Category — Weimar Republic

Ada and I are celebrating this evening with dinner at the Hotel  Excelsior after we learned that Hitler lost the runoff election to old man Hindenburg. Hitler’s additional 2 million votes were not enough to overtake the old general.

There is no word yet how Hitler is taking the defeat, but his communications man, Joseph Goebbels, is said to be stricken with depression. London’s Daily Telegraph predicts the end of Hitler. Let’s hope they are correct.

The fate of the militant arm of the Nazis in the hands of the Weimar government. There are rumors that the stormtroopers will be banned throughout Germany.

Ada and I chose the Excelsior for dinner specifically because Hitler has banned his party from using the hotel. It is not widely known that Nazi officials were turned down by the Excelsior when they asked to use it as  Hitler’s Berlin headquarters. Hitler and his followers operate from the Kaiserhof instead and do not trade at the Excelsior. We should have an excellent evening together at the Askanischen Platz.

Not wanting to strengthen Bruening and the the Republic in any way, Hitler has rejected the idea of prolonging Hindenburg’s term, calling the concept utterly “unconstitutional.” What a riot. The irony of Hitler calling anything unconstitutional is sadly laughable.

The Nazi’s are obviously spoiling for an electoral fight. I’m not sure why Hitler wants to run against Hindenburg at this time. The old man seems unbeatable.

Since the 1930′s, the Nazi’s have been winning provincial elections. But to run a country-wide election is something else indeed. Why does Hitler risk ruining his own powerful position and that of his party?  If he does obtain citizenship and runs against Hindenburg, I hope and pray that he gets beaten soundly by the old man. It would be devastating.

I would prefer that Germany install a government similar to England’s whereby King Wilhelm could come back from the low countries to his throne. I can see that scenario happening in the future if Hindenburg continues to rule, but we are lost if Hitler succeeds in his ambitious and ruthless climb to the top. Let us hold the elections, ruin Hitler and  put a stake in the heart of the Nazis!

Sources tell me that Hitler was called from Munich to Berlin to talk with Chancellor Bruening about prolonging Hindenburg’s presidential term. Hindenburg does not want to go through the strain of another election. The old man wants to prolong his own term, but not have to once again fight for it against Hitler and others.

Hitler reportedly said in Munich when he received the summons to Berlin that, “Now I have them in my pocket! They have recognized me as a partner in their negotiations.”

Bruening’s  proposal includes two incentives. If the Nazis agree to Hindenburg’s term extension, Bruening will retire once he settles the problem of repaying reparations and restoring equality for rearming Germany. He also said that on his retirement, he would suggest to Hindenburg that Herr Hitler be made Chancellor.

Hitler has apparently not given an answer yet. He has retired to the Kaiserhof just down the street to confer with his deputies. My sources at the hotel tell me that Hess, Strasser, Goebbels, Goering and Roehm are all in attendance.

We shall see what the morrow brings.