Washington DC 1932
Jack took the same route as his father took back in 1910, along side the Anacostia River. The walk would take him to the Washington Naval Yard where he had been summoned to meet with Eugene Leutze, Under Secretary of the Navy. The former Admiral was effectively his stepfather, although neither of them really saw it that way.
Jack waited in the waiting room trying to anticipate why he had been summoned to this meeting.
‘Come on in Jack.’ The Under Secretary rarely greeted his subordinates this way but Jack shared Thanksgiving and Christmas with him each year. They were close.
‘Take a seat Jack. Can I get Nancy to get you a coffee?’
‘No thank you, sir. I’m fine for now.’
‘Right, down to business. Jack, as you know Europe is still a hot bed. If there’s going to be another war it will be there. The President is concerned that this fellow Hitler intends to rip up the Treaty of Versailles and start building a military force.’
‘Yes sir, I agree it should be cause for concern.’
‘Good. Which brings me to why I called you here today. We – I mean the President and I – feel we need a strong diplomatic presence in Berlin. We need you there, Jack. Your orders are to transfer to the American Embassy where you will be the senior military officer. You will report directly to me. Our Ambassador William Dodd has informed us that life in Berlin is quite safe, although there has been some unrest relating to the Nazis’ treatment of the Jews and the Communists. I don’t think it’s particularly serious at the moment. There is an American School for the boys, but if it were me, I’d board them back here in Washington.’
‘When am I expected to be in Berlin, sir?’
‘The 1st of March.’
‘That doesn’t give me a lot of time to get organised. Nevertheless, we’ll be there.’
‘Well done! How do you think Anna is going to take it, Jack?’
‘She’s a Marine’s wife. We’ve had a few postings around the States. She’ll be OK’.
Jack returned to his family home and broke the news. Surprisingly they all took it in their stride.
The two boys, Tom and Peter were enrolled as boarders in St Alban’s School. Jack and Anna flew from Norfolk, Virginia, to Germany via Bermuda and the Azores. They landed in Berlin on 1st March 1932. The American Ambassador, William Dodd met them at the newly constructed airport. It was decided that the Dohertys should live inside the American compound. The two-bed bungalow was beautifully decorated and was more than adequate for their needs.
The first thing Jack requested was a full briefing by Ambassador Dodd on the situation and what effect Germany’s military ambitions were having on the rest of Europe.
Jack walked into William Dodd’s office on 7th March fully prepared for a detailed briefing. He got it.
‘Well Brigadier General I will reiterate what I have been telling Washington. Please stop me if you have any questions.’
‘Thank you sir. Please call me Jack.’
‘OK Jack. And likewise. Call me Bill.’
‘Let’s begin with my assessment of Hitler’s political future. I should go back a couple of years so you can appreciate where he has come from and where he’s heading.
‘Hitler’s political movement, which was practically down and out following the abortive putsch in Munich in 1923, has since gained a large ascendency with the increase of unemployment in Germany. The past year, particularly, has witnessed a phenomenal gain in successive local elections, the Nazis having profited tremendously by the depression. My belief is that there is no limit to future Nazi gains and that they will continue a geometric progression.
‘The results of the general election in September 1930 showed that the Nazis achieved eighteen percent of the popular vote. This result showed that Hitler’s gains were made mostly at the expense of the non-Socialist parties of the middle and the right. Hitler, however has not been unable to decrease the vote of the two Catholic parties – the Bavarian People’s Party and Centre Party – or to affect the combined strength of the Socialist parties of the Left, that is the Communists and Social-Democrats.
‘The most significant local election during 1931 was that of the Free State of Hesse. Unlike the other local elections, it had more than local significance. The distribution of political strength in Hesse resembles more closely the political constellation throughout the Reich. If the results of the local elections were replicated in a general election, the Catholic parties would obtain about fifteen per cent, the non-Socialist parties fifteen per cent, the Marxist parties of the Left about thirty five per cent, and the Nazis thirty five per cent. The Nazis would certainly become the strongest party in a new Reichstag. Hitler’s claims that he could get fifty percent of the popular vote enabling the Nazis to govern alone in their own right seems at this stage improbable.
‘However, there is a strong possibility that if he fails to get the numbers to govern alone he could enter a coalition with the two Catholic parties, giving him Government.’
Jack listened carefully. ‘Just one question Bill. Could the other minority parties enter an agreement which would stymie Hitler’s ambitions?’
‘They could, but very unlikely. They are diametrically opposed on pretty well every issue.’
‘I see. Please continue.’
‘Hitler’s interview with the foreign press, on December 4th, in which he stressed his capitalistic program assuming the sanctity of private foreign debts, has, according to his own lieutenants, cooled the ardour of many of the more radical elements within the National-Socialist Party.
