Crumbling Reich: A Weimar Republic Game (Gameplay Thread)

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Hugenberg gives rambling speech at DNVP Party Conference

As 1932 begins, Alfred Hugenberg has called for a DNVP Party Conference to outline the strategy of the party for the next year, which he deems to be crucial for the future of the country. His speech will then be published throughout the Republic. Here is what he had to say.

- Good evening to everyone and welcome to the DNVP Party Conference. Today I would like to outline a few of our objectives for the year, which is crucial in our fight to liberate Germany from the chains of Republicanism, communism, slavery to foreign countries, disturbances to the natural order and the Jew elites. The so-called Weimar Republic is falling. It is led by the filth of the society, such as Jews, Communists and other abnormal beings. It has allowed us to go into slavery to the British, the French and the Americans. This monstrosity of a government made us into little more than a colony. They come here, in our country, and literally stop us from building an army, take our lands, separating our fellow Germans from their motherland, take our resources and force us into extreme poverty. To them I say - How dare you? We are not your colony, and you will soon feel that! Germany will rise again from its ashes! Because Germans are strong and determined people, much stronger than you, filthy invaders! And we will reunite all Germans in their motherland, Germany! Sooner or later the Greater Germany will not be just a dream anymore, I promise you. Soon, the greatest country on the Earth will take its rightful place again. And we will put our interests over those of the filthy French, once again.

Now, we also need to put God first again. The puppet government has allowed Atheists, Catholics and other heretics to flourish. This stupid policy must be ended and the DNVP will make it its priority to give God and its rightful Protestant Church the place in our society that they deserve. We will also end the toleration of sodomy. This disgusting sin is allowed to flourish on our streets, as if here was Sodoma. This is not Sodoma, and we will throw all who do this abnormal, disgusting act into jail for a long time. We are going to clean up Berlin and other major cities of the sodomy and the work of the Devil. We will preserve the traditional society, as God commanded us to, and make the society respect those traditions. The traditional family, the core of Germany, has been undermined by the usurpers. And we will make it our priority to restore normality, and that means a God-fearing society with no toleration for sodomy, abortions, state atheism, communism and hatred of Germany. We will teach every young men to love and respect his country, and if needed, to fight for it.

The Usurpers from Weimar have also been so incompetent and so submissive to the French and British that now millions of people are starving. Because of the so-called elites of the nation, our country is hurting. And its wounds are deep. Even our veterans, our veterans who we should reward beyond their dreams, are being thrown into misery. The slums will rise up against the anti-national usurpers, and the DNVP will be there, ready to lead the charge of the forgotten masses, their rebellion against the filth of the society who is leading the Weimar Republic. And we will restore prosperity by making Germany for Germans again, and make sure that our money go to the needing poor instead of the French and their reparations. We will end the idiotic policy of the criminal Bruning that makes Germans suffer and starve to death while the French, British, Greek, Yugoslavians, Russians and who knows what other countries put food on their table by using German wealth. Germany can and will get prosperous once it uses all of its wealth to feed its own citizens, and that is what the DNVP will do.

We will also end the Republican failure. It is very clear that when the filth of the society is allowed to rise to its highest level, it ends in a disaster for both the country and its people. We will consult the German people, and if they agree, we will immediately call for Kaiser Wilhelm the Second to come back to Germany and lead us into a new age of prosperity, just like he has done during the Empire. The Monarchy is the only viable way after the failed experiment of Weimar, and in order to truly restore the greatness of Germany, we need to be led by an honorable, blessed by God Kaiser instead of Jews and Communists.

