German Leadership

Austrian corporal greets Wooden Titan ...+

Unknown author.

Chancellor Adolf Hitler greets President Hindenburg, backed up by his "upper classes expert", Hermann Goering, 1934. Photographs of Hitler in this period suggest that he projected a notably obsequious attitude to senior establishment figures, notably those connected with the Monarchist army and towards President Hindenburg himself. One reason for this was that, for much of the period, he was dependent on a small caucus of Monarchist/army deputies in the Reichstag to maintain a secure majority in the Reichstag (although, since he had most of the Socialist/Leftist deputies detained in the aftermath of the Reichstag Fire, this might be regarded as somewhat theoretical). More importantly, he needed to keep on Hindenburg's (and the generals') good side, and to secure his own succession to Hindenburg as President of the Republic, as Hindenburg (or any hostile subsequent President) had the power to recind the "Enabling Act" that allowed Hitler to rule by decree and, in the process, consolidate the "lawful" power of the Nazis over Germany. In spite of the great social gulf between them, Hindenburg appears to have developed some affection for Hitler - perhaps based on Hitler's "respectful" attitude, but also perhaps (on a related point) on the "soft spot" apparently felt at all levels of the German armed forces and among veterans for "dutiful" NCOs who worked hard on behalf of their men - a soft spot that very probably helped the likes of Sepp Dietrich to secure themselves in Hitler's own favour. Whatever the reason, the trick worked. Hitler, with the aid of Hindenburg's reactionary friends, succeeded to the Presidency on Hindenburg's death and, apart from the obvious argument of force, became legally immovable; became, in fact, the Fuhrer. Best regards, JR.