"That Hegelian dialectics should provide a wonderful instrument for always being right, because they permit the interpretations of all defeats as the beginning of victory, is obvious."
~ Hannah Arendt
February, 1924
The Communist Party of Germany's Berlin offices had quietened down in the last few days, the announcement of the American plan to forgive French debts whilst providing financial support of Germany to rebuild her economy and pay off her reparations at the same time had restored some calm to the Germany economy. The Weimar government was desperately scraping up tangible assets wherever it could find them to recover the Germany currency, and though Gerda was sceptical, it seemed the people of Berlin had recovered an uneasy confidence that the regime which had so recently drove the people into poverty might scoop them out of it. The lines of aspiring members were no longer queuing up outside.
It seemed that the opportunity to take advantage of the crisis was fading, but that was not why the Central Committee was meeting today. A sense of anticipation permeated throughout the building all the same. Both new members and old went about displaying of a mix of emotions; exasperation, frustration, eagerness. All revolved around the man who was joining the party today. The man who had caused the party to close the office to the hungry workers outside waiting to spread revolution and take control of their own lives.
Nothing could go forward, it seemed, until the man from the Ruhr arrived.
The news had came out that the Red Front revolutionaries had decided to cease their insurrection, “by the choice of the people of the Ruhr,” had left many in the party had been downhearted, Gerda hadn’t been one of them. The resistance against French oppression was certainly something that she supported but in her view it had absorbed far too many people away from the movement taking place across Germany. New members who were supposed to have thrown themselves into party work had instead spent their spare time creating ever more vicious anti-French slogans and posters. The whole experience had been unsettling, especially given the presence of the man she had given party membership to, Goebbels, who had appeared to have taken a certain infatuation with her.
Despite the fact he leered at her like a pervert, she had had to admit that he was actually proving himself to be an energetic propagandist, albeit with a similar obsession about the “Red Front” to many of the new members, She had been trying to avoid conversation with him when necessary, but it would be interesting to see what he might come up with. It seemed like propaganda was playing an ever greater role in the KPD’s operations and the leadership were already branding today’s event as a victory in and of itself.
The leader of the ‘Red Front’ was coming to Berlin to join the party. Usually it had to take a while before someone could even be considered for the central committee, things weren’t as bad as they had been under Paul Levi but there was still a lack of pluralism when it came to Heinrich Brandler's leadership, this was why Gerda was so surprised that this Hitler was being moved onto the Central Committee straight away.
The man stood in silence for a moment, as if he imagined that there was an aura around him, he took the time to sweep back his unkempt hair, a poorly maintained beard made it look like he hadn’t shaved for a while, although it appeared someone in Russia had lent him a decent suit. He began to speak slowly, almost as if talking to himself.
“My fellow comrades, it gives me great strength to see us all gathered here today, at the epicentre of the German revolution. Four years have passed since the beginning of that great revolutionary struggle where our party fought off the white guards of capitalism in the streets of Munich. It is an honour to join this party of all true German socialists, which has been giving a new aspect to German life whilst I and my comrades fought with the workers of the Ruhr.”
Hitler paused for a moment, his voice was clearer now and growing louder.
"Our work has been undertaken with the same purpose in mind, to stand with the workers of our nation, and the workers of the world. It is important that we should understand clearly, not only for our own sake but also for that of the generations to come, that our movement is not only essential for the future, but intended for a far greater purpose.
For together, the Communist Party of Germany and the Red Front will usher in that future together!”
The gathered crowd began to clap, as Hitler cried jubilantly, “Tomorrow belongs to us!” He cried it again, and after a little encouragement some members joined in crying out the phrase as the new member raised his left hand into the air, and clenched his fist tightly. It was on that note that the speech came to an end, though some continued to applaud even as the party leadership began to beckon the new party leader into the main meeting room. Gerda wasn’t sure what to make of the scene even as Brandler indicated to her to come with the small group as Thaelmann patted the new party member on the back and led him away from the gathering.
“Gerda, can you come? We need someone to take minutes.”
He’s been a party member for two minutes and I’m still just the secretary.
She frowned as the central committee moved into Brandler’s office with this strange new figure, she had to push past her fellow comrades still huddled around the room, the man named Goebbels had to be nudged as if he was planted into the ground. There was a bizarrely stunned look on his face that made his usually mischievous features look rather stupid. It didn’t make him seem any more flattering as she pushed by him and closed the door behind her as she entered the meeting.
