape only the most superficialobservers. To the Bavarian king-makers he cried out that their plan'would be broken and smashed by the Bavarians themselves,' for theBavarian people wanted nothing to