Speaking of them, there are a few obstacles ahead of our path to end the usurpers and their reign. The Jews, the puppeteers of the Weimar Republic, will surely conspire against us in order to keep their power. And the red plague, the Communist threat is more powerful than ever. They want us to drop all of our basic values - family, Christianity, Church, patriotism, compassion, dignity - in favor of  creating a Worker Republic, in reality a Russian puppet. By the way, have you heard of plans to invade Russia by some parties? As if what we need is to feed millions of Jews and Communists Slavs instead of feeding ourselves! Unbelievable! Anyway, given that these forces are decided to keep Germany in misery, I call for the Der Stahlhelm to strike first at them, both Jews and Communists. I also call for all willing men to join Der Stahlhelm as soon as possible, and help us with ending the Weimar disaster. I also think disunity is a big problem. Which is why I will personally open negotiations with all healthy, patriotic forces to create an alliance. Thank you.

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DNVP proposes to Reichstag its economic plan

The DNVP has proposed today its plan to fight the Great Depression. Here is what it includes -

1. The immediate repeal of all austerity measures taken by Chancellor Bruning

2. The expansion of the social welfare programs

3. Introduce tarriffs on imports

4. Develop a program to rebuild the military and concentrate most resources into it, as military investments are the best chance of Germany gaining steam both economically and on the world stage

5. The Liberty Law, this law would renounce all reparations and make it a criminal offense for any German official to cooperate in their collection. It would also renounce the German acknowledgement of "war guilt" and the occupation of German territory which were also terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

The DNVP will promote its plan during the electoral campaign in the year as well.

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The offers of the DNVP to the minor conservative parties

In an effort to create a clear alternative to the NSDAP on the right wing and far right spectrum, DNVP has tried to convince as many parties as possible to join its alliance. Here are its offers to the parties -

German Peoples Party - 8 eligible seats on the Alliance list
Christian Social Peoples Party - 4 eligible seats on the Alliance list
Reich Party of the German Middle Class - 3 eligible seats on the Alliance list
German Farmers Party - 3 eligible seats on the Alliance list and a greater emphasize on rural issues
Agricultural League - same as above
German Country People - 2 eligible seats on the Alliance list and a greater emphasize on issues concerning the middle class
German Hanoverian Party - 1 eligible seat on the Alliance list
Peoples Justice Party - same as GCP

Der Stalhelm gathers up its forces in Breslau, ready to launch an attack

After the urge from the DNVP Leadership to attack Jews and Communities, Der Stalhelm chose to strike in Breslau, where it believes the Jewish community is the most vulnerable. It took several days to mobilize its troops, as near by units were joined by soldiers from the most distant corners of the country, however, once it deemed it had enough men, it attacked at night. Alfred Hugenberg asked them in a letter to avenge both the supposed rebellion of Jews during WW1 which caused Germany to lose the war and the Kaiser to abdicate, as well as them supposedly causing the Great Depression and becoming rich while Germans starve off in slums.

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Alfred Hugenberg visits Kaiser Wilhelm the Second

Today, Alfred Hugenberg went to the Netherlands to meet Kaiser Wilhelm the Second, the former and, if DNVP gets its way, next Emperor of Germany. There were no statements made during Hugenberg's visit, however photographs were published. According to Hugenberg's publications the leader of the DNVP went there to ask for the Kaiser's advice in these troubled times and to promise him that soon he will reign over his Empire once again as the Weimar usurpers will be overthrown.

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Hugenberg sends letter thanking Die Stalhelm for the Bressau attacks

In a rambling letter, Alfred Hugenberg thanked Die Stalhelm for its actions in Bressau, calling them the first step towards justice. He promised to reward all officers and soldiers who performed their duties admirably, however he urged them to return anything they have stolen to the DNVP so it can sell the objects and buy food for those in the slums with the money. He also emphasized that this is only the beginning of the fight and Die Stalhelm needs to be prepared to fight against the internal enemies of Germany at all times, for it is truly the force protecting the nation in these dire times.

