61
Hermann Goring’s office
Berlin
IN THE CAPITAL CITY of Berlin, where Fritz Gerlich’s small Munich periodical Der Gerade Weg made little impact, Adolf Hitler met with Franz von Papen, the man who until recently had held the position of chancellor of Germany.
“Chancellor,” he greeted von Papen, using his former title. “A pleasure as always.”
“Herr Hitler.” Von Papen shook his hand with only a mild expression of displeasure.
“May we sit?” said Hermann Goring. As the newly minted Reichstag president, Goring hosted the meeting in his spacious office, amid flags of the Weimar Republic and portraits of President von Hindenburg and the current chancellor, von Schleicher.
“If I may begin.” Hitler folded his hands together. “We have not always seen eye to eye, but I have always greatly respected your intellect, your courage, and your sense of fairness.”
“You have not always said so.” Franz von Papen was a career diplomat and aristocrat, the son of a wealthy landowner who had served as military attaché to the German embassy in Washington, DC, during the Great War.
With his upper-class privilege and high-minded carriage, fluency in French, English, and German, von Papen embodied everything that Adolf Hitler resented.
“The political arena is ripe with overstatement and exaggeration.” Hitler gave his brightest smile. “I have never varied in my private opinion that you are a formidable statesman with many gifts, not the least of which is your love of country. And your long memory.”
“My long memory.” Von Papen raised his eyebrows.
“However I may have fought for the same appointment as you, I was appalled at how von Schleicher undercut you.” Hitler wagged his finger. “You deserved better. And I must add, the thought of von Schleicher remaining chancellor is frankly intolerable.”
“Yes. On that we most certainly agree.” Von Papen nodded, his eyes narrowing. “And speaking of undercutting—I could not help but notice that the National Socialists expelled Gregor Strasser from the party this week. Just as Strasser was poised to accept the position as vice-chancellor.”
“We had no choice but to do so.” Hitler nodded gravely, Goring doing the same.
“Whatever the timing may have been, Chancellor, I can assure you that his expulsion had nothing to do with politics. Strasser was insisting on policy positions that were firmly at odds with the majority plank of our party.”
“Nothing to do with politics. I see.” Von Papen sat back in his chair, not hiding his smirk. “Well, Herr Hitler, you asked for this meeting. It seems you have a proposal. I suggest you get to it.”