The Stab-in-the-Back Myth and the Fall of the Weimar Republic by George S. Vascik & Mark R. Sadler

Author:George S. Vascik & Mark R. Sadler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury

FIGURE 8.3 Karl Helfferich, Paul von Hindenburg, and Erich Ludendorff at Helfferich’s villa after the generals’ testimony (Alamay).

8.2 “POPULAR ANTICIPATION OF THE HINDENBURG TESTIMONY,” NOVEMBER 17, 19196

After yesterday’s exciting Hindenburg demonstrations, it was widely expected that similar scenes would be enacted outside the Reichstag this morning. But the streets surrounding the Reichstag were deserted. Snow had fallen again during the night, so that the Reichstag building arose in solitary state out of the expanse of glistening whiteness. The government had issued a warning against demonstrations and had doubtless also intimated to the heads of Universities and schools that they were on no account to allow as they had apparently done previously, their students and scholars to participate in the public sitting of the Inquiry Commission. But beneath the surface there was, nevertheless, tension to a degree unreached since the sanguinary days of January and March. Everyone is asking whether serious disorders are imminent, a question which after the uneventful celebration of the anniversary of the Revolution last Sunday would have been answered in the negative before Marshal von Hindenburg’s arrival set Berlin in a ferment. The reactionary elements seized on the occasion to emphasize their disapproval of the existing order of things. Noisy youths, mainly soldiers and students, declared they would not allow Marshal von Hindenburg to be cross-examined by the Committee.

The newspapers contain a message from Marshal von Hindenburg of thanks for his reception, and an appeal to his admirers to abstain from further demonstrations. The Socialists hold mass meetings on Sunday to protest against these reactionary activities. The government has forbidden street demonstrations and has urged parents to keep their children at home with a view to preventing them from running grave risks since military precautions are to be taken.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.