Kapitel 126: Chapter 5: In Prison
As Christmas of 1923 approached, Zhang Hainuo found himself in a lovely villa in Aalborg, Denmark. The beautiful Bavarian girl, now Frau Finkenstein, sat happily beside him, with her mother and older brother across from them. It was one of the few gatherings they had in a year.
At this moment, Zhang Hainuo appeared relaxed. The failure of the Beer Hall Putsch was foreseeable, with Eduard and Hitler being arrested while escaping Munich. Although facing trial, their lives were not in danger, and it was only a matter of time before they would make a comeback. Hess, Goering, and other Nazi party members fled to Austria, and the Nazi Party and the Stormtroopers became illegal organizations, thus transitioning into underground activities under the leadership of Rosenbaum.
After confirming several times, Zhang Hainuo learned that his name was not on the wanted list of the Bavarian government—whether due to his name not being in the Nazi Party roster, the insignificance of the Marine Assault Division within the Nazi Party, or the government's intention to only capture the main leaders.
Nevertheless, Zhang Hainuo didn't rush back to Germany but instead enjoyed a small gathering with his family here while keeping an eye on the news from Bavaria. Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party and the organizer of the Beer Hall Putsch, was transferred to prison after stabilizing his injuries—reportedly, a bullet had pierced his shoulder area, causing significant bleeding but no other major effects. Major newspapers worldwide covered the riot, but the trial date for Adolf Hitler was yet to be determined.
During the two months in Munich, Zhang Hainuo deliberately reduced contact with the Americas to avoid attracting Little Moustache's attention, only occasionally sending instructions through Otto in Bremen. After arriving in Denmark, he was able to resume normal communication with the shipyard and contacts in Barbados and Calleben.
Everything at the shipyard was proceeding according to plan. Experts from the Weissenburg Shipyard had arrived to guide the construction of light warships, and Hess and his team were making appropriate modifications to two 2,000-ton dry docks under their guidance. With high-quality steel from the Royal Ironworks now in production, steel for building small warships was not an issue, and construction of the first steel-hulled warship was expected to begin within three months.
Under the lobbying of Haidevout, now a Brazilian congressman, the Brazilian police department had agreed to purchase a 200-ton inland patrol boat from Schneider Shipyard, at a price nearly one-third lower than American-made vessels.
At Eagle Airlines, with the arrival of the Brazilian summer, passenger numbers continued to rise. After obtaining aircraft manufacturing permits from the Brazilian government, the first aircraft production line was being set up in the Schneider Shipyard premises, awaiting Zhang Hainuo's personal visit to the United States to negotiate a production permit for a certain type of aircraft with Curtis. Once done, they could officially manufacture these relatively simple wooden-frame aircraft—engines would initially be purchased from the United States, while engine experts at Schneider Shipyard were working hard to develop diesel engines for ships, with self-development and production of aircraft engines expected to start by the end of 1925.
Good news also came from Calleben. All-American Coffee continued to excel in the U.S. coffee market in the fourth quarter of 1923. Sales at newly established outlets on the U.S. West Coast were doing well, and the U.S. military had recently shown a keen interest in the canned beverage, as it was ideal for keeping soldiers refreshed during field marches and camps. Zhang Hainuo's instruction on this matter was straightforward: secure the military's orders at all costs, even if it meant making appropriate concessions on price.
Barbados, the shrewd Jewish antique dealer, had tasted success through investment in All-American Coffee and decided to continue cooperation with Zhang Hainuo in the next chemical and textile project, increasing his stake to forty percent. However, after the "difficult birth" experience with instant coffee powder, Zhang Hainuo appeared relatively cautious this time. He planned to acquire a medium-sized chemical and textile factory first, with initial focus on the development of nylon technology. Even if unsuccessful, the financial loss would not be significant.
After Christmas, Zhang Hainuo bid farewell to Anna before New Year's Day and set off for Munich. He was determined to use the failed Beer Hall Putsch as an opportunity to increase his weight in Adolf Hitler's mind. Only in this way could he secure a more favorable position for himself and the Navy in future naval construction.
