Berlin May 6 — With two of the Hohenzollern princes openly supporting Adolf Hitler, German politicians are pondering whether an ultimate facist triumph might not mean restoration of the monarchy
Even those Republican minded persons who are firm in their belief that Hitlerism will vanish in the quicksands of time, took notice when a statement came from Castle Oels in Silesia signed "Friedrich Wilhelm, Crown Prince" instead of just plain "Friedrch Hohenzollern" It revealed that Hitler was the presidential choice of teh ex-heir to the ex-throne.
The signature has been interpreted y many as indicating that the ex-kaiser's eldest son regards democratic Germany as only a passing matter, and that his hopes are rising
The anti-Hitlerites admit too, that only the naive would argue that the prince has hitched his wagon to the wrong star.
Although Hitler has repeatedly asserted that his "third reich" would not mean another monarchy, such observers believe that once "in," Hitler easily could convince his followers, nourished on the Hohezollern fare of military trappings, drums, and heel-clicking, that it was their solemn duty to restore the monarchy.
Borrowing just one more feature from Fascist Italy would be consistent, they add, with Hitler's elastic program.
Two years ago, Hitler described the Hugenberg Nationalists, self-appointed promoters of the Hohenzollern cause as "social reactionaries," calling his own movement "social revolutionary" and denying that any Hohenzollern favored him.
Today there is discrete silence on this point. Nazi newspapers buried the crown prince's statement on inside pages if they printed it at all.
Prince August Wilhelm, the ex-kaiser's fourth son, familiarly known as "Auwi," is a nazi storm troops leader and intimate with Hitler. He won a seat in the Prussian diet in the recent state elections.
"Auwi" said he was speaking for the crown prince, too and with the consent of his exiled father.
This in connection with the fact that two of the Hohenzollern offspring had shifted their faith from "Stonewall" Hugenberg, was taken to mean that the former emperor no longer disapproved of Herr Hitler.
The crown princes conversion to Hitler followed "Auwi's" by about two year. He was never active in politcs, whereas Prince August and the other brothers, Ettel Friedrich and Oscar, earl, identified themselves with Hugenberg's Nationalists.
"Hilter," so "Auwi" told a mass meeting at Brunswick, "has been sent to the German people by God! "
To which Republicans have retorted that the Hohenzollerns may not prove a god-send to Hitler.
Thu May 10, 2012 12:29 am