Versai treaty resulted in another fall out. Due to the cut in army lacs of soldiers became jobless. As a result they began to take part in politics. They were naturally to go to Adolf Hitler, the ex-Lance Corporal of German army.
In compliance with the condition of the treaty two military organisations of Germany namely Fraucorps and Defence League were disbanded. The members of these bodies also joined German Labour Party to run its Gymnastics and Sports wings which were introduced by the party just for their benefit.
On 5 October, 1921 Roem merged the two wings to form ‘Strum Abtiling’, a body that was a fighting force. It acted like political sapper that cleared the way for the nationalists and struck terror amongst the detractors of Hitler. In November 1921 the party held a meeting at Hoffbrahas to be addressed by Hitler where Communists tried to make trouble and S.A. (Strum Abtiling) fought pitched battles with them.
As the president of the German Labour Party, Hitler had become a very powerful political force. He honoured all these who had battled with Communists at Hoffbrahas. That day was marked as ‘Coberg Day’ by the S.A.
Hitler was driving his organisation towards the total power.
Nazi Hitler storm troops
Hitler had completely seized the party. It was no more German Labour Party but merely Hitler’s party. And the devoted followers of Hitler did not mind even physical elimination of the opponents. Hitler himself believed that use of force leads one to victory and it should be used to the maximum.
His party had become synonymous with the muscle power. The people began to call his party ‘Natsie’ or ‘Nazi’. For the outside world it was Nazi Party.
The Marxists and Socialists the two entrenched parties of Germany did not like the rise of Hitler. He could become serious challenge to them. So their supporters tried of create trouble in the meetings of Hitler who openly challenged them. In such situations Hitler would give order to his storm troops (Strum Abtiling) to teach a lesson to the trouble makers.
In January, 1921 a declaration was made in Paris that Germany would have to sign a treaty which will impose a 100 million Yerds penalty on Germany for war damages the Britain and its allies suffered.
No German party or organisation openly voiced against it. Hitler’s party also kept silence. Then suddenly in the very next month Hitler reacted against the Paris announcement. He discussed the matter with his party members and party’s working committee decided to hold protest meetings the following week. But Hitler could not wait that long.
He declared that issue could not postponed because the traitors needed to be taught a lesson immediately. Hitler was then yet to seize the party and was merely publicity incharge. By traitors he meant Marxists and the Socialists who were supporting the government.
Hitler thundered that they would not allow the sale of the country to the enemies by the enemies within. He said, “We shall not tolerate the insult of our nation and German race. I declare right now that the protest meeting will be held on the 3rd February. Tomorrow the posters would be pasted.”
The crowd greeted his announcement with thunderous applause. Hitler was acting like a dictator. No one dared to oppose him. Whatever he decided was immediately acted upon. He would not care for the party president or others bosses. If anyone objected to his moves he would at once threaten to resign from the party.
On the 3rd February, the weather was bad. But it improved by the evening. Thousands of people turned up to listen to Hitler. He made his way through the crowd to reach the rostrum. He waved to the crowd and was greeted with a long hand clapping and cheering. Hitler spoke for two and a half hours. The crowd listened in rapt attention. At the end he received a thundering ovation. The meeting was a big hit. He gained many more supporters.
The newspapers carried the news of the meeting under big headlines. The people lined up to become members of the Hitler party.
Meanwhile, after an internal upheaval in the party Hitler had become the president of the party in July. Now he was the real boss.
On 4 November, 1921 Hitler was to address a meeting. The Nazis (Hitler’s party members) learnt that the opponents would try to disrupt the meeting.
At the appointed hour Hitler arrived at the meeting hall. His storm troops were standing guard at the entrance. The trouble makers had also come. Hitler gave a signal to his storm troops to be ready for action. When he mounted the stage the crowd greeted him with thunderous hand clapping.
Just before Hitler’s speech the trouble makers went into action. Stones and bricks flew. The chairs were thrown up. Windows were smashed.
Hitler ordered to his storm troops, “Attack! Thrash them!!” And with that strom troops pounced on the trouble makers. The opposing forces clashed. A strom trooper fired at the enemies. The trouble makers panicked and fled.
Hitler delivered his speech ignoring the trouble. The people heard him patiently.
In that clash several of the audience were also injured but they braved the pain to hear Hitler’s speech.
