Messersmith, G.S., Vienna. Memorandum of comments by German friend visiting in Vienna on situation in Germany.
Date
1934-11-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Enclosed with No. 445. Copy with No. 447. Friend has contact with leading people in business, financial, professional and political circles, and is well-informed; said Hitler fearful of his life and increasingly inaccessible; [Franz] von Papen drew up Hindenburg's will after long conversation with him shortly before his death, and Hindenburg, having great confidence in von Papen, signed it without reading it; inference clear that von Papen put into will whatever he wished; concerning repeated statements as to Hitler's sexual abnormality, friend stated he knew in this respect Hitler was "quite normal"; Hitler has decided that neither [Hermann] Goering nor [Rudolf] Hess is to be Vice-Chancellor; if, or when, appointment is made, it will be [Wilhelm] Frick; Goering content with this solution, for he would become Minister of the Interior, with charge not only over police, but over Himmler and S.S.; Reichswehr would approve this solution also; Frau von Papen had related to friends in Austria the narrow escape she and von Papen had on evening of June 30; informed by telephone that something was going to happen and that her life and von Papen's were in danger; without telling her husband she immediately called a friend in the Reichswehr, who sent a detachment of soldiers to guard the house; in early evening a group of Himmler's S.S. men approached to carry out their orders but seeing soldiers withdrew; asked friend if this correctly described incident; he said it was correct and added that the friend Frau von Papen had called was General Werner von Fritsche, the Commander-in-Chief; friend reported much disorganization within Party; Goebbels booed at Party meeting, but still too valuable to Party to be let go; [Fritz] Reinhardt, State Secretary in Finance Ministry, opposed [Hjalmar] Schacht in recent Cabinet meeting, calling his notions capitalistic; Schacht walked out of meeting and did not return until Reinhardt, on Hitler's orders, apologized; Reichswehr remaining apart from situation and taking no part in any except rearmament activity; friend does not think price rise in Germany will be so rapid as some think; factors other than economic and political, such as church question, assuming more importance; friend believes President Roosevelt the greatest world leader today, and although patriotic German, approves U.S. attitude; he is very pessimistic about outlook for Europe; he feels when dollar and pound reach parity, other currencies will adjust to it; solution would be helped if England got away from foolish worship of gold.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.