"Yes," Guderian said. "The motorized troops took part in last year's maneuvers, and the Reichspräsident himself made some very observant comments on our performance."
"I don't believe he will be up to coming this time," Noske said. "There are some points I will wish to raise with you, Herren.
"Your point about the need for a more modern force is well taken. What I still demur from -- and this is political, as well as strategic -- is the idea of a separate elite, a band of new Stosstruppen within the framework of a larger army."
General Lutz said, "Herr Minister, Heinz has addressed that question in his work."
"Yes, the problem is that we need to concentrate our tanks -- " Guderian began.
"I didn't say anything about dispersing tanks! What I said was that we can't have a separated army! You have been too convincing, Herr Guderian; we -- the Reichskanzler and I -- are looking at a combined force, one where tanks, motorized infantry, artillery, airplanes, all work together. We have been having studies commissioned of the methods used by the Marinekorps Flandern, which as you will recall was just that sort of outfit; it had land, sea, and air units, all working togther under a single command. It isn't just old 'Durchbruchmüller's' breakthrough tactics that we're looking at. The plans the Truppenamt is drawing up call for a completely motorized army, with a striking force of Panzerdivisionen as a part of it, working with a coordinated air force to provide observation and aerial bombardment.
"Carrying out this new state of military affairs will require a broader-based army. There will have to be more technically-trained men in it, and that means opening up the officer corps to the middle, and particularly the working classes. We must have an army that looks like Germany, and all German classes must come to accept that it is a privilege, their privilege, to defend the Reich, the way the military classes think now."
Manfred had his contribution. "Would it not be possible to build an armored vehicle for use with infantry? Not a turreted vehicle, but something like the British tanks we used during the War, something with a gun that could fire anti-tank projectiles as well as high explosive ones. A little gun on hand is far better than a more powerful one on call, maybe."
"That's a lot of vehicle types," Lutz said
And they argued about that for some time, while the various motorized vehicles passed by. Then, Guderian interrupted them, "Look, there is our first tank!" He pointed to a group of five small tracked, turred vehicles among the others.
"Not so fast, lad, there was the A7V during the War," Noske said. "What are the details?"
As Guderian described the technical details -- they were only light training tanks, it seemed, but harbingers of more powerful ones to come -- Manfred looked at the men in black in the turrets. "They certainly seem to be enjoying themselves. God in Heaven, just like the new pilots I remember from the War. General Lutz, I'd like to get a chance to talk to these tank crews."
"And particularly the mechanics," Noske said. "You people forget that those machines don't run of themselves."
"Indeed," Manfred said. "There aren't enough autographed pictures of me to keep the entire army in supplies." And then he laughed until he noticed the others didn't get it.
He could understand Noske's concerns about the mechanics. Having to bang with a hammer on a machine gun to get it to fire again, while trying to not only fly but keep from getting shot down, instilled in a pilot a deep and lasting admiration for the ground crew. And all the other people who made the flying possible, up to and including the supply officers. Paying for the mess . . .
Understandably, Schacht had a horror of budget deficits. "Herr von Richthofen, you didn't know the half of the Inflation," he said.
The "economic cabinet" -- Hugenberg and his subordinates -- would meet with the Reichskanzler that afternoon. Paying for the Labor Service and the social budget in general meant a deficit, which (if Bolko's professor friends knew anything) meant inflation. Which required consultation, to ensure that history would not repeat itself. Manfred had wanted to hear from the Minister for Economic Affairs beforehand. Thus Schacht had come to his office to give him information on the state of the economy.
"I knew enough," Manfred said. "What bothered me wasn't so much the financial aspect of it as the moral aspect. People saw that there was no tomorrow, and lived accordingly. But you know all the stories about prostitutes and hedonism as well as I."
The financial expert who had ended the Inflation did indeed. "But Herr Reichskanzler," he said, miffed, "it was worse than that. What we had was a transfer of capital. Speculators made vast sums while those who had saved responsibly were wiped out. It was a financial system that rewarded irresponsibility!
