Chapter 49
January – February 1933
In the end, we won. Adolf Hitler did become chancellor. We won because we made it impossible for Hindenburg to continue to deny us power. We won by threatening to expose his beloved son, Oskar. The chain of events began on January 11, 1933 and culminated in Hindenburg’s offer of the chancellorship to Wolf on January 30, 1933.
*
In January, a delegation representing the Reichslandbund—the Reich Agrarian League—met with President Hindenburg and Chancellor Schleicher. Their claims were straightforward: take steps to protect Germany’s big farmers from cheap imports. Moreover, they asked that the government stop the foreclosures of unproductive, bankrupt Junker properties. Hindenburg took these issues to heart; he owned such a bankrupt Junker estate and wanted relief. Chancellor Schleicher, on the other hand, was a military man. He owned no such estate and could not have cared less about their future. He refused to negotiate the matter.
That infuriated the old president.
Two of the four Reichslandbund representatives that petitioned Schleicher and Hindenburg were NSDAP members. I sensed an opportunity and reached out to them. While they were circumspect, they mentioned that I should look into the tax rolls of Hindenburg’s estate.
It took the better part of two weeks to uncover an inconvenient truth: rather than applying the government funds to shore up failing farmlands, the Junkers lavished the money on gambling, jewelry, prostitutes, and expensive cars. Hindenburg’s estate, like others, misused funds. This became known as the Osthifeskandal—the Eastern Aid Scandal. I put a plan in motion. The first step was to have NSDAP deputies on the parliamentary budget committee begin to investigate in closed sessions.
Even more to the point, a study of transfer records of the Hindenburg Estate—Neudeck—in East Prussia gave me reason to smile. I now knew that the old general could no longer block Wolf from becoming chancellor.
I approached Wolf in the Braunes Haus. “We need to arrange a meeting with Oskar von Hindenburg.”
“To what end?” asked Wolf.
“To the desired end. I guarantee that after we meet with him, things will change.”
“Not you, too! There is no point to more meetings. The son is a nincompoop. No, Friedrich, I am content to wait until the old man comes to his senses and asks to meet with me.” Hitler pivoted to leave.
“Adolf. Stop. Hear me out.” After I stated my case, he agreed to arrange the meeting.
*
Two nights later, we met with Oskar in the home of Joachim von Ribbentrop. Ribbentrop, a wealthy businessman, made his house available for clandestine meetings. Hitler, Oskar, and I sat around the dining room table.
Oskar began with an update on the chancellorship. “There is nothing new to report. My father asked Franz von Papen to become chancellor again. Franz turned him down. He believes he would be no more effective now than before.”
“Then who is under consideration?” Wolf asked.
“Franz suggested that you be made chancellor on the condition that he become vice chancellor.”
I grabbed Wolf’s arm. This was the closest he had come to his goal.
“And what did the Reich president say to that?” I was excited; Wolf did not flinch.
“That as long as there was a breath in him, Adolf Hitler would never become chancellor.”
Wolf kept his voice on an even keel. “Then who is his choice?”
“There are a number of names under consideration, but as of tonight, no one has been offered the chair. Now, tell me, what is the purpose of this meeting?” asked Oskar.
We’d prearranged that I would lead the discussion. “You are aware of the Osthifeskandal—the Eastern Aid Scandal.”
Oskar shrugged. “We have been assured that there are not enough votes to bring it out of committee.”
“That will change in the next election,” I said, “when the NSDAP gains a full majority in the Reichstag. Then the investigation will begin.” Wolf remained silent as I continued in a softer voice. “There is also the issue of Neudeck.”
“What about my father’s estate?”
“Whose estate is it, Oskar? Wealthy landowners bought that property and made a gift of it to your father five years ago, and in return, received preferential treatment for their failing estates.”
Oskar raised his voice. “Neudeck had always been in my father’s family. My uncle foolishly lost the land. When it became available again, my father’s friends arranged to have it returned to our family. There is nothing wrong with that.”
“Very touching, Oskar,” my smile turned into a scowl, “except for the fact that the land is not your father’s. He registered it in your name to avoid death duties.”
Oskar swallowed. “May I have a glass of water?” There was a crystal pitcher with water on the table. I filled a glass. Water splashed as he tried to sip some.
As we rehearsed, Wolf took over. “None of this needs to be made public. Once I am chancellor, the Neudeck problem and the Osthifeskandal will both disappear.”
Oskar cleared his throat. “Are you asking me to meet with my father regarding this matter? To look favorably on you becoming chancellor?”
“That is precisely what we are doing,” Wolf said.
Wolf stood and extended his hand. “Please tell your father I will moderate my demands. I no longer require exclusive control of the cabinet. I will accept only three cabinet positions: myself as chancellor, Frick as minister of the Interior, and Göring as minister without portfolio. Assure your father that I will accept Papen as vice chancellor.” Wolf remained standing, his hand extended. “Do we have an understanding, Oskar?”
Oskar stared at Wolf’s outstretched hand, cleared his throat, stood, and clasped Wolf’s hand. “We do.”
*
On the morning of January 30, counter to every statement he’d previously made, Reich President Hindenburg offered Adolf Hitler the chancellorship. Papen and Meissner assured Hindenburg that this step would actually hasten the end for Hitler, proving him a charlatan incapable of governing. Then Papen, serving as Hitler’s vice chancellor, would resume power—leaving Hitler a broken party leader to fade away.
Perhaps it was these assurances that finally moved the old man. Perhaps it was the chat with Oskar. Whatever the reason, the moment to take power had finally arrived.