Hugenberg on new Chancellor - I trust the President to make a good choice, but we will be vigilant

In his first public reaction since the end of the Bruning Government, Hugenberg celebrated the fall of the Hunger Chancellor, saying that it was a long overdue thing, and he hopes that the new Cabinet will not let people to starve in the streets because they need to pay the French and British. He expressed his fullest confidence in the judgement of President Hindenburg and in his ability to pick the best candidate possible for the job, and said that he hopes for the Chancellor to be a Monarchist, patriot and staunch anticommunist. Despite all of this, he promised for the DNVP to be extremely vigilant, and it will not hesitate in putting forward a motion of no confidence if the policies of the new government are hurtful to Germany. He also reacted to the recent essay of Carl Schmitt, by saying he agrees that the parliamentary system is broken and led to the filth of the country being  in charge of it, which is exactly why he wants to end the Weimar failed experiment and bring back the Kaiser.

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DNVP and Die Stalhelm endorse Paul von Hindenburg for reelection

After a meeting with all leaders of the DNVP and Die Stalhelm, Arthur Hugenberg reportedly persuaded them to endorse Paul von Hindenburg. In a statement published by the organizations in the newspapers, Hindenburg is praised for his role in the Great War, his integrity and his healthy political beliefs, and the DNVP leadership says that they are convinced that after another term of a Hindenburg Presidency Germany will be reborn and free. They assured the President of their fullest support and confidence.

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Hugenberg holds massive rally in Berlin

Alfred Hugenberg called on to thousands of DNVP members, DNVP fans and Die Stalhelm soldiers to come at a rally in Berlin. Hugenberg spoke for 2 hours despite its official duration of 20 minutes, and he ranted and rambled on a lot of subjects. He first of all announced the formation of the Black, Red and White League which will promote candidates who will fight to bring back the Kaiser. Its members are the DNVP and other conservative parties, namely the German Peoples Party, the Christian Social Peoples Party, the Reich Party of the German Middle Class, the German Farmers Party, the Agricultural League, the German Country People, the German Hanoverian Party and the Peoples Justice Party. He then moved on to discuss the motion to censure him, about which he said that it is the biggest joke ever proposed in the Reichstag, and that says a lot. He said that the communists and the Weimar establishment are desperate to silence him and to prevent his message from being heard by the voters, and rejoiced in the fact that it failed to pass, saying it is the biggest defeat of the usurpers since the Republic was founded. He also defended the actions from Breslau, saying that thousands in the slums were greatly helped by them while those who betrayed Germany in 1918 were punished. He underlined his endorsement of President Hindenburg, calling him the right choice and a man of deep integrity who will always fight for Germany, and urged all of those present to vote for his reelection, however he said that anyone who is not a part of the Weimar establishment or the KPD would be a good choice. However, the main part of the speech was focused on the communists. He declared them a plague that needs to be treated and the greatest threat to all German patriots. He also said that the SPD is no different, backing all sorts of dangerous, socialist policies, and the only difference between them is their foreign allegiance. He proclaimed that getting rid of leftism in all of its ugly forms will be the top priority for the DNVP and Die Stalhelm.

Die Stalhelm cause Mayhem in Berlin after the big rally

It is currently unknown whether they were inspired by the rants of Hugenberg about communists or the drinks, but a few hours after the rally ended, 1.500 soldiers of Die Stalhelm started hunting down Communist militias. They were joined by the 750 members of the SA who were also there with the same purpose.

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Hugenberg praises Der Stalhelm again, proclaims Berlin the first Communist-freed area

Alfred Hugenberg praised Der Stalhelm again, claiming that they have done a great deed in preventing Communists from taking over Berlin and potentially launching a revolution against President Hindenburg. He proclaimed Berlin to be the first Communist-free area of Germany, as the DNVP troops have cleansed it up of the red plague, as he put it. He urged all Der Stalhelm soldiers to be careful and vigilant, in the name of Germany, the DNVP and the Kaiser, as this year is likely to decide the fate of the nation. He then promised the country that Der Stalhelm will always be there to forcefully enforce the ban on the Red Front Fighters if the authorities are unable to, which is reportedly what he also said to the Der Stalhelm commanders in a private meeting after the Berlin mayhem.

