The Rise of the Third Reich

In the quiet cafe, Hitler was silent for a while, his blue-grey eyes staring at Schleicher. "General, do you mean we are going to use elections to seize power?"

"Corporal, do you have any other options?" Hersman asked. He knew the answer. Hitler wanted to seize power through insurrection.

Hitler did not answer his question, but just smiled: "Well, let's use elections to deal with the Social Democratic Party! But... our Workers' Party is currently only an insignificant small party, without much appeal."

"There will be!" Schleicher looked at Hitler. Hitler at this time was completely different from the one he had just spoken. There was no trace of madness in his body and he looked particularly sensible.

"Okay," Schleicher thought for a while and said, "I have a way... I can promote the cooperation between General Ludendorff and your German Workers' Party!"

"Really?" Hitler's mustache twitched and he said excitedly: "This is great! With the support of Your Majesty the General, we will definitely become a national political party!"

Although Hitler was very talented in inciting and organizing, his reputation was still too small. He was only slightly famous in Munich, and Germans elsewhere did not know who he was at all. And Ludendorff was a hero in the World War, and everyone knew him.

After the revolution in November 1918, Ludendorff lived in Sweden and wrote several books that sold well in Germany, including "The Personal Story of Ludendorff" published in 1919 and "My Account of 1914-1918" published in 1920. Memories of the 2000 War" and "The General Staff and Its Problems". In these three books, he claimed that the German army, which was undefeated on the battlefield, was "stabbed in the back" by left-wing politicians. This view won him the support of many veterans and officers returning from the battlefield.

In the spring of 1919, Ludendorff returned to Germany and immediately devoted himself to politics. He participated in the so-called "National Club", which planned to eliminate the Weimar Republic and establish a military dictatorship. He also participated in the Kapp riot in March 1920.

However, under the protection of the two petty militarists Hersmann and Schleicher (the Intelligence Service and the Political Service had very great power), Ludendorff did not receive any punishment for the coup and continued to promote his ideas with impunity.

During this time both Hersmann and Schleicher visited Ludendorff and Hindenburg regularly. The decision to bring Ludendorff out to cooperate with Hitler's German Workers' Party was also the result of discussions between the two of them.

Their plan was to knock Albert out of office and then make Hindenburg or Ludendorff the president! At the same time, let the center-right and J-right parties in the parliament form a coalition government to firmly control the German power.

Because only in this way can the General Staff be free to prepare for war!

"Corporal, in addition to promoting cooperation between Your Excellency the General and the Workers' Party, we can also provide regular funding to the Workers' Party." Hessmann held out five fingers, "Now we are giving 50,000 marks a month, and we will increase it depending on the situation. . However, this is conditional funding!”

"Please just say it!" Hitler's excitement was beyond words. With Ludendorff's banner and monthly funding of 50,000 marks, he was sure to expand the number of party members tenfold in a short period of time!

"First, the National Socialist German Workers' Party must come to power through legal elections." Hessmann said, "Second, the president of the German Empire must be a retired general of our military, and the candidate must be approved by the General Staff!"

These two conditions were also reached after discussions between Hersmann and Schleicher. The position of chancellor could be given to Hitler. But the Weimar president cannot be given to Hitler. This position is too dangerous. If it is given to Hitler, there will be no power to restrain him-Germany's political rules are different from China's, and duties and powers are relatively clear. Even if someone like Abbott, who has no influence at all in the military and is even hostile to the military, becomes president, he can still exercise some of the powers of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. If Hitler had gone up instead, Hersmann and Schleicher would probably have to kneel down and lick him.

"Okay, no problem!" Hitler smiled sincerely, "My purpose in joining politics is not to seize power, but to save the country. Personally, I have no requirements. I don't have a wife or children. Private property, I live for Germany and the German people!”

"Of course, I know this." Hessman nodded, "But speeches and incitement alone cannot achieve the goal. Our military also needs to work hard. We have been working hard, but everyone doesn't know it. I look forward to In the future, the military and your party can work together to save Germany."

The meeting, later known as the "coffeehouse meeting" in later history, ended here. Hersmann and Schleicher shook hands with Hitler and left through the back door of the café.

Hitler took a deep breath and asked Rosenberg excitedly: "I'm not dreaming, am I? The general came to see me in person, and he also wanted to promote cooperation between me and General Ludendorff!"

Rosenberg patted Hitler on the shoulder and said, "Do a good job! The general is very optimistic about you. You and the general will definitely become the saviors of our Germany!"

…

"What? You want me to work with a corporal?"

Ludendorff's hometown of Posen has now been ceded to Poland, so he moved to Tuzing in Bavaria. After meeting Hitler, Hersmann and Schleicher immediately rushed there to meet him.

"Yes, under current circumstances a workers' party would be better led by a corporal rather than a general."

Hersman was speaking for Hitler. He knew the ability of this corporal - his ability was too great, not too small! So Hersman could only choose between cooperating with Hitler or eliminating him early.

It was easy to eliminate him. There is now a Miuta Special Forces Squadron stationed in the Zossen Barracks outside Berlin, commanded by Captain Stockhausen. As long as Hersman made a phone call, Stockhausen would send out killers. But if Hitler is killed now, is there anyone else who can unite the middle and lower classes of Germany?

Moreover, Hitler did not do badly in history. In a very short period of time, he turned Germany from a weak country lying on the ground and unable to get up into the most powerful military country in the world. Although Hersman knew what policies Hitler used to succeed, knowing is one thing and doing is another.

As for the strategic mistakes Hitler made in the subsequent war, a big reason was that Germany was not prepared for war. If you fight without being prepared for war, it is inevitable to take risky measures.

And Hersman believed that through his own efforts, he would definitely allow Germany to go into war in a very good state.

However, to be on the safe side, Hessmann still felt that he had to put a golden hoop on Hitler's head. To prevent him from being impatient after discovering that he had a good hand and moving the time of launching the war forward.

And this golden hoop was General Ludendorff. For German militarists, he was the god of war - if he said that he couldn't fight, Hitler wouldn't dare to say that he would definitely win.

Of course, if it really didn't work, Hessmann still had a last resort! The Nazis of this era could not have the secret service organization of the Gestapo, because Germany already had a Stasi!

Hirschmann said solemnly: "The lessons of 1918 tell us that we must never ignore the will of the middle and lower classes. And now the middle and lower classes in Germany are becoming larger and larger... The poor are increasing every day! We must unite them so that we can have a stable and strong regime. We hope that you and Marshal Hindenburg can become the supreme leaders of the country, but our strength alone is not enough. There must be a workers' party that can unite the middle and lower classes and advocate national socialism! Only this corporal can give us such a party!

General, as long as you see Corporal Hitler himself, you will believe everything I say."

Ludendorff looked at Hirschmann, then at Schleicher, and finally nodded: "Okay, let him come to Tuqing to meet me."

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