Page 165 - Was Hitler a Riddle?

152 The American Diplomats

tional socialism could be likened to italian Fascism. although both empha-
sized chauvinism, Fascism was based on “the idea of a cooperative state,”
whereas Hitlerism harked back to the “old Hohenzollern and Prussian idea
of strong centralization, imperialism and expansion.” Moreover, anti-semi-
tism, a major feature of the Nazi program, was absent from Fascism. 14
throughout much of 1932, the reports by american diplomats reflected
the confusing state of affairs in Germany. Chancellor Brüning could not
count on adequate support in the reichstag to cope with the growing eco-
nomic crisis, and he could not calm the political waters; and by the spring,
President Hindenburg had lost confidence in him and requested his resig-
nation, which was submitted on May 29. two governments, virtual dicta-
torships, governed successively for the next seven months, but they, too,
turned out to be ineffective. during this period of intense political strife
and uncertainty, american diplomats sent divergent, even contradictory,
messages to Washington. On February 2, 1932, John Wiley, the counselor of
the embassy, reported that he had held discussions—in apparent violation
of Gordon’s strictures—with Goebbels, Göring, and Hanfstaengl, three
close adherents of Hitler, and had concluded that although the “present
course of events in Germany is somewhat disquieting,” the outlook might
not be as bleak as many feared. He was certain that the Nazis “have become
more and more moderate.” Wiley noted that he had been assured that “the
Nazi idea is not to harm a hair of any Jewish head, but to treat them as for-
eigners; to tax them, but not to subject them to military service; to deport
eastward as many Polish and russian Jews as possible.” Wiley was especially
impressed by Goebbels, whom he found to be “more intelligent than any
other Nazi i have ever met. He obviously has first-rate ability and much
personal magnetism.” Goebbels had admitted to sharp differences within
the Nazi Party, but he seemed not to be troubled by them because “the final
decision . . . always rested with Hitler,” whose judgment could be relied
upon to be sound.
Wiley also found Goebbels reassuring on Germany’s foreign policy.
Goebbels had indicated that, once in power, the National socialists would

ernst (Putzi) Hanfstaengl was an early supporter of Hitler, having been entranced by
him in 1922, when he heard him speak in Bavaria. in the early 1930s, he was one of Hitler’s
closest associates. the Führer enjoyed his piano playing and his jovial personality. Hanfstaengl
came to be known as the court jester, but in 1937 he fell out of favor because of conflicts with
Goebbels, and, fearing he would be punished, escaped to Britain. in 1942, he moved to the
United states, where he had studied as an undergraduate (at Harvard). He worked on a proj-
ect, funded by the U.s. government, entitled “analysis of the Personality of adolf Hitler.” He
provided valuable information on Hitler’s private life.