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

WAR IN THE RUHR 179representative of Hugo Stinnes, Minoux, and Ludendorff ended with aclash: 'you are much too economic for me,' shouted Ludendorff. Hitler'smarch on Berlin became a march into empty space.Two separate worlds were at that time fighting each other: a risingworld of order, still with tender membranes and limbs, easily hurt,growing and solidifying amid infinite perils— and a world ofdisintegration and tumult, struggling with wild outbursts against its ownruin. Hitler fought for the perpetuation of the chaos, as five years beforehe had fought to perpetuate the war; in both struggles he was defendinghis spiritual home. In a world of normalcy a Nothing, in chaos a Titan— his extraordinary powers did not develop in supporting the totteringedifice; they flowered when it came to giving it one last shove.Swimming amid wreckage, climbing over ruins; that is his gift; andseldom has a man possessed it to a greater degree. With his innerkinship to all disintegration and decay he senses the currents that lead tothe abyss and in them he knows how to steer his course. But in themalone. With uncanny acuteness he guesses the hidden weakness of theadversary; but in the presence of tranquil strength his perception andunderstanding are dulled. All his gifts of oratory, persuasion, planning,suddenly left him once a venture proved really impossible. Unless therewas something to be smashed, overturned, subjugated, this strangepersonality assumed the dull gray tone which continued to amazeobservers even after he had achieved the summits of power. Ahypersensitive nature, he reacted almost hypnotically to circumstances.This is why he responded to them so effectively. In times of calm, hewas sleepy; in tormented times, he lost all restraint; like a flag, he snapsin the storm.The Nothing put in an appearance as the chaos lifted. Thoseconspirators enjoying positions of power or other influence withdrewfrom politics or decided to collaborate with the changed order. And nowAdolf Hitler stepped forward to show the world his empty face with thepiercing eyes of fiery revolt.Suddenly his picture appeared on every wall. Heinrich Hoffmann, thephotographer, received an order for thousands of picture postcardsshowing his face. A motion picture was made. In it, Hitler appearedwith General Ludendorff as equal beside equal, but