Evening star., 1938-02-05
HITLER PREPARES
NATION FOR NEXT
SURPRISE ABROAD
Danzig Likely Topic Before
Reichstag-Oemand for
Colonies Renewed.
Won RIBBENTROP NAMED
CHIEF IN FOREIGN OFFICE
Goering Is Placed in Position to
Take Over Military Lead
From Fuehrer.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Marriage of Field Marshal Wer-
ner Uon Blomberg early in January
to Erika Groin, 28-year-old daugh-
ter of carpenter, brought crisis IN
relationships betueen Nasis and
Reich army, utich hos long held
dloof from political participation.
Military opposition to Won Blom-
berg marrying belou his class
brought to surface long-Smoulder-
ing coolncss OF army to neo-pdgon
PHILOSOPHERS and to INFUSION OF
Nozi party ideas among the officers.
By the Associated Press
BERLIN, Feb 5.-Reichsfuehrer
Adolf Hitler emerged today from Ger
many's most amazing cabinet crisis
as the supreme commander to inten-
slfy Naziflcation of his army and to
prepare the nation for a new step in
world affairs.
The slim, moustached, 48-year-old
Fuehrer BY swift series Of DEGREES
shook high ranking, conservative gen.
erals from their jobs to end the crisis
begun with the tinkle OF his war min
ister's wedding bells.
Takes Army Command.
He assumed for himself direct COM
mand of all Germany's armed forces:
made sweeping changes in the diplo-
matte service. concentrated authority
more than ever before in his own
hands. with a secret council on for
eign affairs, and named as his foreign
minister the Jealous Nazi. Joachim
Won Ribbentrop. the champagne sales
man who became Ambassador to
London.
The net result was further Nazifca-
ton of the military-acceleratio of
the process of fusing the party with
the state.
The brakes were thrown OF, in
other words, and today stream-lined
Nazi machine is gathering momentum
as 1t heads for its next important
move in international affairs.
Hitler has summoned the Reichstag
to meet February 20 to hear an I'M
portant pronouncement, and its nature
will concern the minds of Germany
and the world during the next fort
night
Colony Demand Renewed.
The drastic Capitalization of author
ity was followed Immediately by an
inSistent demand for return of Ger
many's lost colonies.
Field Marshal Gen. Herman Will
Helm Goering, No 2 Nazi, who is slated
to be war minister when Hitler COM
pletes party control of the army. re-
newed the demand for the colonies lost
at the end of the World War.
National Socialism has raised the
demapd for return of robbed German
property and continues to raise it." the
burly marshal shouted Members of
the diplomatic corps listened eagerly
as Goering opened a special art exhibit
dealing with colonies.
Conservative Brake Removed.
Whatever Hitler may reveal of his
immediate plans when the Reichstag
meets. one thing already is apparent
the swift events. following War Min
lister Werner Won Blomberg's resigna-
tion because the army considered his
carpenters daughter bride socially
impossible" have removed conserva-
tive generals from positions where they
might act as brakes.
There were circumstantial indica-
tions that Hitler might proclaim to the
Reichstag that Germany was taking
Danzig under her sovereignty. The
town of Danzig and surrounding terri
tory was made free city by the treaty
of Versailles.
1t was possible also that Hitler would
announce formally that Germany re-
garded herself as protector Of German
minorities everywhere. Nazification of
Austria also was a known German
(Spe HITLER pooo A-9l