"Since this collapse in America there has been a different problem, they are exporting their deflation. Their consumption drops, and no one can sell to them, which in turn causes production in other countries to have no source. The Reich, for example.
"I had thought . . . well, Herr Hitler might enable some sense to be knocked into the economy, override this partisan indecisiveness that is weakening economic confidence. Less so now than formerly under the current state of affairs, but the seeds of such a problem remain.
"If the economy continues to be disordered, for all we can do there may well be another inflation. Even if it is not like the Great Inflation, the perception that there might be another such catastrophe might well being on a different one."
The August scandals hadn't been entirely fruitless, indeed Papen's underhanded inquiries about he sources of these untraceable subsities to the Nazis were bearing fruit; he had found out some interesting things about the Nazis' financial habits, which Manfred decided to mention to Schacht. "Did you know," he said, "that Herr Hitler's personal budgeting is not the soundest in the world? I have it on good authority that his habit is to ask for money whenever he fancies it, for whatever he fancies it, however much he fancies, without any financial controls. Small wonder that he owes so much in back taxes!
"Herr Schwerin von Krosigk reports that he has not paid the back taxes, or even raised the issue. The Ministry of Finance has mailed Herr Hitler a Second Notice of Deficiency, and is looking into seizure of his assets.
"If his personal finances are any indication, Herr Hitler is not qualified to run the finances of the Reich. As I said to the Herr Reichspräsident back in January, when I was appointed."
At that point the intercom buzzed, and the voice of the receptionist announced the Herren Ministers Hugenberg, Schwerin von Krosigk, and Wissell. "Think about that, Herr Minister, while we discuss our current economic situation -- including how to pay for the Labor Service and armed forces. Let them in."
"Oh the Labor Service should be self-sustaining over the period of its existence, though most of the benefit will not come until 1935 and after," Schacht said, distracted.
"Yes, my roads will make our Germany a better place," Hugenberg said as he entered, having caught a reference to "Labor Service".
Two hours later, when he was alone again, Manfred concluded that two minutes, saying that the economy was beginning to improve, would have been enough of a meeting to get across the relevant details. At least they could afford to have maneuvers next year, and start bringing in and training the recruits for the newer larger army. Which could travel along the new roads being built by the Labor Service.
The streets in Berlin were maintained. The Police President had offered an escort; so had General von Hammerstein. "Your security is a high priority," he had been told, and had replied, "So is my sanity."
Brown (and black) and red mobs were no more than multi-colored ants, when seen from the cockpit of an airplane in flight above. Flight had become Manfred's symbol, and it was his release from the cares of office. Weekends would mean a flight from Berlin to Schweidnitz. Mother was an island of stability; he could review the boys' lessons ("Yes, I know I did not do well in school, don't you want to outdo your poor old Father?"), and even tour some of his agricultural properties. Not the businesses, B
olko looked to them in his spare time. He would sit with a balance sheet and listen with half an ear to a plea to the High Command to send more troops to finish the encirclement at Tannenberg; that work preserved his sanity.
And it was not far to Tempelhof; down the Wilhelmstrasse and then the Belle-Alliancestrasse and there you were. Made his Fridays clear and simple, even though after that one time with the SS blockade, Admiral von Levetzow the Berlin Polizeipräsident had put his foot down and demanded he have a police escort. They had better things to do, Manfred thought, as it was such a short trip.
CHAPTER 12
Reichskanzlei, Berlin, Brandenburg, Germany, Wednesday, October 11, 1933
"So you came in through Hamburg?" Manfred said to the round-faced man who sat in the Chancellor's office. Not an ambassador, not even a representative of anyone but himself, the visitor was nevertheless making an important mission for international relations. Soon, the Americans would recognize the Soviet Union, and Manfred's guest would be the first American entertainer to perform there after the recognition .
His acting style helped make his performances "international". . . but for now, he said, "Yah. A couple of places were, well them Nazis -- Aleck is really concerned about them, he came back and told a bunch of horror stories. And my friend Sam Harris -- sweetest guy you'd ever know, never said a bad word about anyone, when he heard I was going to Germany, you know what he said? 'That Hitler is not a very nice fellow.'"
