Hindenburg was sitting at his desk. Indeed, he hardly seemed to have moved while Manfred was outside, or perhaps all day. He silently tracked Manfred with his eyes as he walked in and went to stand in front of him, like the chidden Leutnant being questioned over his wine bill. Or the Red Battle-Flyer, hero of the air, being summoned before the mighty Chief of the Generalstab.
The room was silent, his heavy breathing resounded in their ears. Papen and Oskar von Hindenburg were noiseless by comparison.
The Reichspräsident lifted his eyes and looked into Manfred's. Then he spoke, in a low, tired voice. "If you will not be a minister, Herr von Richthofen, will you be my Chancellor?"
"No--" Manfred began to say, but the last part of the sentence left him silent. Papen's sharp eyes bored into his back, while the young Hindenburg seemed resigned. After the great announcement, the room had fallen terribly silent, the only sound being Hindenburg's wheezing.
"Well, Herr von Richthofen?" the Reichspräsident said.
Manfred finally found his voice. "What, ah, what makes you think I can do it?"
"Because everyone will follow you," Papen said.
He had made a joke about stepping into the abyss; now it gaped before him, and he had no choice save to go into it. He had heard at some pilots' meeting in Florida of the awesome power of their hurricanes, and one pilot had described the sensation of doom he had felt while flying into one, when his engine began to sputter and tremble. He had not fully understood the man until now.
"Everyone will follow me?" he said, repeating for lack of anything better to say.
"Everyone," Papen said.
Manfred had been standing; he sank into a chair, put his head in his hands, overwhelmed. Papen's foxy eyes still seemed to be boring into him, even more powerfully now, and Oskar von Hindenburg looked and acted resigned. His father had now found someone, something, somewhere.
"In some ways this makes matters easier," Papen went on. "I had the devil of a time getting some of the other people to sign on. Herr Dingledey was most picky, for example. The Volkspartei only has a dozen seats, the Stresemann days are long gone, but every little bit helps. 'Unless we have our Red Battle-Flier to protect us, we shall be indeed doomed!' he said. And Duesterberg! Without the Stahlhelm with us we will be cramped, and having Herr von Richthofen to lead him, well! We shall have to make some sort of accommodation with the National Socialists, Hitler should come to his senses once he sees the promise of this arrangement!"
"Herr von Richthofen?" Hindenburg said again, worried.
Manfred looked up again. What he could do about this Revolution . . . for it was a revolution coming, a brown one and perhaps a red one in reaction. Father had stared down a few Reds; now he had to take on all of them and the Browns as well.
"Herr Reichspräsident, will I have your full support?"
"Certainly."
"Very well, then. I will take the appointment, though I do not know the way."
The words hung in the air for a moment. Now he had indeed taken the step into the abyss. Papen began speaking hurriedly, "We can't swear you in until Herr von Schleicher actually resigns, which won't be until tomorrow, but we can decide who will be the new ministers. Hitler will take a lot of talking round --"
"Yes, you do that," Manfred said, harshly. "You keep him in the dark as long as you can."
"Herr Reichskanzler!" Papen said, shocked. (It did not register until later that Papen had indeed accepted him as Chancellor; after all he had had that position himself and presumably wanted it again.) "We have come to a deal! We have made arrangements! The ministers . . ." he threw up his hands. "It's the simplest thing in the world! Surely you can control such common folk."
"You promised Herr Hitler the Chancellorship." He was not asking, he was telling, and Papen's silence was more profound than any words could be. After a moment he went on, saying, "He won't take anything less. And I won't have them in the government at all. You heard what I said, what I think about them. You say the government can't function without them; I say the government can't function with them."
Papen was stunned, and there was even a grunt from the wooden titan at the desk. "How will you govern, then, without a majority?" Papen said.
"You are assuming that the Nazis and the Bolsheviks can work together for more than two minutes. It does take more than two minutes to hold a vote, does it not? Yes, I know they managed to hang together last year, but that was before the last election. They had little love for each other before then but now they have even less.
