Hitler knew the fundamental truth that the real power of the nation lay in its masses and not in the intelligentsia. The intellectuals never agree on anything. They are habitual diagreers and the pullers of one another’s legs. So, he did not present his clear agenda and future plans before the people. He thought that with some persuasion the masses can be won over and the organisation strengthened.
Whenever Hitler described the sorry state of the country’s affairs his eyes would shed tears. It used to move the audience emotionally and the people would scream, “Hitler! Move forward!! We are with you!!!”
This emotional support would overwhelm Hitler. In this way the process of Hitler’s emotional bounding with the masses continued. His popularity went on snowballing. He knew what he was doing and playing close to his chest.
The party president Herr Herrer did not like Hitler’s drama. But other members of the party were in favour of Hitler because he was making the party very popular.
In sheer frustration and protest Herrer resigned from his post. Enton Drexlor was nominated new president of the party. Meanwhile Adolf Hitler continued his public relations exercise undeterred by the upheavals at the party headquarters.
In 1921, Hitler reached Berlin blazing his publicity. There he delivered a speech at National Club. As usual he explained the prevailing situation in the country and suggested his solutions to the ills to the audience.
He spoke at other places as well. The people listened to him patiently and seriously. He won legions of admirers in Berlin.
It was not all smooth sailing. Trouble was brewing for him at the party headquarter. Many in his own party did not like his dictatorial attitude. In Hitler’s absence they plotted to merge the party with some other organisations. They thought that in that way the hold of Hitler over the party would weaken and his powers would get curtailed.
When Hitler got wind of the conspiracy he rushed to Munich and threatened to resign from the party. There was no one in the party who could match Hitler in popularity and the fact was that his face and name had become German Labour Party’s identity. His resignation threat unsettled the members of the party. They knew whatever popularity the party had got it was earned by Hitler.
Another truth was that the supporters of Hitler were in big majority in the party.
Hitler’s threat had stunned the primary members of the party. Most of them were Hitler fans. Infact the conspiracy was the handiwork of Drexlor and his own supporters.
The party members held meetings to decide as to which one to get rid of Drexlor or Hitler? Several meeting were held and the matter discussed.
At last, on 29 July, 1921 Adolf Hitler was nominated as the new President of German Labour Party by majority consent.
versai treaty
On 28 June, 1919 Germany had to sign a treaty with France, Britain and USA as a result of the defeat in I World War. Historically the treaty was called ‘Versai Treaty’. The victors had forced humiliating conditions on the vanquished Germany through this document.
According to the treaty the responsibility of starting the war was put on Germany and its allies. The colonies of German empire in Europe, Asia and Africa were taken away as a penalty.
The treaty stipulated that Germany would not keep its army more than one lac soldiers. The air force and navy were totally forbidden.
A severe financial penalty for war damages was imposed on Germany according to which it was to pay £ 6,500,000 to Britain, France and their allies.
The conditions of the treaty were so potentially debilitating that the people thought Germany could not rise again even in 60 years. In the treaty signing occasion the German representatives were treated humiliatingly.
Hitler roundly condemned the treaty and said Germans had been cheated and robbed. The traitors had betrayed their country. The treaty would keep Germany down in dumps for 50-60 years, he lamented. The treaty was the height of injustice and arbitrarism, Adolf Hitler had complained.
Hitler made it a point to condemn the treaty in his every speech to arouse the anger of his countrymen in which he easily succeeded. He had begun to oppose it from the moment it was signed.
So, when Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany in 1935, he tore the treaty conditions to shreds by ordering compulsory military service for all able bodied German male youth. He had already made the declaration about the conscription during his election campaign itself. In 1936, he sent army into Rhineland in violation of the treaty condition which had declared that area as demilitarised zone.
Hitler thought that Versai Treaty was an international highway robbery.
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