Manfred snorted. "A masterful understatement! We hope we can keep the Nazis and the Bolsheviks under control. Sometimes it's like one of your movies."
"Well, anyone who can keep that bunch under control is a good guy in my book. Oh, and we're sending you a print of our new movie, Duck Soup, after it premiers in New York next month."
"Cinema? Herr Reichskanzler, I never knew you were in my business!"
The door had opened and Manfred realized, much to his dismay, that he had a meeting of the economic cabinet within a half-hour, and Hugenberg was stealing a march on his subordinates to make sure that his friends would be hearkened to. And talking to an actor!
"Sorry, Arthur, I need to meet with my ministers. Tonight at dinner?" He got up, hoping that his guest would not slip into his screen persona.
"Yah."
"Your guest, Herr Reichskanzler?" Hugenberg said.
Manfred sighed. "Very well, Herr Hugenberg, this is Herr Arthur Marx, the actor and comedian. He goes by 'Harpo'. Arthur, this is my vice-chancellor, Alfred Hugenberg. Come to think of it, he's in your line of business, too. Ever heard of UFA?"
Arthur made one of his grotesque faces and wagged his head. Not again, Manfred thought, but he went on to say, "It's the biggest film company in Germany. You could do extra business with them."
Hugenberg said, "Perhaps. Now Herr Reichskanzler . . ." and Arthur ducked out of the office, not wanting to be ground between the cares of economic management.
"Herr Reichskanzler, I want to thank you for introducing me to our newest comic stars!" Hugenberg said, gleefully. His English was not quite up to understanding the not at all gloomy Julius's wordplay, so he had skipped the showing of Duck Soup, but he seemed cheerful enough. It seemed odd to be chatting at the Cabinet table in the Reichstag assembly chamber, but they had to do something, and talking politics got boring.
"Really?" Manfred said. The session of the Reichstag would begin in a few minutes, and Schwerin von Krosigk would have to find the funds to pay for Noske's new troops. At least Noske wouldn't be selling the rearmament plans off to a pretty foreign singer . . .
"Certainly! I don't always go for that sort of comedy myself but . . .three movies, all for only half a million marks! Herr Marx -- the agent brother -- he was very cordial. 'Herr Hugenberg, we're packaging all our comedy experience, thirty years times four in vaudeville, all our best acts, performances, gags, the sort that's made millions in the United States, and giving it to you for a mere five hundred thousand Marks,' he said. Brought you that film and then we negotiated this deal.
"This new movie, the one they're making in Hollywood, once they're done they're coming over here to redo it in Germany. Something about opera -- good German belly-laughs, none of this high-nosed hoity-toity Kabarett slime!"
"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Papen said. He had arrived while the arts titan was discussing his forthcoming night at the opera. At that Hugenberg shut up.
"The Herren Marx?" Papen went on. He had been at that showing with the Richthofens. When Manfred nodded he said, "That man . . . Calhern? . . . I hope he was not -- "
"I doubt the Marxes, much less their writers, even know you," Manfred said. But then, Herbert had not been by to see him when he was negotiating with Hugenberg, and even Arthur had fled through Berlin last month on his way back from Russia, as if all the dogs of their secret police were on his heels. At least, from Woollcott's latest letter, they still thought well of him.
Now they must go on to serious business. In the ensuing debate, at one point Manfred barely stopped himself from suggesting that the Herr Doktor Goebbels be sent back to his father and brothers, who were waiting for him with open arms in the penitentiary. It would have gone over his head; such a waste of a good line.
"Daddy, will Herr Harpo be back anytime soon?" young Manfred said. The heir to the family was up from Schweidnitz for the weekend, instead of Father going down there. And so the Reichskanzlerpalais had two generations of Richthofens, sitting now in a private room there discussing the future.
"Perhaps," Manfred said.