The number of people involved in tasks revolving around the Central Committee had varied for some time, and Gerda had certainly seen the room more cramped than this, all the same the atmosphere was rather claustrophobic. Without being prompted, Hitler had sat at the middle of the table, clearing papers that didn’t belong to him out of the way, before laying his own case out on the desk. The others in the room, Brandler, Fischer, Maslow, and Thalmann all sat huddled closer to each other, unconsciously across from him. Gerda found herself having to sit next to the man, for the first time a rather pungent reek of body odour coming from him. As she brought out her notebook, she privately hoped that this meeting wouldn’t be long, or at least that it could be moved to a room with windows.
“Comrade Hitler, let me be the first to officially congratulate you on your successful resistance against the French occupation.” Ruth Fischer spoke in a tone of adulation. She had called on direct action against the French months before Hitler’s group had started their own campaign, Gerda supposed that it only made sense that she would now regard him as a natural ally, yet Hitler only smiled back weakly. By the confused look on Fischer’s face it was clear that this was not quite the response she had been looking for. An awkward silence dwelled over the room, before the Chairman cleared his throat to call attention to himself.
“Well Comrades, I suppose we should start with the minutes of the last meeting...” Brandler looked to Gerda, who was about to point out that she didn’t have the minutes on her before another spoke
“Surely we can forgo the usual formalities Comrades? Comrade Hitler has travelled far and I’m sure we would all like to hear what he has to say?” The protest came from Maslow, a close ally of Fischer and, according to some gossip behind their backs, her secret lover. Brandler grew somewhat red in the face as he looked up at the two, sat together as their small clique demanded. Gerda couldn’t help but wonder if she was about to witness a coup.
“Well, I suppose…” Brandler seemed lost for words, it seemed he felt the same, “given the special circumstances of Comrade Hitler’s arrival, we should move toward the premier motion on the agenda!” There was a general noise of approval as Brandler looked down as his hastily scrawled agenda.
“In the wake of the continuous failure of the Berlin government to properly address the demands of the German proletariat, and the Social Democrats renewed attempts to attempt to cater to a constituency they continue to believe belongs to them, the Communist Party will embark on a policy of mass activism in preparation for fresh…”
“Are we really wasting our time on this?” Fischer noted as Brandler glared at her before going on to continue,
“For fresh elections expected in the Spring or Summer of this year. It is important that we build on our recent success in the regional elections by delivering a strong result that will build momentum, along with a new industrial strategy,”
“For what, Heinrech? For more time wasted on bourgeois elections? Is that what Comrade Hitler has been bothering himself with?” She motioned towards the newcomer but he only shared a glance with Thalmann before sitting back in his seat.
“Comrade Fischer, if there was something you’d like to add to the agenda, may I suggest you wait.”
“We’re missing a historic opportunity to finally smash the enemies of the German worker whilst we deliberate on how to cater to the fraud democracy of the bourgeoisie.”
“And what do you propose instead,
Comrade?” Gerda noticed another strong odour on Hitler’s breath, as he spoke for what seemed to be the first time since his short speech outside.
“The preparation for armed rising across Germany, in coordination with the Red Front!” At this declaration, Maslow, and Thalmann along with several others banged their hands on the table. Brandler remained silent, usurped. It seemed that to Gerda that by their eagerness, this had been in the planning for some time, although she noticed that Hitler remained silent as Fischer continued to deliver what seemed like a prepared speech,
“The coalition of bourgeois industrialists and reactionary landowners that the Weimar republic continues to work in favour has continuously failed to take the necessary steps to end the present inflationary crisis. For this reason, the Communist Party shall rise up in a coordinated effort throughout Germany and call the oppressed workers and the unemployed masses to our side.” There was more clapping of hands, and Brandler seemed to be getting carried away in the moment.
“Once power has been seized, a provisional government under the leadership of our existing committee shall be established-”
“Do you honestly believe it is as simple as that?”
There was an indignant smile on Hitler’s but Fischer only smiled back, “I think you’ve proven that’s possible, wouldn’t you say?” Hitler waved his hand dismissively,
“We merely defended the workers against the French, an armed revolution across all of Germany is a far different act. This was what became clear to me during my time in the Ruhr. If you had been there, you would have accepted the same lesson.” Ruth Fischer now scowled, this man who was supposed to be agreeing with her.
“Comrade, perhaps it’s the fact that you have been in the Ruhr for too long that has made you so… pessimistic…” Fischer was smiled again, as if trying to forcefully transfer her optimism across the room. Maslow nodded alongside his ally, before motioning to Thalmann “Ernst has thousands of potential fighters in Hamburg, we have amassed a similar number in Berlin, a large number of new members have been asking when we are to rise up ever since your exploits began.” Maslow was aggressively trying to flatter Hitler, Gerda had seen this before. It was his own way of initiating a new member of Ruth Fischer’s clique.