"But as for our glorious democratic parties . . . Someone is going to have to tell them that it is time to stop playing games. Games. My boys, my nieces and nephews, they are more adult and mature than our political leaders. Herr Reichspräsident, you want a Kommodore for your Reichstaggeschwader? You have one."
"Very good," Hindenburg grunted. Then he made a gesture, and his son helped him get to his feet, saying, "I'll be back in a few minutes, duty calls." The two Hindenburgs left then.
Manfred looked over at his new partner. Partner from Hell, was more like it. What had he offered to everyone in the name of Reichskanzler Hitler? And what would he offer in the name of Reichskanzler von Richthofen? But he was stuck with the man. Now to get something done. He said, "Herr von Papen, would it be possible to have a meeting of all the Party leaders after tomorrow's vote? Except for the Nazis and Bolsheviks. Here, secretly."
Papen gave a rueful smile. "As long as the President's office -- Herr Meissner, the state secretary, him or his people -- does most of the asking. Some of those people have the most absurd prejudices."
Such as every Social Democrat, all and one remembering how Papen kicked out the Prussian government just last year, Manfred thought. "Well, you do that, get with the Reichspräsident, or more likely, Oskar. Now you go off and keep Hitler in the dark, while I make some arrangements of my own."
Papen slunk off and Manfred began making calls. First to Schweidnitz, to Mother. "Mama," he said, "Call Doris and Ilse and Viktoria, and have them come over at once. Bring the children."
"My God!" she said. "Have the Nazis revolted?"
"No, Mama, not at all. There may be some trouble, but no revolting. There will be police there tomorrow to protect you. Give everyone my love, and you most of all."
Next was to that casino in Baden. "I need to speak to Herr von Richthofen . . . Bolko? Drop everything, come up to Berlin at once. I need you."
"What's happened?" Bolko said. "Is the Reichstag on fire?"
"Just come here at once! Where is Bodenschatz? Never mind, find him, have him come here too. I need both of you."
Laughter echoed down the line. "Sounds like you have a big deal going down. How come I wasn't informed? Are we finally getting an Air Force?"
"Never mind! Just get here. Someone will be at the station."
The next call required some work, since the man he was calling wasn't in Hannover after all. Finally he got Noske on the line. "Noske? Richthofen here. Can you come see me?"
"Rich men and secretaries! Don't you know I'm in Berlin? There's another round of parliamentary cattle-trading tomorrow, and I hear the most dreadful rumors. Those fools. Wait, do you have a plane?" Noske sounded extremely worried.
"I'm in Berlin, too. Come down the Unter den Linden, turn south on Wilhelmstrasse, and it's past the British Embassy. They'll be expecting you." For some reason he felt he couldn't say "I'm at the Reichspräsidentenpalais," but if he said where it was Noske would get the hint. There might be some Nazis among the telephone operators.
A gasp came over the line. After a moment, Noske said. "Well, give me a while to get ready."
He did not have long to wait. Hindenburg's state secretary, Herr Meissner, came by with a stack of papers. On top was a note signed in the Reichspräsident's tottery hand, dated the next day, saying, "Certification of appointment as Reichskanzler." Meissner seemed less than enthusiastic.
Manfred took the Presidential chair -- it was the best in the office -
- and began reading. The vista laid out before him was appalling. Evidently the governments from Brüning to Schleicher had managed to propose solutions to the various problems that were afflicting the nation. Brüning had worked out a substantial revision of the Dictated Treaty -- they could have an army big enough to be more than a customs-barrier for the Bolsheviks! And had found out about it after he had decided to resign, in one of the mutual suicide pacts that seemed to be all the rage in politics. Another one had led to Papen's being kicked out of the Center Party; after Brüning had resigned, they had all been required to swear not to join a government, and Papen had sworn, then formed a government. The more Manfred learned about the current political situation, the more he despaired for the country.
Schleicher had actually managed to get some public works programs together. Rickenbacker had disparagingly referred to some similar proposals that the incoming American president had made. This was desperate . .
"Been promoted, Herr von Richthofen?" Noske had been shown in while he read.
Manfred looked up. "You'd be surprised."
