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

546 DER FUEHRERelections. Schleicher had had an emergency decree for, such purposes inhis drawer; now Hitler pulled it out and gave it the high-sounding title,'For the protection of the German people.' Hinden-burg signed it. Theauthorities obtained the right to forbid open-air meetings and thewearing of party uniforms. This meant opposition meetings andopposition uniforms. Newspapers could be suppressed for insultingleading state officials — an unfriendly word against Hitler sufficed. Allthis a few weeks before an election — when the Reich constitution stillguaranteed freedom of speech and of the press. 'I explicitly stress that,as a matter of principle, freedom of criticism will not be diminished,'said Hitler to a press delegation that called on him at the Chancellery. 'Iam opposed to any gagging of the press.' Meanwhile, Goring suppressedthe leading organ of Social Democracy twice in succession, and bothtimes the Reich court nullified the suppression; the same was repeatedwith innumerable other papers in the states. The National Socialistsmade masterful use of the red, pink, or black (Catholic-clerical) dangerto paralyze their partners in the government. In their blind selfassurancethese partners believed that they had the power firmly in handand that they alone benefited from any increase in the power of theexecutive.But the attempted revolution, whether Bolshevist, Social Democratic,reactionary, or separatist, did not flare up. In the middle of February ameeting of Social Democratic Party and trade-union leaders was held inMunich. One of the trade-union representatives reported thatpreparations had been made to sabotage the whole West Germanindustrial region. Mines could be flooded, railroad traffic could behalted, and many factories incapacitated for a long time to come. But itwas clear that such desperate measures could serve only as a threat.Once carried out, they lost their terror and could be of little use in theactual fight. 'Comrades, I ask you,' said the trade-union leader, 'whoamong you will assume responsibility for these things?' Responsibilitywas not assumed. It was not necessary, said the leaders, for Hitler'sgovernment would succumb to its own weakness. 'For everyone whounderstands the signs of the times, the contradictions in this cabinetyawn fathoms deep,' said Peter Grassmann, after Leipart the mostinfluential leader of the