“We also have comrades ready in Chemnitz. When the word is put out, Karl Radek from Moscow will spread the revolution amongst our other supporters in Saxony and Thuringia, which alongside your leadership in the Ruhr will allow us staging posts to take control of most of the industry and transport facilities around the country in the space of a fortnight. Surely those are grounds for optimisim?”
“I am no longer in the Ruhr, I am here, and it appears not a moment too soon, because you too appear to be living in a fantasy.” The smile had disappeared from Maslow’s face, and gone from Fischer’s as well.
“The time for world revolution is settling down, the time has now for national action on an unprecedented, to ensure that the working classes of Germany have taken to the red banner before the western capitalists find a way to try and distract them once more.”
“I don’t see why we cannot not do that immediately!” Maslow protested loudly, “We are ready now, we have the weapons, the German people have already seen what has been done, those that need to be convinced are already our enemies in any case!”
“You would be leading our movement to destruction!” Hitler’s voice had suddenly turned out a furious roar, silencing Maslow immediately as he went on. “We are Communists! We cannot allow ourselves to fall flat in the face of the history that is unfolding! Not! Any! Longer!” Hitler’s face had gone a violent shade of red, and the smell of his sweat was even stronger. Gerda couldn’t help but feel that the man was deranged, and yet wasn’t he calling for restraint?
Regardless of what he had actually said, it appeared that his belligerent tone had swung Ernst Thalmann over to his side. “We must harden this party,” the former dock worker said casually, “if we are to embark on any true revolutionary attempt.”
“Exactly!” Hitler now slammed his fist on the table in a far more violent manner than the casual motions on support had been beforehand. “There is no more time for petit-bourgeois indulgence, we must fuse this party to the German proletariat through collective strife! That is how we got on in the Ruhr!”
“If you’re all quite finished,” Hitler and Fischer continued to glare at each for more than a few moments after Brandler had cleared his throat, “I propose that we agree on a new electoral strategy which in tune with our work on building trade union support will place us in line with the working people of Germany and reduce the Social Democrats to the irrelevance that they have already become for the German worker. All agreed?”
Brandler raised his hand and Hitler quickly joined him, Thalmann was not long behind, as the rest of the room slowly followed. Fisher crossed her arms and continued to glare as Maslow also kept his own hand down.
“Motion carried!” Brandler announced in a light-hearted way before moving on to more administrative manners. Gerda had lost track of trying to keep notes of the events she had witnessed. For some reason she wondered if that was that was for the best, as she jotted down the result of the vote and moved over to the discussion which had inexplicably grown more civil. Hitler had calmed himself, and most of the rest of the room merely seemed relieved.
Gerda thought that she had been about to witness a coup, but now it seemed that a far longer game was about to commence. As the meeting came to a close, Hitler was the first to leave, he seemed to have had other business on his mind, leaving the room herself after collecting her notes, Gerda noticed that Goebbels had been waiting outside for the new party member. The two appeared to be engaged in an excitable conversation, it was a sight that made her feel uneasy. Here were two men who clearly had some sort of talent, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling as to whether they really had the worker’s interest in their minds. Then again, she thought back to the barricades and how she had had heard her comrades dying in an attempt to hold back wave after wave of Freikorps, and wondered whether the party needed such men after all.
“He really is something, isn’t he?” Ernst Thalmann’s tone sounded almost fascinated, as Gerda noticed him hanging behind her. The former docker was a military veteran like this Hitler claimed to be, but whilst the new member seemed desperate to put across a sense of rage and strength, Thalmann projected an inner steel flawlessly. It was for this reason that Gerda laughed, she found it funny that such a self-assured man could suddenly become enamoured with a loudmouth.
“He reminds me of a white guard of capitalism.” She whispered, and now Thalmann grinned as well.
“He’s a tough bastard certainly, and he’s angry. The people out on the streets are angry, and they want someone who can convey that anger. He might look like he’s got a screw loose but he managed to terrorise the French for months, that would suggest that our new friend has hidden depths. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Gerda looked at the way that the man was talking to Goebbels, or talking at him more precisely, both men were smiling now, and perhaps that indicated that the man was more bark than bite after all. She could only shrug.
“I just hope hat Moscow hasn’t left us with a child they can’t be bothered to take care of themselves.” Thalmann looked at her awkwardly, and she immediately thought of her Rosa. These were the people that would be responsible for her future, if Hitler was worthy of that cause then she wouldn’t try to find fault in him.
Thalmann was right after all,
The world could only get angrier.
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I hope everyone has a nice weekend!