"Surprise me."
Manfred handed him the presidential note, and watched Noske's eyes widen. Then he said, "I don't envy you."
"I had a couple of reasons for asking you here. I need to get your party behind me."
"Good luck. For all I've said, all I've done to explain the facts of life, some of our people are practically in bed with the Communists. And in spite of this --" he waved Hindenburg's paper in the air, "will he really tolerate us? Never mind the other parties."
"Oh, I think I can make a concession or two, give the SPD a crucial ministry. The Reichswehr Ministry, I believe."
"Who do you . . ." Noske's voice trailed off as he realized the answer.
Manfred watched with concern. Would the bitterness that Noske felt towards the Army for deserting him in 1920 remain? More to the point, would the Army take him? He said, "I will stand behind you all the way. Will the Army dare defy me?"
Noske remained quiet. After a moment he spoke. "If you are going to back me up . .. "
Manfred handed him one of the papers. "You can be the bearer of good news, which should help in dispelling bad feelings."
While Noske read the details of Reichskanzler Brüning's demarche in Lausanne, Manfred resumed reading his briefings. The sounds from across the table were somewhat more cheery. They were in time both interrupted. "I see you mean it when you are talking about a Grand Coalition," he heard Papen say. Manfred looked up to see that his emissary had returned, bearing news; he stood within the door of the President's office, looking pleased with himself.
The atmosphere grew frosty. "Herr Papen," Noske said, barely politely.
It probably would not be a good idea to let Noske hear where Papen had been. "Perhaps I had better let you review the military situation in private," he said quickly. "I think we can talk in here." He got to his feet and quickly led Papen into the waiting room, before they could exchange further words.
Papen seemed remarkably cheerful. "Herr Hitler is already preparing to assume power. He had some questions about you, which I managed to defer. I left him with the impression that the Herr Reichspräsident wanted to defer his formal appointment until after Monday's session begins."
"It must have taken a lot of nerve to lie like that," Manfred said, harshly.
The snap of his comment seemed to have wounded Papen. He remained silent for a moment, annoyed, not humbled. Then he said, "Herr Reichskanzler, while you have great skill in leadership, you will find in this field that such skills are not the only ones needed. In time, you too will become inured to lying. There are times when the truth is dangerous, damaging. Someday you too will look back at lies you have told, and consider them worth the defense of the nation.
"Would I be here if I had said to Herr Hitler, 'Oh, by the way, the Reichspräsident changed his mind and appointed Herr von Richthofen as Reichskanzler, and he doesn't want you in the government.'? All I had done would have been wasted!
"I still think we could have tamed them, brought them under control. You understand I don't have much use any more for General von Schleicher, but he thought he could split them, there are strains. Did you know that the Nazis are broke? Herr Thyssen and his friends are more forthcoming now with words about how it is necessary that they rule than with the funds needed to make their accession come to pass. The election in Lippe took almost all they had, and that's just Lippe! Why do you think I wanted that dissolution last year? One more general election and they would have gone under.
"But . . . you yourself ordered me to deceive them, and I have done so. Sacrificing a very good relationship, one that I have built with long and careful effort to this end. I am doing this for the good of the country."
And the good of Papen before that, Manfred thought. "Herr von Papen, I will have to make another compromise. As you yourself said, I am not exactly experienced in politics, and so I will need to rely on you to guide me through this dangerous wilderness.
"However, if I have you in the Cabinet, the Social Democrats will be displeased. I believe I can bring them around to accept you, but only as a Minister without Portfolio."
Papen winced. "You are learning," he said. He had been going to be vice-chancellor, but perhaps there was more for him in this relationship.
"Good night, Herr von Papen," Manfred said, and headed himself for the other door, the one to the main office. He opened it, and said so both men, the one leaving the waiting room and the one sitting in the President's office, could hear, "For what it is worth, I do intend to restore Herr Braun in Prussia."
Last June Papen had ousted Otto Braun's Social Democratic government in Prussia, as the Constitution permitted, and taken control of the state. Noske had complained bitterly about it at the time, but then he had signed that Constitution in Weimar in 1919. All to stay in power.