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Hugenberg and the DNVP propose the censure of Ernst Thalmann

Today, a proposal has been submitted at the Reichstag by the DNVP members, calling for KPD leader and Presidential candidate Ernst Thalmann to be formally censured and condemned. They accused Thalmann of being affiliated with and leading a banned organization, the Red Front Fighters, of being a spy for the Soviet Union, of taking orders from Moscow and of promoting a criminal ideology which is dangerous for the sovereignty of Germany.

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Hugenberg campaigns for President Hindenburg all around the country

Alfred Hugenberg went to Northern Germany and East Prussia in order to mobilize the right wing voters living there for President Paul von Hindenburg, holding massive rallies there, as well as in Vienna, where he went to mobilize German nationalists with the promise that Paul von Hindenburg will fight for them in his next term. Here is his schedule -

3rd-4th March - Visit to Vienna, rally with German nationalists and meetings with Austrian politicians

5th-6th March - Rally in Breslau, visit at the local DNVP and Die Stalhelm HQ, meeting with people living in the slums, meetings with German aristocrats living there, visit at the place of the Breslau violence

7th-8th March - Rally in Rostock, visit at the local DNVP and Die Stalhelm HQ, meeting with people living in the slums and organizing actions to help them, meetings with German aristocrats living there

9th-10th March - Rally in Schwerin, visit at the local DNVP and Die Stalhelm HQ, meeting with people living in the slums and organizing actions to help them, meetings with German aristocrats living there

11th-12th March - Rally in Konigsberg, visit at the local DNVP and Die Stalhelm HQ, meeting with people living in the slums and organizing actions to help them, meetings with German aristocrats living there

13th March - Return to Berlin to meet with President Hindenburg and the DNVP/Die Stalhelm Leadership, protect the capital from potential Communist coup

The speeches of Alfred Hugenberg were not the only help the DNVP gave President Hindenburg during the campaign, as both the party officials and the militiamen were instructed to help as much as possible the presidential campaign. Die Stalhelm received explicit orders to avoid violence, as to not associate Hindenburg with the Weimar street fights. The exception to this rule were the Communists, who the militiamen were instructed to attack whenever the opportunity arises and join forces with the NSDAP to finish them off.

 

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Alfred Hugenberg responds to the rants of Communist Thalmann

During his speech in Vienna, which will be published in major newspapers, Alfred Hugenberg responded to the paranoid rants of the KPD Leader Ernst Thalmann. Here is what he had to say -

Today, the Presidential candidate Ernst Thalmann, you might be familiar with him... (makes pause for the crowd to boo), yes, the Bolshevik agitator who wants to make Germany, and Austria probably, a Soviet Socialist Republic, ranted about the Hindenburg Government not doing something to help him and his soldiers! Well, Comrade, it is doing something! It banned your terrorist, anti-national organization and it sent Die Stalhelm, the true vanguard of the German brethren, to make sure it stays banned! And Die Stalhelm will stop at nothing to make sure that illegal Communist organizations will stop haunting the streets of our glorious cities! (makes pause for crowd to cheer) And no matter how much you scream and get offended by it, Paul von Hindenburg will not allow for you, Communists, to steal the sovereignty of the German state and throw it to the USSR! (makes pause for crowd to cheer)

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Alfred Hugenberg - A vote for President Hindenburg is a vote against Socialism

In his first public appearance since the first round results were published, Alfred Hugenberg thanked all Germans who went to the polls and voted for the banner of Hindenburg, calling the results of the first round a great win for all patriotic forces. However, Hugenberg said, it is even more important for everyone to vote for Hindenburg in April, in the second round. He said that the Hindenburg campaign is the last line of defense against the socialist forces, and only a vote for Hindenburg will defeat Bolshevik Socialism, Democratic Socialism and National Socialism. He promised for the DNVP and Der Stalhelm to take a more active role in the second round campaign in order to ensure the survival of Germany.