For nearly 500 years, the town of Landsberg had not changed much in appearance. It nestled in the Lech Valley, flanked by densely forested and steep hillsides. Since the Middle Ages, it had been a fortress against the invasion of the Swabians. Therefore, it still retained many ancient city walls and watchtowers. To reach the prison from Munich, one had to cross a wooden bridge over the Lech River. The so-called Lech River was actually just a small stream, and Landsberg Prison was located on the hill ahead. It was a prison composed of many gray-white buildings, surrounded by high and large stone walls. It was divided into two parts, one for ordinary criminals and the other for political prisoners.
Although the Beer Hall Putsch ended in failure in less than 24 hours, Adolf Hitler's status in the minds of the people of Munich had risen—he shed blood for the revolution, awakening the people with his own blood. On Christmas Day, a screening of "Adolf Hitler in Prison" was even held in a café to commemorate this failed hero.
On the last day of 1923, heavy snowflakes fell from the sky as Zhang Hainuo arrived alone in Landsberg. After explaining his purpose, he quickly met Adolf Hitler, who was detained in cell number 7 of the political prisoner area. The simplicity of the procedures surprised him—no bribery or overly formal applications were required, just the presentation of his identity documents, an explanation of his relationship with the prisoner, and a small amount of bail.
The little mustache in the cell still had neatly combed hair and clean clothes, but his complexion was slightly pale, and he appeared much thinner than two months ago. Zhang Hainuo later learned from Eduard that this leader had hardly eaten for over half a month when he was first imprisoned, looking almost unrecognizable at the time. It wasn't until Drexler—the man who brought him into the German Workers' Party, although defeated in the party's power struggle—came to the prison and had a long conversation with Hitler.
Drexler told him, "No matter how bad the situation appears, he has no right to think that all is lost. The entire party is watching him, hoping that one day he will rise again."
A few days later, Hans Nielche, the founder of the "National Socialist Workers' Party of Czechoslovakia," also came to Landsberg Prison to visit. He criticized Hitler for abandoning a cause that had won so many followers. Without him, the cause could have failed, and the party could have disintegrated.
At first, Hitler shook his head incessantly. "Who would follow someone who has suffered such a miserable defeat?" Nielche replied that the uprising had indeed aroused the enthusiasm of the masses. Hitler himself could not lose self-trust—most great leaders had succeeded after failure.
Finally, Hitler began to eat, but he still resisted the trial.
"Ah, Hainuo, you're here!"
When Zhang Hainuo met Hitler, Hitler's reaction seemed somewhat slow, as if there were still some things he hadn't quite figured out. Nevertheless, he still actively invited Zhang Hainuo to sit in his small meeting room—a courtesy provided by sympathetic authorities within the prison.
"Sorry, Your Excellency, I only came to see you now because I thought I was also on the Bavarian government's wanted list!" Zhang Hainuo explained calmly and honestly.
Hitler nodded in understanding. "I've heard about it. Only main party figures like Goering and Hess were on the wanted list! I think those cowardly individuals want to completely crush my party to the ground. They are wrong, very wrong! The revolution will only temporarily go underground, and one day we will make them pay double for all this!"
Seeing Hitler regain his former vigor in criticizing enemies, Zhang Hainuo felt somewhat relieved, but he still spoke softly, "I'm very sorry about Graf's death."
That day, nearly 20 people died in the skirmish, most of whom were Hitler's followers, including his bodyguard Graf and political adviser Schaub. Some fled to Austria—such as Esser, Amann, Hanfstängl, and the injured Goering—while others were imprisoned alongside Hitler in this very prison—such as Hans Lammers, Böhm, and Kriebel; Rohm and another group of rebels were locked up in Stadelheim Prison.
"Graf died for me, for our revolution. He will be revered by future generations!" Hitler said with a look of sorrow.
"Well... Your Excellency, is Hans alright? I heard he's also locked up in this prison, but I haven't had a chance to visit him yet!" Zhang Hainuo said somewhat self-deprecatingly.