"The sacrifices we have to make," both of the other two said, and then they both realized what they both had said.
While the Presidential Palace was being repaired, Papen had been using the official residence of the Ministerpräsident of Prussia -- he had thrown out the government of that state and declared an emergency, making the Social Democrats, who had formed that government, his mortal enemies -- and letting Hindenburg stay in the Chancellor's residence. Schleicher had spoken of many bad things done by his predecessor, but he was less sure in action. The government of Prussia was still in receivership, so to speak, Franzchen still occupied the Ministerpräsident's palace, and so in that nerve-racking night,. Manfred slept there as well. He hoped it wasn't a bad omen.
Saturday brought in some more help, anyhow.
"Well, I never would have guessed," Bolko said. "We heard the news at the station here about Schleicher resigning. Half the people there seemed to think Hitler would be the new Reichskanzler, the other half were sure Papen was coming back, and half of each of them were sure that then there would be a coup."
He looked rumpled, having spent the night on a train from Baden. Bodenschatz had driven in from Anhalt, having been discussing expansion plans with Junkers. They had been met at the station by one of Herr Meissner's functionaries, who brought them to the Reichspräsidentenpalais through the back entrance.
"Congratulations on your appointment, Herr Reichskanzler -- I think," Bodenschatz said.
"I am grateful to you both for coming," Manfred said. He had gone back to the Continental after midnight, slept poorly, and come back in the dawn hours. The Reichstag would meet that morning and the final act of the tragedy would go through. Afterwards . . .
"Bolko, I need you for a little while. You will have to serve as the most highly-placed and well-paid babysitter in the world, watching the Reichspräsident."
"I'd heard the old gentleman was going gaga, but I would have thought appointing you would be proof to the contrary."
"He isn't senile -- I hope -- but someone has to make sure that he doesn't hear the wrong persons. Which is where you come in. You will
have to work with, or sometimes overrule, Herr Meissner. And you, Karl, will be the State Secretary to the Reichskanzler who actually works for the Chancellor; your job will be to organize and run my office."
Bodenschatz clicked his heels. "Zu Befehl, Herr Kommodore, I am ready to be adjutant of the Reichskanzlergeschwader."
"Is Mama all right?" Bolko said.
Manfred told them of his suggestion to their mother. "You had better call her and Viktoria and see how everyone is doing. I suppose there will be police guarding them Monday, but for now -- well, best take no chances. Now I have to present you to the Reichspräsident along with the two Ministers I have so far, and you have to be there to keep them from killing each other. Papen and Noske."
Bodenschatz let out a long whistle, while Bolko said, "Oh!"
But in fact his dire predictions were overstated; the Herr Reichswehr Minister and the Minister without Portfolio were merely barely not speaking to each other, but politics requires compromises. They both greeted him ("Good morning, Herr Reichskanzler.") cheerily, and all then proceeded to Hindenburg's office.
The Reichspräsident was alert and aware this morning. He blinked at Noske, but said nothing. The State Secretary, sitting to one side of the office, was annoyed, and also had the distasteful news. "Herr von Schleicher has resigned," Meissner said. "As you have requested, I have informed Herr Monsignor Kaas of the Center Party, Herr Dietrich of the State Party, Herr Dr. Dingledey of the People's Party, Herr Schäffer of the Bavarian People's Party, Herr Oberst Duesterberg of the Stahlhelm, and Braun of the Social Democrats to meet here at six to discuss the political situation. Herr Hugenberg of the Nationalist Party was unavailable but I believe I will be able to find him by then."
Manfred said, "Thank you, Herr Staatssekretär. Herr Reichspräsident, may I present the first two ministers of my cabinet? Herr Noske, of the Social Democrats, to be Reichswehr Minister, and Herr von Papen, without party, to be Minister without Portfolio. Also, two State Secretaries to the Reichskanzler, Herr Bodenschatz and my brother, Herr Karl-Bolko Freiherr von Richthofen, who will also serve as an assistant to Herr Meissner."
A Man and a Plane: An Alternate Germany Page 11