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The speech of Alfred Hugenberg in Kiel - 14th March

Good evening, Kiel! Thank you all patriotic Germans for coming here tonight and thank you all for voting in such great numbers yesterday for the banner of President Hindenburg! It was a great victory and I am so proud of our results! However, in April, there is an even greater danger looming over our country. That is the danger of Socialism. Bolshevik Socialism, Democratic Socialism and National Socialism are all sides of the same rotten, red coin! And their effect will be the same - an abandonment of what makes Germans to be Germans. The values of faith, family, tradition and the very soul of this nation. Socialism wants to take all of those values away from us and change them to suit their own disturbed visions. They also want to abandon the Kaiser, the only worthy leader of this nation, in exile as they grow their own personal power. We will never allow it! And the only solution to stop the socialist plague from ripping our soul is to reelect President Hindenburg! If he is reelected, a Hindenburg Government will end this Republic of Jews, Usurpers and Communists and he will bring back the Kaiser. We will also end the foreign countries taking our money, our land and our people away from us, and we will create Greater Germany! We will also end the communist threat once and for all! So join us, for only under the banner of Hindenburg we can make our country whole.

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- Alfred Hugenberg is going to make a tour of Germany, visiting every major city in the North and in East Prussia before the German people submit their ballot in April. He will hold at least a rally every day. Every speech that he gives will be published by his newspapers.

The speech of Alfred Hugenberg in Schwerin, 19th March

Hello, Schwerin! I am so glad to be here, and thank you all for going out to the polls and voting for President Hindenburg in such large numbers last week! He is a Great War hero, a man of great integrity and has the best political beliefs - he is a Monarchist, a patriot and a staunch anticommunist, and this is why me and my party are supporting him with our entire force. And today I want to speak to you about the threat of Bolshevism. Because this is the true danger we are facing in this day and age. And all candidates, other than President von Hindenburg, are Bolsheviks at heart. Only President Hindenburg will fight for Germany to be safe and prosperous again. Only with him we can go back to a stable government, one in which the thieves and usurpers in the Reichstag will not have the authority to dictate our lives anymore. I know that many who hold this beliefs have voted for another banner last week, however that is not the way Germany should take. Because National Socialists are just that. Socialists. And once in government they would act according to their Socialist beliefs. President Hindenburg on the other hand will not allow Germany to fall even further, and will end the influence that Bolshevik Jews and foreign countries hold over our country. So in April, vote for the only candidate that will make Germany whole.

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Hugenberg continued to hold rallies promoting a reactionary platform and claiming Hindenburg is the only anti-socialist candidate in Northern Germany and East Prussia. He accused both Hitler and Thaalmann of being covert Bolsheviks who would bring mayhem and destruction to Germany while Hindenburg would restore it to its former glory. He hinted that a renewed Hindenburg term would mean the end of the Republic and a ban on communism.

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Alfred Hugenberg responds to Adolf Hitler by asking him if he is really not a Bolshevik then why would he put radical socialist Gregor Stasser in a high ranking position in the NSDAP and his campaign given his well known support for harmful, USSR-inspired economic policies that would lead to a new, devastating hit from which the German economy might never recover?

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The Hindenburg campaign will organize counter rallies to communist manifestations

The Hindenburg campaign will start organizing counter rallies to any events attended by Ernst Thalmann. There will be anti communist speeches given just as the KPD has a rally and right next to the place where it happens. Violence shall be avoided, as the goal is to prevent the communists from giving their message to voters rather than to beat them up, and shall only be utilized in self defence.

Alfred Hugenberg responds to the remarks of Adolf Hitler

In response to the most recent remarks of Adolf Hitler, Hugenberg had this to say - It sounds like Herr Hitler is trying to balance the desires of his anti-communist voters with his communist ideology. It is clear that Gregor Strasser will play a key role in any NSDAP government and that even by itself shows that the National Socialist Party is socialist and Bolshevik. The DNVP will fight against any government which Herr Strasser, who is almost as bad as the KPD, is a part of.

