Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler

individual worker should pay his dues to the union. Even the Marxist unions then existing
were already on the point of collapse until, as the result of Herr Cuno's enlightened Ruhr
policy, millions were suddenly poured into their coffers. This so-called 'national' Chancellor of
the Reich should go down in history as the Redeemer of the Marxist trades unions.
We could not count on similar financial facilities. And nobody could be induced to enter a
new Trades Union which, on account of its financial weakness, could not offer him the
slightest material benefit. On the other hand, I felt bound absolutely to guard against the
creation of such an organization which would only be a shelter for shirkers of the more or
less intellectual type.
At that time the question of personnel played the most important role. I did not have a single
man whom I might call upon to carry out this important task. Whoever could have succeeded
at that time in overthrowing the Marxist unions to make way for the triumph of the National
Socialist corporative idea, which would then take the place of the ruinous class warfare –
such a person would be fit to rank with the very greatest men our nation has produced and
his bust should be installed in the Valhalla at Regensburg for the admiration of posterity.
But I knew of no person who could qualify for such a pedestal.
In this connection we must not be led astray by the fact that the international trades unions
are conducted by men of only mediocre significance, for when those unions were founded
there was nothing else of a similar kind already in existence. To-day the National Socialist
Movement must fight against a monster organization which has existed for a long time, rests
on gigantic foundations and is carefully constructed even in the smallest details. An assailant
must always exercise more intelligence than the defender, if he is to overthrow the latter. The
Marxist trade-unionist citadel may be governed today by mediocre leaders, but it cannot be
taken by assault except through the dauntless energy and genius of a superior leader on the
other side. If such a leader cannot be found it is futile to struggle with Fate and even more
foolish to try to overthrow the existing state of things without being able to construct a better
in its place.
Here one must apply the maxim that in life it is often better to allow something to go by the
board rather than try to half do it or do it badly, owing to a lack of suitable means.
To this we must add another consideration, which is not at all of a demagogic character. At
that time I had, and I still have today, a firmly rooted conviction that when one is engaged in
a great ideological struggle in the political field it would be a grave mistake to mix up
economic questions with this struggle in its earlier stages. This applies particularly to our
German people. For if such were to happen in their case the economic struggle would
immediately distract the energy necessary for the political fight. Once the people are brought
to believe that they can buy a little house with their savings they will devote themselves to
the task of increasing their savings and no spare time will be left to them for the political
struggle against those who, in one way or another, will one day secure possession of the
pennies that have been saved. Instead of participating in the political conflict on behalf of the
opinions and convictions which they have been brought to accept they will now go further
with their 'settlement' idea and in the end they will find themselves for the most part sitting
on the ground amidst all the stools.
To-day the National Socialist Movement is at the beginning of its struggle. In great part it
must first of all shape and develop its ideals. It must employ every ounce of its energy in the
struggle to have its great ideal accepted, and the success of this effort is not conceivable
unless the combined energies of the movement be entirely at the service of this struggle.
To-day we have a classical example of how the active strength of a people becomes paralysed
when that people is too much taken up with purely economic problems.
The Revolution which took place in November 1918 was not made by the trades unions, but
it was carried out in spite of them. And the people of Germany did not wage any political fight
for the future of their country because they thought that the future could be sufficiently
secured by constructive work in the economic field.