"He came by our house after he left you in Berlin," the boy went on. "And he was ever so funny! He made the most absurd faces, he played his harp for Grandmama and Aunt Doris and Aunt Ilse, he ran us all round the park with his horn, he is such a wonderful man! You must have him come back, please, Father?"
"Even if you are a Kadett? You must be properly dignified to be in the Army."
His son now looked grave. He thought for a moment and said, "But Father! You played pranks, too! You climbed up the steeple and left a handkerchief!"
Bolko, who was watching with some amusement, said, "He's got you there. And I booked the brothers for a week in Baden, doing their show. Don't know which week, yet. It all depends on this movie deal."
Manfred sighed. This Marxist controversy was one where could not win. He said, "Very well. Now, son, be respectful when I present you to General von Hammerstein-Equord. Be polite to Herr Noske. And both to the Herr Reichspräsident. Perhaps you can even get our room at the Cadet School."
Young Manfred's eyes shone. "Will I be an officer too?"
"Remember that it is an honor to serve the country. Many before us have made the supreme sacrifice in that cause. The Totensonntag memorial service this year will be very significant, and I expect you to comport yourself there as befits a Richthofen and a Prussian, a German officer."
All the bells tolled.
This Sunday, he would not fly. Outside the Garnisonkirche, the Cabinet waited to pay its last respects to the honored dead of the War and the wars before it. Representing the Army were old Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen and the Commander in Chief, Generaloberst von Hammerstein-Equord. The Navy was represented by its Commander in Chief, Admiral Raeder, along with Captains Graf zu Dohna-Schlodien, Graf von Luckner, and Nerger, the raider heroes. For the air force, the Hero of the Air, the Red Battle-Flyer (who just happened to also be Reichskanzler) would put on all his medals and appear. Including the one from Mecklenburg he had received in 1924. "Retroactive, Herr von Richthofen," he had been told when he had wondered why the Republican government was handing out the Grand Duke's medals.
And speaking of the Air Force, people who noticed might have wondered why Udet and Wolfram von Richthofen were accompanied by a group of younger men. The hot young pilots from the Lufthansa Air Survey Unit, or units, for now there were two of them, and when they would finally become Jagdgeschwadern in 1935 there would be four, were doing very well.
Speaking of Richthofens, Moth
er had brought the family. Wolf-Manfred, Manfred von Reibnitz, and of course Manfred Eduard Freiherr von Richthofen, thirteen and in his Sunday best, proud that he too would become a Kadett, along with the other Richthofen boys not named "Manfred", tried to ignore Cousin (or sister) Carmen, trying herself to keep away from those grubby boys who might get dirty handprints on her new white dress. Or trying to talk to the Education Minister's boys Magnus and Wernher, who liked those American magazines too. Or ignore Aunt Viki, great with child, much to Bolko's delight; and Mama hoped to have another little boy to spoil. If that were so, he would be named Karl-Manfred. "It's the curse of our family," the father-to-be had said, cheerily, "all the firstborn boys will be 'Manfred'. Being so superior makes them a bit bratty."
And speaking of brats . . . "Herr Reichskanzler, propriety demands that he take his proper position by order of precedence in the Cabinet." Hugenberg, the issuer of that particular appeal to propriety, could stand being behind that damnable Socialist, Braun, by reason of alphabetic order. (Changing his name to Augenberg, well maybe next year?) But the Herr Minister Withour Portfolio, for all that he was a Party Leader, would have to go to his proper place in the rear, behind the other Braun, Herr Freiherr von Braun the Minister of Education.
Papen demurred. "It's not for myself, Herr Reichskanzler," he said modestly. "I will take whatever seat propriety demands. But I will say that our party has loyally supported the Government through thick and thin . . ." At least it was meant to sound modest.
Braun the other Vizekanzler would clearly have preferred not to be there at all, much less be near the Reactionary and the Usurper. On the other hand, if he wanted to keep the good opinion of the Reichsbanner (which too was an association of veterans of the Front) he had to participate in the memorial. Best to say as little as possible. Why, they might work together against him.
A Man and a Plane: An Alternate Germany Page 21