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Alfred Hugenberg congratulates President Hindenburg on his victory during a speech in Berlin after the results came in, however he promised that the DNVP will make sure that his second term will be much more active than the first and will truly move the country in the right direction. He congratulated Herr Hitler for his very good result but dedicated much of his speech to Thalmann and his party, calling them a dangerous militia that is roaming free and terrorizing German cities. He called for an enforced ban of both the Red Front Fighters and the KPD.

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Hugenberg makes big announcement at rally in Berlin

After the usual rhetoric against foreign countries, for the Kaiser and against communism and socialism, Alfred Hugenberg made a big announcement -

And I want to let you know that I will soon be Interior Minister! (pauses for applause) The German people will be able to sleep peacefully at night because they will know that law enforcement is there for them! This is my promise to you, Germans! (pauses for applause)

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Hugenberg sends Police on the streets on May Day

Alfred Hugenberg has sent thousands of police officers on the streets to stop the celebrations of the communists. Reportedly they were there to keep the order, however in practice they joined the SA, Iron Front or Der Stalhelm whenever they fought the communists. Hugeneberg is decided to use the new tool at his disposal to finally defeat the communists.

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Police, Der Stalhelm instructed to turn against the SA when necessary

According to new, secret orders by Alfred Hugenberg, whenever the SA steps out of line (i.e. does not just fight the communists but cause general mayhem) they are to be brutally and swiftly attacked to bring them to order

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Hugenberg sends Police on the streets on May Day

Alfred Hugenberg has sent thousands of police officers on the streets to stop the celebrations of the communists. Reportedly they were there to keep the order, however in practice they joined the SA, Iron Front or Der Stalhelm whenever they fought the communists. Hugeneberg is decided to use the new tool at his disposal to finally defeat the communists.

Note: You're not quite empowered to do so yet, but note that local police departments will usually side with Der Stalhelm against the RFB

Alright.

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What Hugenberg had to say at the reception -

Mr Reich President, I must first of all thank you for inviting all healthy political forces to this round table and for your service to our country, which is something all the people of our great land are grateful for. During the last few months, our movement has managed to win many battles. We re-elected the Reich President and prevented the proto-Bolshevik Hitler from taking power, we have created the first pro-German Cabinet in the history of this accursed Republic, we have stopped the violence and rampage of the communists. Right now, our great movement is leading Germany. However, we are obviously facing many opponents. Mr Reich President, esteemed guests, the best way to defeat the Communists is this - put food on the table for the German people. Our Cabinet must act swiftly to improve the social and economical conditions of the average German. We can do that by abolishing the Bruning austerity, which is keeping our economy on a tight leash, and allow ourselves to grow through investments in the military and in public works. We will pay for them by cancelling all so-called reparations to the French, British and all others. Once we do this, we will manage to solve the economic crisis and stop the average worker from being tempted by the Communist lies. We must also, in my view, keep the government for as long as possible. This is the only way to prevent new elections that will provide a boost to the accursed Bolsheviks and to the National Socialists. Thank you.

Later that evening, he will try to have one-on-one conversations with President Hindenburg and Prime Minister Von Papen, talking about the future and next plans for the conservative movement but also to get a sense of what they would like the Interior Minister to do.

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Otto Wels to the Reichstag

"Today, I am introducing the Autobahn Act. This act provides the means to construct a national highway network connecting all of the nation's major cities. Aside from the benefits that comes with ease of transportation between major cities, this will generate thousands of jobs for men that are out of work.

If this government supports public works as its Interior Minister proclaims it does, then i assume that the government will give this bill its undivided support."

(I gave the speech at a private reception)

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Otto Wels to the Reichstag

"Today, I am introducing the Autobahn Act. This act provides the means to construct a national highway network connecting all of the nation's major cities. Aside from the benefits that comes with ease of transportation between major cities, this will generate thousands of jobs for men that are out of work.

If this government supports public works as its Interior Minister proclaims it does, then i assume that the government will give this bill its undivided support."

(I gave the speech at a private reception)

(The DNVP presented its plan for recovery early on)

(which said nothing of public works lol)