On Thursday the 11th of January 1923, the final observers of the French
Army left Germany's Ruhr and Rhineland, effectively closing the Allied
post-war occupation of the Reich. Kaiser Albert (though laconic as
always) lead the principal celebrations of the French retreat.
The deposed Hohenzollerns tried to stage rival productions to the
official parades, but were humiliated by public turnouts for Albert that
were estimated to be five times greater than the attendence for William.
Oscar Hergt, the leader of the Nationalists and a partisan for William,
was eased from his position by DNVP members who questioned his fondness
for the "unofficial dynasty"" and replaced as leader of the Opposition
by Kuno Graf von Westarp, who accepted the fact that Germany had a new
Kaiser. (Low comedy was provided by Adolf Hitler, Germany's famed
"illegal alien," who was again apprehended on the wrong side of the
border, this time attending a September 1923 DNVP rally in Nuremberg,
Bavaria.)
Production indices and employment levels rose in 1923. "People can think
about items other than politiics," observed Chancellor Ebert. "They can
be happy again, drink beer and eat sausages" (1), Though overshadowed
by the leader****p competition among the Nationalists, there was tension
in the Governing Coalition. Gustav Noske had been unimpressed by Ebert's
flight for Dresden when threatened by the Ehrhardt Brigade. "But for
Kaiser Albert," said Noske, "Germany would now be run like a Latin
American country by unelected generals and colonels" (2).
Far worse for the Social Democrats than recriminations over who had done
what during a safely defused crisis was the Julius Barmat scandal.
Barmat was Dutch and Jewish and was both Ebert's friend and a
fundraiser for the Chancellor. When Barmat's speculations tumbled by
early 1924, there was evidence that financial re****ting rules and
banking procedures had been bent for Barmat at the instigation of the
Chancellor.
Ebert stubbornly refused to resign and sought a personal vindication at
the polls. Ebert squeezed through the General Election of May 1924 with
a reduced majority.
Socialist Party (SDP) 121
Center Party (Z) 165
Bavarian People's (BVP) 16
German Nationalists 122
Communist Party (KPD) 35
The Nationalists, bitterly torn over the rift between the Hohenzollerns
and the Windsors, were not capable of fully utilizing the sleaze of the
Barmat case against the SPD. The predominance of the Center in the
Governing Coalition was reflected in Ebert's retirement in June 1924,
and his replacement by William Marx as Chancellor. Marx, leader of the
Center, cleaned out his Cabinet of anyone even peripherally linked to
Julius Barmat and governed with a fair and steady hand. In the Foreign
Office, Philip Scheideman continued in service as did Gustav Noske at
the War Ministry.
Gustav Streseman, the Shadow Minister of the Interior, condemned the
Marx Government for the female ****ity on display in vaudeville halls and
cinemas. In making his case for the moral decline of the nation under
Catholics and Socialists, Streseman circulated exploitation films
demonstrating that, yes, entertainment celebrities Anita Berber and
Josephine Baker really did dance and sing in the ****. "Mr. Streseman is
so appalled by ****dness that he makes sure that every movie hall in
Germany exhibits it daily" (3).
The fourth largest delegation in the Reichstag, the German Communists
appeared to be at a curious disconnect with mainstream Germany.
Following Luxemberg and Liebknecht, the KPD focused on developments in
the Soviet Union. In an internecine power struggle, their ideological
brothers in Moscow had booted Leon Trotsky from the Politburo on grounds
that seemed unwise to Liebknecht and Luxemberg. The Communist
constituency was treated to their Reichstag deputies making tedious
ideological declarations against the Kamenev- Zinoviev- Stalin gang.
Pragmatic Chancellor Marx observed: "If we do not let a madman like
Hitler into the Reich, why should we admit Mr. Trotsky?" (4) Trotsky
was refused asylum in Germany.
In the politics of royalty, many observers believed that the breach
between Albert and Wilhelm could be healed if Kaiser Albert would take a
bride from Wilhelm's family. According to Albert's brother, Edward
VIII, Albert did not follow that suggestion because he was not attracted
to any of the suggested ladies and making second cousin William an
in-law would likely aggravate his meddling, not decrease it.
The Danish royalty which had been the monarchy of Greece possessed a
princess called Marina. Only eighteen, she was ten years younger than
Albert and lived in Denmark as her family's fortunes in Greece were
again shrouded in misfortune. Marina and Albert were engaged to be
married in May 1925, and began writing letters to familiarize themselves
with each other.
Marina to Albert, September 1924. "I see that the Communists and a
dissident faction of the Socialists have introduced a bill in the
Reichstag to expropriate the property of princes in Germany. I hope that
is not an ominous sign."
Albert to Marina, September 1924. "My ministers assure me that there
will be no property distribution in Germany. Almost all of the people
are too proseperous and content to listen to agitators like Mr. Thalmann
or Miss Luxemburg. It is a futile activity, as nonproductive as Baron
Kuno's decision to try to roll back women's suffrage."
Marina to Albert, October 1924. "Here in Denmark, they say that Berlin
is equal to New Orleans as a source of jazz music. Berlin has no
Negroes, but they say that Jews are a good substitute for them as
musiicians."
Albert to Marina, October 1924. "I met with Marshal Pilsudski of Poland,
who is on a state visit to Germany. Chancellor Marx was unable to
attend the luncheon, but Foreign Minister Scheideman was there and
charmed the Marshal with his jokes, some of which were Polish
witticisms. For once, there was no talk of the Danzig Corridor."
Marina to Albert, November 1924, "Your brother is most charming and
tells me that he is eager to see you and me married. David says he is
being nagged about his own marriage arrangements. A thick set grand
daughter of the Earl of Strathmore, called Cookie by David, has been
most irksome in her attentions to him. Your brother can be ungallant at
times, but never unamusing."
Albert to Marina, November 1924. "David did mention to me that he was
matrimonally hunted by Cookie. He thinks she tipples sherry a mite too
much, and predicts drunkeness in her future if she does not reform."
Albert to Marina, December 1924. "It is good to be back at Potsdam for
the Christmas season and I am glad that you can join me next week.
Italy was a mice place, and Mr. Mussolini was a more modest, quiet man
in private conversations than one would think from his public speeches."
The British royal family and its entourage all came to Berlin in May
1925 and celebrated the Albert and Marina nuptuals with pagentry and
grace. Again, the ex-Kaiser, William, tried to throw shade on the
celebration by leaving early for a yacht trip to islands between Greece
and Turkey.
Notes:
(1) Ebert quoted p. 35 in John Toland, Beer And Sausages: Germany in
the 1920s (New York, 1970).
(2) Gustav Noske, Recollections (New York, 1955), p. 237 (translated
by William ****rer).
(3) Emil Ludwig, Munchner Illustrierte Presse (24 August 1924).
(4) Marx quoted p. 287 in Isaac Deutscher, The Prophet Outcast: A
Life Of Leon Trotsky (New York 1958).
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