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

648 DER FUEHRERceded to the Lutherans that one of their number would become 'ReichBishop.' To the pious Christians it seemed a victory that the HolyScriptures and the writings of the reformers would remain thefoundation of the Protestant faith. But it was conceded to the GermanChristians that new elections be held for the democratic 'Churchparliament,' the highest legislative body of the Church — the oldmethod of conquering democracy through democracy. The 'GermanChristians' were successful and elected Muller 'Reich Bishop.'On July 13, Hitler announced to his Reichs President that the 'GermanChristians' had reached an agreement with the Church and that peacehad been restored. As a born politician, he had recognized the decisiveinstant between stubborn persistence and inevitable retreat more clearlythan had his co-workers. Having withdrawn a step in the churchquestion, he now realized that in economic matters National Socialismhad at various points passed the limits of the possible. He adoptedKeppler's policy and hastily commanded the waves to stand still.True to an old custom, he assembled his S.A. leaders for this purposein Bad Reichenhall, a spa near his mountain home (July 2, 1933). Herehe declared, as though he had never so much as mentioned acontinuation of the revolution: 'I shall proceed ruthlessly against a socalledsecond revolution, for such a revolution could have chaoticconsequences. . . .' And hinting that he feared opposition in his ownranks, he added: 'Anyone who rebels against the National Socialist statepower will be seized with an iron fist, regardless what camp he is in.'Here Hitler was speaking to the egotistic and faint-hearted bandwhich in constant panic had urged him to retreat all through the year1932, in order that the party should obtain a few comfortable jobs. Nowit was he who demanded retreat; but again his meaning was: no jobs.For 'no second revolution' meant exactly this.The mass of the armed bohemians had grounds for bitterness. Withgiant steps the Leader was passing over his most loyal followers, thoseUprooted and Disinherited, whose sole remaining hope in life had beenthe party. True, R. W. Darre became Minister of Food Supply in placeof Hugenberg; though not exacdy an 'old