Germany in 1919 was in a state of chaos, like the Republic of Korea right after liberation, as it not only lost the war but also had to pay huge reparations.
Communists who were crazy about the Russian Revolution were trying to turn Germany into a communist country, while retired soldiers who were discharged but could not find jobs gathered together and formed paramilitary organizations such as the 'Free Corps' and 'Iron Helmets' to engage in gun battles with communists. It was a daily routine.
It was literally 5 minutes before the game started.
The country was in this state, so of course the military had a lot of work to do.
"Sergeant, wake up everyone in your squad."
"What happened again this time?"
"They say communists started a riot in the city."
"That happens all the time, right? "Isn't that under police jurisdiction in the first place?"
"Even the police couldn't handle it this time and asked for our support. "We have to be there within 10 minutes, so hurry up."
Many times, they were dispatched to catch communists who were demonstrating or rioting.
Even though I was on vacation, I had nowhere to go and I didn't have much money, so I was spending my days sleeping in a bed at the official residence.
Finally, 'that day' came.
"Sergeant, you have work to do."
The major, who identified himself as a member of the Army's Information Operations Staff, gave me a 'special mission'.
"You probably know that many political parties, including communism, have emerged recently."
"Yes that's right."
"So, I think you should check out one of these organizations.
Have you heard of the German Workers' Party (Deutsche Arbeiter Partei, DAP)?"
I know.
Isn't this the old name of the Nazi Party, which was an ordinary, no-frills political party before joining Hitler, but later became infamous for causing World War II and the Holocaust?
***
"According to a report from the Ministry of Information, it is said that it is not a risk because it is a very small and medium-sized political party, but you never know. Originally, communists like Lenin started out in small gatherings.
"Your mission is to find out what kind of organization they are and what they are planning."
Although he spoke in grandiose terms, there is something the major misunderstood.
The fact is that this organization, the German Workers' Party, is a political party that would have remained a dud for the rest of its life if it had not been for Hitler.
How long have I waited for this moment to come?
It was really difficult to hide my excited expression.
I immediately headed to the warehouse where the German Workers' Party often meets.
Like many political parties that emerged in the early days of the Weimar Republic, the German Workers' Party, which had no money, rented an old warehouse and held party debates.
It was a debate, but in reality it was all about drinking beer and swearing at the government.
The warehouse was converted into a pub so that ordinary citizens could order alcohol.
I sat down in a corner, ordered a beer, and looked around, when I saw a familiar face.
"······So, we must also make good use of the current situation. Only then can you receive public attention and engage in full-fledged politics."
Over there, the bespectacled man sitting in the middle seat and talking intently was Anton Drexler, the current leader of the German Workers' Party.
This was our second meeting, having met once in our previous life.
"The government is doing nothing these days. They can't even control the prices and let the commies run wild. "They are all in the same company as communists."
"That's right, that's right."
"That is correct. cancer."
As I was finishing the beer I ordered, a man stood up and spoke passionately.
Was that person Professor Bauman? It's already been a few decades so it's hard to remember.
"We cannot leave our fate in the hands of a rotten government. "If we don't want Munich to become a den of commies like Russia, we must become aware of it now!"
"That's right!"
"So, Bayern must become independent! So that we don't have to continue to suffer at the hands of that incompetent government! Isn't that right, everyone?!"
widely.
After drinking the last sip of beer, I put the glass down loudly and stood up, all eyes turned to me.
"We are all German!"
"?"
"Are you Nyushu?"
Everyone looks confused as an uninvited guest suddenly bursts in.
Either way, I looked directly at Professor Bauman and refuted his argument.
"Bavaria should become independent? Are you sane? You should be ashamed of yourself for trying to start another life when even if you get together right away, it's not enough!
Only then can this country stand properly? "Just think about it!"
"W-what..."
"Germany is in crisis now! Unemployment is rampant, and communists are running wild. In such a situation, if independence is claimed, what good will other regions have to remain in this country? You and I will both become independent. Just like that, Germany will disappear from the map!
What's important now is not Bavaria's independence! "We need to think about how to bring Germany back together and how the German people can unite under one value beyond ideology and origin!"
Professor Bauman left in a cold sweat.
But the rest of the people remained in their seats and stared at me as if they were under a spell.
Drexler and his comrades, of course,
The person sitting in the corner drinking beer and chewing on pretzels, the waiter taking orders,
Everyone's eyes were on me.
When I finally got the chance to pour out the words I had been holding back for the past few years, my heart swelled.
"Some of the people here have fought on the battlefield like me. Anyone who has ever served in the military knows how important unity is.
But, independence! Don't you know that this is exactly what our enemies want most? If you insist on independence while knowing that, it is truly shameful, and if you insist on independence without knowing that, it is foolish!
Are you satisfied with your current situation? If you are a person with normal judgment, of course that would not be the case. If Germany is to regain its former status, everyone must come together. Instead of insisting on independence, we should join forces!
There is only one thing you must know. The fact is that we are all German. Never forget this one thing. "Okay then."
The moment I finished my speech and was about to take my coat and leave,
"for a moment!"
I knew it.
Drexler stopped me.
"Sir, what is your name?"
"Adolf Hitler."
Drexler was standing with the look on his face that a person would make when he happened to find a bundle of money among a pile of trash while walking down the street.
"The skill of speaking is an art. I think he speaks better than most politicians. "Who did you learn it from?"
"I never learned anything from anyone, I just taught myself."
In fact, Hitler created his own speaking technique solely through self-study, and it became a legend.
"her! I can't believe I achieved this level of skill through self-study. "I think you have a natural talent for public speaking!"
"Thank you for the compliment."
He took out a thin booklet from his pocket and handed it to me.
"This is a guidebook introducing our party. Please read it once and come back anytime if you have any interest in politics. "Our party always welcomes talented people like you."
***
It is said that Hitler scoffed when he first received Drexler's proposal.
That day, he wrote in his diary, 'To my great regret, these people, whose party funds are equivalent to a child's pocket money, will accept me,' so you can see how much Hitler looked down on them.
That's because the German Workers' Party was such a poor political party that even its political expenses depended on voluntary donations from its members.
If Hitler had remained in the military, history would have been very different from what we know, but he soon changed his mind, left the military, joined the German Workers' Party, and later became the dictator we know.
I have no way of knowing what Hitler was thinking when he decided to join the party, but at least I had already made up my mind.
"Are you serious?"
"I can't tell you in detail, but it's because I have something else to do."
"Huh... I can't help it. Because I have no right to stop you from making your own choices. Anyway, I understand. "I hope you stay healthy."
"Thank you so much."
The application for discharge was accepted without a hitch.
With this, I transformed from Hitler's sergeant to civilian Hitler and immediately went to see Drexler.
As expected, Drexler greeted me with a big smile.
"Welcome! "I definitely knew you would come here!"
I joined the German Workers' Party.
Party member number is 555. It meant that he was the 55th member of the German Workers' Party.
***
As I became an official member of the party, I first changed the name of the party, just like Hitler did in history.
"Let's change the party name?"
"okay. The existing name has too little impact. You have to make a strong impression to stick in people's minds, but that's hard to do with your current name. "Let's change it to a name that can be recognized a little more strongly."
Drexler was somewhat uncomfortable with my suggestion to change the party name.
When he asks to change the name of the party he invented, of course there is no way he will do it.
However, perhaps he thought that it would be difficult to attract people's attention with his current name, so he did not oppose my proposal.
"Good. But change it to what? "I can't think of anything."
"Don't worry. "Because I have something in mind."
"Can you tell me what that is?"
"National-Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei (NSDAP)."