GERMANY: Regime of Dictators

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Reich Dictator. The setting up of a Dictator with wide powers to crush revolt is undoubtedly a protectionist policy. The rise of a Dictator in Germany was expected and was only a corollary of successive failures on the part of various Governments to deal with a complex internal situation aggravated by still more complex foreign relations and obligations. The political currents flowing against the sides of the Government barge were strong and numerous. There were the Monarchists, whose ranks were split by the Hohenzollern and Wittelsbach factions; the Communists, whose opposition to the Government was equal to that of the Monarchists; the Democratic and Center Parties, both of whom were a minus quantity so far as the Government was concerned. The cessation of passive resistance was an opportunity for the various Parties to get together (or to act separately) and overthrow the Government. The appointment of a military Dictatorship forestalled such moves. The Government had to take a strong stand to keep itself in power and, with this in view, made Dr. Otto Gessler Military Dictator of Germany.

His Record. The appointment of Bavarian Dr. Gessler to the post of Military Dictator of Germany, a position formerly filled with varying success by William of Hohenzollern, was made by President Ebert. Dr. Gessler was described as an opportunist. He has been in three successive Cabinets, each of which has had a separate policy: Wirth Government, pledged to paying reparations; Cuno Government, pledged to maintaining passive resistance and refusing to pay reparations; Stresemann Government, pledged to seeking an exit from political, financial and economic depression. To each of these Governments the versatile Gessler has given his wholehearted support. He is considered an able orator and a strong man given more to suave diplomacy than to direct methods. His job now is to maintain order in Germany, to keep his weather eye cocked on Bavaria, particularly on Dr. von Kahr and Adolph Hitler.

Herr Hitler. Adolph Hitler is an Austrian who came into prominence after the murder of the Bolshevik Kurt Eisner in 1919. Since then his power has steadily been increasing, owing principally to the solid support he has received from the enigmatic General von Ludendorff. His principal role is that of Commander of the Hitler Guards or Bavarian Fascisti, a body apparently formed to take the place of Kahr's Einwohnerwehr in fighting the Bolsheviki, but in reality to forward the Monarchist cause. Politically Hitler believes in the restoration of the head of the Hohenzollern dynasty as King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany, of the Wittelsbach dynasty as King of Bavaria. He is Anti-Secessionist, but wants Austria incorporated into the German Reich and a close alliance made with Hungary. Although Hitler has backed down in face of the opposition shown him by Dr. von Kahr, he will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in Bavaria, because his military and political organization is said to be perfect. An agreement with von Kahr is by no means unlikely.