"Oh, Hans is fine. He lives upstairs, and we see each other every morning and evening! After Graf, perhaps no one is more loyal than him!" Hitler said gratefully. "And you, my friend, thank goodness you and Hans showed up in time that day, otherwise I might have been shot dead!"
"Don't say that, Your Excellency!" Zhang Hainuo quickly replied. "No one could ever bring you to harm, neither in the past, nor now, nor in the future! You were born for Germany, and you will only die for Germany!"
Hitler's gaze lingered on the buttons of Zhang Hainuo's coat. After a while, he suddenly seemed to solve a difficult problem like a mathematician. "You're right, Hainuo. You're absolutely right! I was born for Germany, and I will only die for Germany! Those foolish, incompetent, inferior people won't silence me. I will humiliate them in court, and I will show the whole world who the real losers are!"
Suddenly full of confidence, Hitler's demeanor raised a different concern for Zhang Hainuo: in his youth, Hitler had suffered two major setbacks—being rejected from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts and the death of his mother. Later, he experienced two more major crises—being gassed and collapsing on the battlefield until Germany surrendered, and the disaster in front of the Chancellery. This final blow seemed to have made his emotions more easily stirred than before, and such excessive emotions would exacerbate the mutation of his character—stubborn, arrogant, and uncontrollable, which although suited some aspects of a great dictator's personality, would ultimately lead to his downfall.
"Hainuo!" Hitler reached out his cold hands and firmly grasped the visitor's hand. "Promise me, continue fundraising for the party in the Americas during this time. I know many people will feel disappointed with our party after this incident, and fundraising will become extremely difficult! But, in these difficult times, we need funds more than ever. Also, I believe I will eventually be acquitted and released. Once out of this prison, I will rejuvenate the National Socialist Party, and that will require support on the financial front!"
For Zhang Hainuo, a few thousand dollars was trivial. Now, All-American Coffee alone could generate nearly $1000 in profit per day, and Schneider Shipyard and Eagle Airlines were operating smoothly. While their funds were insufficient to build a fleet and an air force, they could still support the National Socialist Party.
Zhang Hainuo knew that the more he supported Hitler and the National Socialist Party in their low times, the deeper his position would be in Hitler's eyes. Although his identity as a non-party member still made him cautious, he had Eduard as a reliable partner.
"Rest assured, Your Excellency! Even in the toughest times, I will fundraise for you and your party, because in my mind, only you and your party can lead the German people out of the current predicament!" With a solemn declaration, Zhang Hainuo visibly pleased Hitler. Immediately after, Hitler inquired about some details regarding the Marine Assault Division—Zhang Hainuo did not mention the neglect they faced on the night of the uprising but instead told the Führer that on November 9th, one Marine Assault member was injured, three were arrested, but the rest of the 35 men escaped the military and police pursuit unscathed. His purpose in coming to Munich this time was to reassemble these men and continue their underground activities as the Führer's direct force.
Seizing this opportunity, Zhang Hainuo suggested recruiting Marine Assault members and raising funds in northern cities, especially ports like Kiel, Hamburg, and Bremen. After some consideration, Hitler agreed to each one.
Next, Zhang Hainuo talked about the unsuccessful coup from his perspective and expressed regret over the missed opportunity of occupying the telegraph office and releasing the three dignitaries. As he spoke, Hitler occasionally nodded in agreement, paused to ponder, sometimes seemed unusually frustrated, and then would suddenly have flashes of inspiration, dictating to Zhang Hainuo to record his thoughts with a pen.
Zhang Hainuo's main purpose was certainly not to help Hitler reflect. At the end of the conversation, he interjected with a highly constructive suggestion.
"The Party Intelligence Department?" Hitler was both surprised and interested by the name.
