The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-18

: BY MILTON BRONNER
European Manager, NEA Service.
Copyright 1882, NEA Service Inc)
Berlin, Feb 18.-When Paul Won
Hindenburg, former commander
in-chief of the German armies, re-
tired to Hanover and put on
"civies," he dreamed Of passing his
declining years in peace and quiet.
But this was not to be.
Every time he walked down t he
street, a crowd followed him. He
humorously growled:
Frau Won Hindenburg has gone
out shopping. used to like to do
this, too, but now ] can't. The
crowds get in my way. ,as
Suddenly, something happened in
Berlin. The extremists in the
monarchist camp and the would-be
German Bolshevists had both beer
defeated and the republic estab-
lished. A committee Of the Reich
stag was appointed to inquire into
the conduct Of the war.
Ludendorff was perturbed. He
knew they would go after him. He
besought his old chief to come.
tOO. Win ulS CIidTdCtSTlStlC iOydity
the old man agreed.
In November, 1919. he appeared
in Berlin. Taking his views from
Ludendorff, who. had been the
active politician, he blamed the
government back home for not CIV
ing the army full support. Then
came the celebrated sentence:
LAS an English general truly
said: The German army was
stabbed in the back
Out of that for years grew the
legend that Germany would have
won the war If it had not been for
the home front.
In 1925 Fritz Ebert. first presi-
dent of the republic, died suddenly.
A national election would have to
be held to choose his successor.
Ludendorff was nominated by one
crowd and there were also several
other candidates but because Of a
technicality the race had to be run
over.
Somebody suggested that Hin
denburg would be the very man.
Emissaries were sent to Hanover.
The old man turned them down.
He knew they were trying to ex-
plot his popularity. He told them
he had never been a party man
and did not desire to become one
in his old age. Besides, he was
bothered by bronchial catarrh
and was very broken up by his
loneliness, since the death of his
wife. M
MI Hyox;.xo1sox. ...,,& ~, va -
miral Won Tirpitz. He pictured to
Hindenburg that It was his duty
to the fatherland to run for presi-
dent.
.Hindenburg was persuaded.
It proved a sensation both at
home and abroad. In Germany
good democrats feared Hindenburg
would be merely figurehead until
the monarchists could bring back
a Hohenzollern to the throne. The
Allies feared very much the same
thing.
A rip-snorting campaign ensued.
The old man took little part in it.
In an Easter message to the PEG.
pie, he said that when he had been
a soldier he never considered party
interests, but always the nation.
The head Of the state, too. must
stand above parties and administer
his Office in the interests of all the
citizens. He appealed to every pa
triotic German to play his part in
the revival of the fatherland and
to preserve religious and social
peace.
His supporters and his opponents
thought this was mere empty talk.
The Nationalist hoped and the
democratic forces feared that, II
elected, he would be Q power to
overturn democratic institutions.
The election took place on Sun.
day, April 26, 1895. The ola
man spent q quiet day with his
family. He did not walt until 70.
turns came in. He went to bed Ct
10 ana rave orders that he was not
to be awakened. His excited family
The first returns were unfavor-
able. The big industrial cities were
heavily against him. But Ate[
news came from Bavaria ana last
Prussia. fiindopburg was leadink.
Al one In the morning his election
seemed certain.
When the newiy-elected presi-
dent woke up the next morning
victory was assured.
On May II ne was inausurated
AZ president In Berlin ana TOOK
VIZ ' ~, cn6 enc Almighty