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

THE BLOOD PURGE 755this perpetually wavering will already had taken the final decision onthat day. On June 26, through Hess, he made an offer to forgive Rohmhis indiscipline, abuse of power, evil intentions and scandalous behavior— provided he renounced the 'second revolution.' Such revolutions,Hess said in a speech at Cologne, could not be made in Germany 'afterthe model of the annual little revolutions in small exotic republics,'referring to Rohm's career in the Bolivian army. But no bad feelings!'An old National Socialist,' said Hess, 'must be generous toward humanpeculiarities and weaknesses in National Socialist leaders if these gohand in hand with great achievements. And because of the greatachievements he will forgive the little weaknesses.'Rohm was still with Heines, Count Spreti, and a few other friends inthe Hanslbauer at Wiessee; not in a fortified headquarters building, butin a wing of a hotel accessible to anyone and supervised by physicians.For the most part the guests were people not involved in politics. Rohmwas even without his usual staff guard which was quartered in Munich.He had invited a number of S.A. leaders from various parts of the Reichto Wiessee on Saturday, June 30, for a so-called 'leaders' conference'and had also ordered the staff guard to come on this occasion. Hitlerwas not expected to come, although Rohm desired his presence. He hadordered a Hungarian artist in Munich to prepare a bookplate which heintended to present to Hitler on the next appropriate occasion; it showedthe book Mein Kampf with a sword on it, and two clasped hands abovethe book and the sword.This conference at first does not seem to have aroused Hitler'ssuspicions. Far worse was the fact that Rohm had left Hess's peace offerunanswered. In Hitler's eyes Rohm's principal crime was perhaps thatduring these feverish days when Hitler expected a satisfyingexplanation, Rohm just did nothing, said nothing. From the vaguepartisan utterances of his victorious adversaries it cannot be reliablyestablished whether or not, at the last moment, he made a desperateattempt to strike back; but it is certain that until this last moment all thefirst steps had been taken by his enemies.Toward the end of June, Hitler said later, he decided 'to put an end toan intolerable situation,' that is to say, to depose Rohm,