"From the national perspective, if we could have foreseen the movements of the British fleet in 1916, we might have won a victory at sea significant enough to turn the tide of the war! From a party perspective, having a tight and effective intelligence agency specifically tasked with gathering important information on hostile parties, government agencies, and even some government officials would be crucial for providing timely responses from party leaders!" Zhang Hainuo continued with an example, "If on November 7th we had known the true faces of Kahr, Lossow, and Seisser, we would never have made the mistakes of November 8th! If on November 8th we had known the orders from the Berlin government and the actions of the army, we might have avoided the failure of November 9th!"
After about five minutes of consideration, Hitler agreed with his views, but he still expressed doubt. "Currently, the National Socialist Party lacks both funds and manpower to do this kind of work!"
Zhang Hainuo had already considered this. "Initially, we only need 10 people, and we can expand when conditions permit! At critical moments, these 10 people might be able to change the outcome of a struggle!"
After considering for a few more minutes, Hitler asked, "Hainuo, who do you think is most suitable to organize and lead this intelligence department at present?"
Zhang Hainuo naturally wouldn't be naive enough to think that Hitler would entrust such an important department to him for management. He said very seriously, "Respected Führer, as a non-party member, I don't want and shouldn't comment on internal party affairs! You have a group of loyal and outstanding subordinates; selecting someone for this role shouldn't be difficult!"
Hitler stared into his eyes for a while, showing neither satisfaction nor disappointment, but pondering alone. "Ernst will continue to be responsible for the party's external liaison affairs, especially strengthening activities in America!"
The first to be excluded was Hanfstängl, which was somewhat unexpected for Zhang Hainuo, but upon careful consideration, this person, despite his close relationship with Hitler, indeed had a background that raised concerns.
"Alfred (Rosenberg) is a reliable person, but his capabilities are limited to handling relatively simple daily affairs, and he lacks supporters within the party! Rudolf (Hess) is too compassionate and not suitable for activities that require operating in the shadows!"
Hitler then quickly excluded two more names and looked at Zhang Hainuo. "Hainuo, tell me, what is the most precious quality for the head of an intelligence department?"
Zhang Hainuo thought for a moment. "Wisdom, agility, and... absolute loyalty!"
Hitler smiled, a smile that seemed somewhat sinister to Zhang Hainuo. He didn't mention the name of his "ideal candidate" directly, but it seemed he had already reached a conclusion in his mind.
"While the Storm Troopers have shown courage in the revolution, they lack decisiveness and dedication, as evidenced by the failure on November 9th!" feigning hesitation multiple times, Zhang Hainuo, under Hitler's persistent questioning, finally proposed another extremely important suggestion:
"I personally believe that establishing an armed force akin to the Imperial Guard is essential. Surely the Führer is familiar with the Royal Guard of Kaiser Wilhelm II!"
Hitler nodded thoughtfully, waiting for Zhang Hainuo to continue.
"The Storm Troopers are like the party's regular army, dealing with various routine operations, using force to attack the enemy and achieve victory; whereas the Imperial Guard is loyal only to the leader, defending their leader with their own blood and life! The Adolf Hitler Assault Division previously played a similar role, but forgive me for being blunt, it falls short of the requirements for an Imperial Guard!"
After Zhang Hainuo finished speaking, Hitler's eyes were filled with excitement. He slapped his thigh. "Hainuo, you've solved the problem I've been pondering for the past few weeks! The party's Imperial Guard, yes, I indeed need a party's Imperial Guard! The officers of the Storm Troopers are not lacking in courage and fighting spirit, but they lack dedication at critical moments; the Adolf Hitler Assault Division has not broken away from the Storm Troopers' model. To organize a loyal, brave, and powerful Imperial Guard, Emil won't do, Christian won't do either!"
Zhang Hainuo smiled as he watched Hitler happily waving his fist. Even without his "intervention," the Schutzstaffel (S.S.) would be established in early 1925, but this elite force would ultimately become a "weapon" for ruthless figures like Himmler—a disdain that Zhang Hainuo felt towards Himmler and Heydrich was no less than that towards Göring among all the figures of World War II.
