The Supreme Leader Masters Politics
August 2, 1934. The day I promised Hindenburg that I would end the state of emergency.
Upon hearing reports that he was on his last breath, I rushed straight to Neudeck. A crowd had gathered outside Hindenburg's sickroom. I strode through the solemn atmosphere with purpose.
"Chancellor, His Excellency the President is not well."
"I must see him."
The doorman opened the door to the sickroom. I brushed past him and stood before Hindenburg. He lay buried under the covers, wheezing pitifully.
Just a few weeks ago, this man was perfectly healthy... Time is a terrifying thing.
I approached Hindenburg closely and held a finger to his nose. He was still breathing. That meant he hadn't died yet. But one look told me he wouldn't last much longer. Even with the butterfly effect I'd created, his fate remained unchanged.
"I'm not sure if you can hear me, but this morning, I finally declared the end of the long state of emergency."
I continued calmly before the wheezing Hindenburg.
"From here on, Germany will plunge into a vortex of madness, dragging the world into an abyss of flames. The people will die by the hundreds of thousands, millions, out of loyalty; the soldiers, out of honor. The world will be shrouded in blood and fire, and in the end, we will triumph."
I explained what was to come—a gift for his journey to the afterlife, so to speak. As I spoke of the future of the Second World War, Hindenburg quietly opened his eyes. Our gazes met.
"Did you hear all that, Your Excellency?"
"My Kaiser...?"
"Watch and see. I will lead Germany to victory."
"My Fatherland..."
Hindenburg looked at me, muttering about the emperor and the fatherland, then closed his eyes again. He seemed delirious. Finally, I spoke to his closed eyes one last time.
"Succeeding you."
"I wish for my fatherland without me to fare even better than when I was there—that is my sole desire. My life was the state, and the state was me, so even in death, I think only of the state. Man must die, but the state's eternity is the greatest blessing granted by God. I lived and died for the state, but the state must endure forever. I hope my successors lead the state well, and I have no doubt they will. With the chancellor and the people so devoted to the state, there is nothing to fear. Oh God, bless my fatherland."
After Hindenburg's death, I immediately submitted the "Law Concerning the Head of State of the German Reich" to the Reichstag. Before his funeral could even begin, I used my parliamentary majority to ram it through. The DDRAP-dominated Reichstag didn't even bother reading the content.
"With this, upon President Hindenburg's death, presidential powers are temporarily vested in the Chancellor. The state looks to one leader, one direction, one wave. Long live Supreme Leader, Head of State!"
On August 2, 1934, I ascended to the position combining Chancellor and President as the nation's Supreme Leader.
That same afternoon, starting with the Berlin Guard Regiment, the Wehrmacht began swearing loyalty to me one by one. And finally, I released the forged Hindenburg testament.
"His Excellency Hindenburg prepared this will four months before his passing. I only learned of it belatedly and now inform the people."
Hitler had forged Hindenburg's will sloppily, ignoring handwriting and style, which raised suspicions. But I was far more meticulous. I used keywords he favored like "God," "fatherland," and "blessing," mimicking his style almost perfectly. I photographed it and released it to the public.
The forged will convinced everyone it was genuine—people didn't suspect a thing. Of course, the real will expressed concerns about me, so I couldn't release that.
Thus, Hindenburg rested as Germany's hero. Despite dissolving republican cabinets multiple times, the forged testament painted him as ending on a high note. At the same time, I declared another state of emergency.
August 7, 1934. Five days after President Hindenburg's death.
After his funeral, while investigating his death, I announced to the world that elements within the military had plotted to assassinate him. Naturally, it was fabricated, but well-crafted evidence and unified media spin left no room for doubt.
"What...? Hindenburg was actually under assassination threat?"
"My God. Maybe even this death was an assassination!"
Conspiracy theories. When wielded properly, they're a potent political force. Especially ones fed directly by the state? The impact is enormous.
I declared a state of emergency and launched a massive investigation into the alleged Hindenburg assassination attempt. It began with my private militia, the Wave Corps.
"We swore loyalty to the Führer! Why are you ransacking us?"
"It's not about ransacking you. There are just some bad apples among you."
Why purge the Wave Corps? It had nothing to do with Hindenburg. Founding heroes must die. They'd contributed most to my rise, so it was time to sacrifice a few for appearances. A gag order, essentially.
I branded the Wave Corps a private army, infiltrated it, and discarded a few of my once-loyal subordinates like trash. Next came the Wehrmacht.
Anti-DDRAP figures like General Schleicher and Lieutenant General Wilhelm Groener still lurked in the Wehrmacht; I tied them to the assassination plot and purged them all. I began rooting out opposition across society, including extreme antisemites and Polish noble immigrants.
Wilhelm Keitel, Hitler's lackey, was also on the list. Pretexts were easy to fabricate. Knowing the future, I resolved to eliminate the useless now. Heinrich Himmler, who would only sow division, went too.
"What crime have I committed? How can you do this to me?!"
Heinrich Himmler, former SS leader, vanished into history.
The Great Purge, starting August 7, 1934, lasted four days until August 11. On August 12, I declared the crisis over and ended the emergency. Later called the "Night of the Long Knives."
September 1934. All parties except DDRAP were dissolved, the President was dead, and I sat as Supreme Leader. Four weeks had passed.
Politics stabilized again, the emergency ended, and I was now a full dictator. One word from me moved Germany; one word mobilized the masses.
Finally. Finally, I stood at the starting line.
Now the real game begins. Should I kick off with civilian factories?
In Hearts of Steel 4, factories divide into civilian and military. Military are needed immediately, but building civilian early snowballs later—like growing your economy beforehand to boost wartime capacity.
First, I ordered a census. I created the "German Birth Commission" under the administration to manage birth rates, unlike France's decline. The census ran through them too—knowing population lets you plan manpower.
"We need a women's labor movement too."
I launched posters urging German women to join the Labor Front, commissioned films on female workers, and slowly revved up the planned economy. Officially for women's rights, but really war prep.
"Women must be Germany's vibrant workforce too! Origin and gender won't divide us! Unite and fight for the nation's progress! Claim your honor and glory!"
From the podium, I appealed for women to work. Naturally, as they flooded society, side effects emerged—but we'd endure. Half the population idle? No thriving nation does that.
"My Führer, the Berlin-Hanover Autobahn is complete."
Meanwhile, the Five-Year Plan and New Deal bore fruit. Berlin-Hanover finished; Berlin-Nuremberg neared completion. I visited auto CEOs to encourage them, discussed highway activation, and networked with private businessmen—photographing it all for propaganda.
Post-Hindenburg, amid political chaos, Germany's economy recovered from the Depression faster than expected—far outpacing still-wheezing France.
Finally...
"Economic growth and inflation are inseparable. Summon Hjalmar Schacht. We need inflation safeguards."
Before the Depression's deflation broke, I prepared for rising prices.