‘However, while it has allayed their fears, it has failed to attract to his cause influential citizens. The prominent Germans who are Hitler followers can be counted on one hand, although a few rich industrialists would be included. The recent assurances in Hitler’s speeches on economic matters have won over certain business elements but have alienated the radical youth who were the building blocks for the movement. As the latter far outnumber the former from a voting standpoint it is felt in most circles that Nazi gains in voting strength will be considerably diminished in the immediate future.’
‘May I interrupt you again? How closely is the Nazis’ manifesto aligned to the Fascists in Italy?’
‘The program of Fascist Italy really has little in common with that of the Nazis in Germany. Whereas Fascism is based on the idea of a cooperative state, Nazism is based on the Old Prussian idea of strong centralisation, imperialism and expansion. Their ideals are similar in that both Fascism and Nazism depend on chauvinism and are opposed to emigration of their peoples. Whereas in the Nazi party the element of anti-Semitism plays a prominent role, it is entirely lacking in Fascism.
‘The substance of Fascism is Mussolini’s personality; the same applies in a much lesser degree to Hitler. Mussolini has the intellect and bearing of a martial hero. Hitler has the intellect of a crusading sectarian leader, oblivious to dangers which surround him but with intense energy and being relentless in the pursuit of his aims.’
‘So, Hitler feels as though he has the backing of crucial industrialists. But what about the bankers?’
‘The Brüning Government, by emergency decrees, has established a situation which under certain circumstances would enable a complete transition to government by dictatorship without upsetting the country. Banking, commerce and industry are already accustomed to function under a semi-dictatorial government and the change to a Hitler dictatorship would not be great, provided Hitler did not impose compulsory measures.’
‘What about the trade unions? Surely without their support he would have very little chance of achieving his ambitions.’
‘Good question. It is doubtful Hitler would succeed in bringing the trade unions under a Nazi national dictatorship. The existing trade unions make up the Social-Democratic Party. They oppose a dictatorship and constitute the strongest opposition to Hitler, and the two movements are irreconcilable. The strongest of these are the trade unions controlled by the Social Democrats, which are in control of communications and the key industries. The conservative Catholic trade unions are next in strength. They constitute the Left wing of the Centre Party and are linked with the Social Democrats. The rest of the trade unions are under the control of the Communists. The workers controlled by Hitler are principally those who represent the floating labour sector, who lack the disciplined organisation of the trade unionists. They are also apt to drop away from Hitler the minute the depression ends. The trade unionists possess a most powerful weapon opposing Hitler – the general strike. The Nazis, on the other hand, claim that their SA troops are organised principally for the purpose of dealing with internal disorders and would be able to cope with a general strike …’
‘So it would seem Hitler has a battle in front of him to gain power?’
‘It’s not a lay down misère for him but he has plenty of other support. Hitler, particularly recently, has taken a very strong stand to obtain the favour of international private banking groups. He has promised them full payment of Germany’s private debts, but not ‘a cent of tribute,’ that is, the cancellation of all political debts, reparations, etc. His purpose was to reassure them and, quite obviously, to gain their support in opposing the French reparations demands.’
‘So where do you think Germany now stands?’
‘Hitler’s patriotic utterances in general resemble those of Mussolini a few years ago – national war cries without defined objective. Both Hitler and Mussolini demand territorial expansion for their peoples. Hitler apparently hopes to achieve the union of all German nations, that is, Austria and Germany; and the return of all former German territory – Memel, Danzig, Upper Silesia, and Alsace-Lorraine – under a strongly federalised German state. He also demands the return of German colonies. Hitler’s war cries, especially up to last December, greatly resembled those of Mussolini a few years ago. Now he is endeavouring to be more diplomatic, especially in order not to offend Great Britain, Italy and us.
‘The policies of Hitler, especially in the field of foreign affairs and the economic reform of Germany are still unclear to us.’
‘They don’t seem too worried about upsetting the French.’
‘No, you’re right, following Hitler’s recent interview with representatives of the American, French and British press in Berlin. The French press showed strong interest in the Nazis’ aspirations. A spirit of dismay, uneasiness and alarm characterised the French editorial comment. The French Nationalist press seems to be in constant fear of a Nazi-led Germany, and also of an alliance between Hitler and Mussolini. The French Government points to the agitation of the Nazis as an argument in support of the French demands for security.’
‘Thank you Bill, that was a very comprehensive and informative briefing. I think it is important to exchange notes, as it were. On a regular basis.’
‘I agree.’
Jack left the ’Ambassador’s office with a certain amount of trepidation.