"Hainuo, Hainuo, we need to establish this Imperial Guard as soon as possible. I can't wait a moment longer! We need to select a group of reliable warriors and appoint a trustworthy person as their commander!" Hitler stood up, pacing in the room as he habitually mulled over the problem. Although the small meeting room required him to turn back after a few steps, it didn't seem to hinder his inspiration.
Whenever Hitler said "we," Zhang Hainuo had a strange feeling, as if he had become a confederate of the Little Moustache. He often wondered if it weren't for the Nazis' infamous history, if it weren't for the need to care for and maintain his endeavors in the Americas, if it weren't for considering the lack of a "criminal record" among the glorious German naval leaders who hadn't joined the Nazi Party, he might truly have been moved.
"The party's Imperial Guard? No, no, no, such a name isn't grand enough!" Driven by his jumping thoughts, Hitler began naming the loyal guard he was building.
At the right moment, Zhang Hainuo lightly suggested the name that lingered in his memory: "The SS, the Guard of the National Socialist German Workers' Party!"
This name didn't seem to strike Hitler as a treasure. After a brief pause, he continued pacing in the room, muttering the name Zhang Hainuo had just proposed. After repeating it two or three times, he finally accepted the somewhat unremarkable name—the SS, which would become famous thereafter.
"Hainuo, it's a pity you still refuse to join our party; otherwise, I would definitely entrust the important task of forming the SS to you!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hainuo smiled from the heart, still declining: "Raising overseas donations for the party and forming the SS are both very important tasks for the party! I suddenly have an idea—since the party currently lacks manpower and resources, why not establish both the party's intelligence department and the SS together? The key point is that both of these organizations will be directly subordinate to your leadership and will only be accountable to you!"
The new suggestion masked the slight displeasure from the failed "recruitment" again, and Hitler agreed, "You're right, the most significant commonality between these two departments is that they must be commanded by loyal and reliable individuals!"
"When it comes to loyalty, are there still people around the Führer who can compare to Mr. Rudolf Hess and Mr. Hans Lammers?" Zhang Hainuo smiled, noting that Ernst Röhm had long been excluded from the list of candidates for the intelligence department by Hitler. With this statement, the options left in Hitler's mind essentially narrowed down to one.
After ending the meeting with Hitler, Zhang Hainuo went to see Eduard again. Their conversation was concise—Zhang Hainuo told him that being imprisoned in the same prison as Hitler would be a significant turning point in his political career. He emphasized the importance of continuing to demonstrate absolute loyalty to the Führer and seizing the opportunity to form the SS and the intelligence department, as they would determine "the fate of many people."
The next day, on New Year's Day 1924, Inspector Hegarmer Sacht of the new currency reform in Germany held a meeting with Montagu Norman, the Governor of the Bank of England, in London. Germany's financial problems were resolved in one fell swoop.
Sacht, who had already abolished the emergency currency, candidly told the other party about Germany's financial plight from the outset. He said that once the Ruhr Crisis was resolved, German industry might be able to develop again. For this to happen, Germany needed assistance from foreign loans and the establishment of a second credit bank apart from the Imperial Bank, namely a bank based entirely on gold. He could provide half of the foreign exchange capital needed to establish this gold standard bank within Germany, with the rest being a loan from the Bank of England.
In his memoirs titled "The Old Sorcerer," Sacht wrote that Norman wasn't interested in this at first. Later, Sacht announced that the gold capital of the new bank would be two hundred million marks, and he intended to issue banknotes. "I intend to issue pound notes," he said. As Norman pondered this extraordinary idea, Sacht continued, "Think about it, Mr. Governor, what prospects such a measure would have in strengthening the economic cooperation between Great Britain's global empire and Germany. If we want to establish European peace, we must break free from the limitations of conference resolutions and assembly declarations. European countries must be more closely linked economically."
Within 48 hours, Norman not only formally approved the loan at a special low interest rate of 5%, but also persuaded a group of bankers in London that they would accept checks much higher than the loan amount as long as the gold standard bank endorsed them. With just a few strokes of his pen, this man who called himself the "Old Sorcerer" deprived Hitler of one of his most potential political weapons—economic catastrophe.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein