Hindenburg's Invitation
September 17, 1930. Four days after the general election.
President Hindenburg invoked the president's emergency powers to appoint a chancellor directly. In principle, these "presidential emergency powers" existed for swift national decision-making in times of crisis. But Hindenburg had turned them into his personal plaything.
Even though DDRAP and the German Communist Party held first and second place in the Reichstag respectively, someone from the National People's Party became chancellor. Thus, the Franz von Papen cabinet was formed. The National People's Party, ostensibly the ruling party, had only 37 seats—but backed by the president's emergency powers, they formed the government.
The news spread nationwide once more, and amid the Great Depression's lingering effects, people already furious with the old regime rose up in outrage. Streets and squares in Berlin filled with protests; crowds marched with placards demanding the Papen cabinet's dissolution.
In that chaotic time, I gathered the party cadres.
"Mein Führer."
The cadres arrived one by one, saluting me crisply. These were my handpicked elites, the ones who'd built the party alongside me. I could trust them implicitly.
"Yahn. It's been ages. Good to see you."
"Boss, word is your stock's skyrocketed lately. I knew it'd come to this."
"Me too. Our endgame's not party leader—it's national leader."
It felt like forever since I'd seen Yahn Krichz. He'd been swamped lately, personal matters piling on top of missions... Anyway, this wasn't the time for heartfelt reunions.
"I assume you all know why I've called you here. President Hindenburg has invoked the emergency powers to appoint a chancellor without Reichstag approval."
Yes. As the saying goes, crisis is opportunity. We'd always turned crises into openings. I planned to weaponize Hindenburg's power grab for political propaganda—and paralyze the Reichstag in the process.
Truth be told, dissolving parliament carried massive political risk for Hindenburg too. Sure, the president had that authority, but a stalled Reichstag meant stalled governance. That's why he was desperately stacking his cabinet with puppets.
"That's why I've summoned you. For the future of the fatherland."
The cadres nodded at my words. Paul Joseph Goebbels, who'd been pushing a coalition with the Communists, spoke first.
"Mein Führer, combine our seats with the Communists' and we exceed a majority. Hindenburg's vile politics will soon meet its end."
"I agree, but a no-confidence vote alone won't solve this, Goebbels. He'll just dissolve parliament again. That's why I'm prepared for some sacrifices in this process."
"Mein Führer, may we hear the plan?"
"The patient's in the operating room. To save him, you wield the scalpel. Blood must flow, bones must be cut—but we can't let him die. We are that scalpel. Let me explain what comes next."
I called Max Amann forward first. He saluted sharply. With a wry smile, I outlined his task.
"Amann, you must widen the rift between Hindenburg and the parliamentary parties. Can you do it?"
"You have my word, Mein Führer."
"Good. Goebbels, Krichz—you two paralyze the government. Just do nothing in the Reichstag."
"But that might turn the backlash on us, Boss."
"No, Yahn. We'll redirect it at Hindenburg. He's the one ignoring the Reichstag's voice. We're heeding the people's. Packaging makes all the difference."
I assembled the cadres and ordered the Reichstag paralysis. Goebbels would court the Communists; Krichz would relay orders to our MPs.
Finally, I tasked Ernst Hanfstaengl.
"I know you have many Jewish friends, Hanfstaengl. Focus on choking the National People's Party's funding. Rally Jewish investors using their anti-Semitism as leverage."
"May I mobilize the Sturmabteilung if needed?"
"If necessary, but stay invisible."
"Understood, Mein Führer."
I issued concise orders to all. Then, for DDRAP's next propaganda push, I planned our move.
"Finally, Hess. Bring me Leni Riefenstahl."
"At once, Mein Führer."
Time for another film.
"Alright, strike a pose like this."
"Like so?"
"Perfect. Hold it for one minute."
"This is tougher than it looks. And this pipe tobacco..."
"Stay still, Lucas."
Before Riefenstahl arrived, I decided to knock out whatever prep I could. Photos first. Why? They'd come in handy someday—for newspapers, campaigns, you name it.
Catalina, her belly now prominently swollen, was thrilled for the rare chance to snap away.
"Not too tiring, Catalina?"
"Tiring? I'm photographing my husband for the first time in ages."
Pregnancy hadn't dimmed her energy; she buzzed with excitement at the chance to contribute. Still... I wished she'd take it easy.
"Great. Now change and we'll move to the next set."
"Catalina, we've done ten already?"
"Hup—go change."
"..."
Resigned, I donned a fresh uniform. It felt off—unlike the one I'd worn since the Great War. Too... green.
Emerging, I found a group of unfamiliar men standing awkwardly. Catalina looked puzzled too.
"Who might you be?"
"Lucas von Falkenrain, chairman of the German Workers' Party of the Third Reich. You are summoned by His Excellency Hindenburg."
They handed me a letter with the invitation and departed. Catalina and I exchanged glances.
"The president summoning you?"
"...Looks like our president has some grievances with me."
I opened the invitation they'd delivered. Hindenburg was a Junker like my father; he wouldn't kidnap or assassinate via formal invite. Besides, if anything happened en route to the government building, public suspicion would fall on him first. No worries there.
Lucas von Falkenrain,
Chairman of the German Workers' Party of the Third Reich
You are hereby summoned to the Presidential Palace
at the request of President Paul von Hindenburg.
Office of the President
"What will you do?"
"Head there now."
It wasn't because I hated being Catalina's photo dummy. ...Definitely not.
Hindenburg had summoned me. Clutching his invitation, I arrived at the Presidential Palace.
The black sedan pulled up; I straightened my attire and stepped out. The driver hopped down to hand me my coat. Draping it over my arm, I signaled he could go.
At the main gate, a guard halted me.
"Halt. This is the Presidential Palace."
"I have an invitation."
I presented Hindenburg's letter. He checked it, shouldered his rifle, and stood aside.
"Herr von Falkenrain. This way."
Thorough fellow... Anyway, under the guard's escort, I entered the palace.
First to greet me wasn't Hindenburg, but Chancellor Papen. He beamed warmly.
"Ah, you actually came, Herr Chairman."
"Implying you thought I wouldn't?"
"Oh, my apologies. Didn't expect you so soon. His Excellency is quite looking forward to this."
Papen was friendlier than expected. The issue? What lurked behind that smile.
I couldn't scowl while he grinned, so I shook his proffered hand with a poker face of my own.
"This way."
Papen led me to a door, cleared his throat, and opened it courteously. Then he bowed.
"Your Excellency President Hindenburg. As requested, I've brought him."
Papen clapped my shoulder and withdrew.
Hindenburg. Straight out of the photos. While Ludendorff, his Tannenberg comrade, had a grandfatherly warmth, Hindenburg struck me as sharp, hawkish. Relatively speaking—not that he was slim.
"Your Excellency President Hindenburg."
"Lucas von Falkenrain. Pleased to meet you. First time?"
"Likely, sir."
"Indeed. I see you often in the papers. Ran that gold-for-the-fatherland drive?"
"Ongoing, Your Excellency."
He puffed deeply on his cigar, turned his head, and exhaled. Then he stubbed it out in the ashtray.
"Heard you detest tobacco. Sit."
"Yes, sir."
I took the seat opposite as he poured brandy into a glass and slid it over.
"Apologies, Your Excellency, but I abstain during work hours."
"This is fine brandy."
"I'll pass."
"As you wish."
He chuckled, pouring himself a glass. He seemed to relish the moment—savoring my wary anticipation of the main topic. A power player's petty vice. Hitler had it too, but this one worse. He'd learned from the master...
"You summoned me, Your Excellency."
But I wasn't one to wait. President or not, DDRAP chairman or not—he was the junior here. Or soon would be.