To the editor: When Hitler’s party managed to get a plurality in the 1932 election, he’d had many years to make plans. A gifted orator, he commiserated with a beaten Germany in the depths of economic disaster, telling them their problems were caused by communists, labor unions, liberals, foreigners and Jews. He promised to restore Germany’s industries and inherent greatness.
After manipulating the aged president (Paul von Hindenburg) into naming Hitler chancellor of Germany, he quickly moved to persuade the conservative elites, the army, the civil service and big business to join with him. He dissolved the legislature and set a new election, in which those who opposed him were not allowed to run or even hold meetings. He appointed his closest allies to all the cabinet posts; it was clear that their job was to endorse his decisions.
Any who criticized his actions openly were silenced by the thuggish police, who would abduct them and often their family in the middle of the night. They were sent to concentration camps or simply killed, their bodies found in a remote place. Those in custody were often beaten and starved. All phases of life were controlled by the puppet cabinet: newspapers, businesses, sports, movies, music, art, schools — all in the name of Unification. Private phones and correspondence were monitored. The cabinet dissolved the legislature in March, then Hitler dissolved the cabinet in April.
Hitler used his friends, then discarded them. Many brave leaders did protest in those days; they disappeared suddenly, either fled to other countries or seized without warrant. Soon ordinary citizens didn’t dare raise their voices — the Gestapo were everywhere. The infant democracy in the great land of Germany had been snuffed out.
This sounds like a horror movie or a social media conspiracy. But it was not made up; it is true history.
