Point four is specific: “only those with German blood can be our countrymen.” Does this mean to include Jews who have lived in Germany for multiple centuries, or fought in World War I? The answer would prove, too simplistically, that the Jews cannot be our countrymen as they do not have German Aryan blood, and, as he would later point out, they were one with Russian Communism intent on controlling the world.
By extension, in his next point, non-citizens may only live in Germany as foreigners and must be subject to the laws for aliens. Non-citizens cannot determine laws, vote, or hold public office.
In the next point, Hitler states the party will wage war on corrupt parliamentary administrations. Translated, this means that there is no place for a democracy in what he envisions as a workable form of government. In his view the only acceptable and workable form of government is one controlled by a strong leader: a dictator.
The state shall ensure that all its citizens can earn a living and be able to live decently. If feeding the entire population ever becomes a problem, aliens (non-citizens) must be expelled.
Hitler demands that all non-Germans who have entered Germany since August 2, 1914 must leave. This, no doubt reflects Hitler’s thinking after the post-war desperate economic conditions.
All German citizens must possess equal rights and duties, and must be capable of doing honest, equal and beneficial work that contributes to the community. Hitler also demands that all unearned income must be abolished; personal profit arising from war is a treasonable offense and must revert to the state. All trusts must be nationalized. All industries must profit-share with government. There will be an increase in old age pensions and there will be land available for the common purpose. Traitors, usurers, profiteers are to be punished with death. The state organizes education, culture, healthcare, and fitness. The state organizes a National Folk Army. German language newspapers can only be published by German citizens.
A careful reading of all of Hitler’s points should lead to the perception that he believes in a strong dictatorship. It is doubtful that the average citizen understood this, or more likely that the average citizen even heard of his twenty-five points, since it was developed in Munich in 1920 when he was virtually unknown, but in Hitler’s mind it was preparation for the future utopia he had been envisioning so thoroughly, a manifestation of his narcissistic evolving mindset that he now, as a leader, must develop to change the world to his way of thinking. At this point his ambitions for Germany were much greater than his ability to accomplish them. That would come later.
CHAPTER 11
The young men return from war 1918
Albert and Samuel went to war as enthusiastic and patriotic young men hoping to “finish them off” in a few short months. They returned in four years, age 22, hardened and embittered, but lucky to be alive after what they had experienced in bloody French trenches...
Conditions in Germany, during a period of hyperinflation, were desperate with little hope for stability. Opposing forces fought for control of the country. The harsh treaty of Versailles further marginalized the country and increased unrest. “We were stabbed in the back,” defined by Hitler as the German left wing political and subversive forces: Socialists, Communists and Jews.
For Albert and Samuel, school would have to wait as they decided on their options. When they met again after the war, they greeted each other as long lost brothers. Each told of their wartime experiences and discussed their perception of Germany’s future. Sam’s desire to become a physician had strengthened after his experience in the medical corps. Albert still wanted to return to school, study finance and become a banker like his father. They could be possessed only of hope while awaiting adjustment to civilian life and the start of their further education and Germany’s long trek out of the ashes of defeat...
The first parliamentary cabinet forms in post-war Germany with Prince Max von Baden as its chancellor. He writes to President Woodrow Wilson requesting to receive conditions for an honorable peace based upon Wilson’s fourteen points.
In summary Wilson’s fourteen points are:
No secret agreements between countries
Freely navigable seas during peace and war
Free trade
World-wide armament reduction
Fair colonial claims between countries
German troops leave Russia who will now form its own government
German troops leave Belgium who will form its own country
France regains Alsace-Lorraine
Re-establishment of Italy’s borders to include all Italian citizens
Austria-Hungary continues as an independent country
Serbia, Montenegro and Romania become independent countries
Turkey will be an independent country with security for nationalities
Poland becomes an independent country
League of Nations to form and protect independence of all countries regardless of size
Other World War I allied powers believed Wilson to be too idealistic and Clemenceau of France wanted harsh reparation payments to be levied upon Germany. He fought for these and won.
The German Reichstag did amend the constitution of Germany and established a parliamentary regime which was anathema to Adolph Hitler, but there was little that this relatively unknown veteran could do at this point.
Interestingly, the German Admiralty refused to surrender to the British Navy without a last final and “honorable” battle against them. Sailors in Kiel and Wilhelmshaven refused this order and mutinied. This mind-set certainly reflected the dismal morale of the exhausted German military.
The first few months after the war ends sees the new German Weimar Government attempting to reform, but locked in a deadly struggle with the Communists for control of the country. The Weimar army (Freicorps) consisted of ex-soldiers and hired mercenaries whose main assignment was to neutralize the Communist effort to take control of Germany.
Anti-Semitism was not dead, but not having a blessing from the German Government, there was no force behind it. That force would come from Adolph Hitler, a man either Albert or Samuel had ever heard of this time in 1918 at the end of World War I.
In spite of this, the two returning 22 year old veterans, Albert and Samuel, started college in their respective disciplines: finance and pre-medicine…
The year was 1919. Dangerous political instability in Germany reigned supreme.
CHAPTER 12
Post War
German losses In World War I included 2.5 million dead and 4 million wounded. Near the war’s end, German military morale deteriorated to the extent that soldiers threw down their arms, and sailors at Kiel, a German naval base, refused to set sail for a final showdown against the British fleet. Even the German generals told the Kaiser that the time had come to end the unwinnable war.
The Kaiser abdicated and went into exile in Holland.
The German chancellor signed the armistice which Hitler viewed as a treasonous act, another reflection of his anti-democratic mind-set.
All this was taking place in Germany during terrible economic conditions with rising prices and unemployment. And if that were not enough, when the Communists led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht tried to take control, the government acquired Freicorps troops crushed the revolt assassinating Liebknecht and Luxemburg which prevented a Communist takeover. Post-war conditions in Germany were clearly chaotic.
The Weimar Republic was now free to form. It was named after the city where it was developed and planned. It would last 14 years. Germany became a democracy, anathema to Hitler who had other plans. Since this new government