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Important TLS in German, signed “v. Blomberg,” one page, 8.25 x 10.5, "Der Reichswherminister [Defense Minister]" letterhead, August 9, 1934. Historically significant 'blackmail' letter to Adolf Hitler, addressing him as "Mein Führer!" In full (translated): "I would like to remind you of the promised disposition of the Wehrmacht [Armed Forces]." In fine condition. The significance of this letter is twofold: first, it is an early example of Hitler being addressed as "Mein Führer," which Blomberg would mandate of all German soldiers in a decree issued the next day, August 10th; second, it represents a reminder to Hitler that that the Army stood back during the 'Night of the Long Knives' on condition that they would be the senior military authority in Nazi Germany, and so recognized by its leader.
The events of the summer of 1934 in Germany were destined to be momentous ones for the history of the twentieth century. In fact they spawned the catalyst for Hitler's quest for world domination.
In February 1934, the chief of the Sturmabteilung (SA), Ernst Roehm, put forward a plan to co-ordinate all the armed forces under a single ministry with himself as the head. This understandably angered von Blomberg who, as Minister of War, saw his own power about to be usurped. This apart he held strong views on the subject of army organization and the privileged position of the Defense Ministry in the state. Although the proposal was quickly killed off by President Hindenburg the generals had recognized the serious threat that it still represented.
On April 12th, von Blomberg and Hitler, whilst on board the pocket battleship Deutschland entered into a secret pact, later termed 'The Pact of the Deutschland.' In essence von Blomberg pledged his own support to Hitler for the presidency and promised to use his influence with the armed forces to obtain theirs as well. In return Hitler would guarantee the continued domination of the Ministry of Defense in all military matters. The first step would be to remove the threat posed by Ernst Roehm and the S.A.
On May 1st, von Blomberg incorporated the swastika motif into the uniforms of the armed services. This was the beginning of his determination to honor the pact he had made, confidently believing that his personal interests were inexorably linked with those of the armed services. Von Blomberg knew that Hitler could not gain the presidency without the support of the Army. Von Blomberg effectively controlled the Army and Hitler as president would need the Army on two counts: one to get him in and the second to keep him there.
On June 21st von Blomberg informed Hitler that unless measures were taken to maintain internal peace in Germany, Hindenburg would declare martial law and order the Army to restore order. Hindenburg confirmed that this was the case.
On June 30th, Hitler launched a ferocious attack on the high command of the S.A. and other leading 'dissidents.' This outbreak of wholesale murder by the S.S. lasted for 48 hours and became known as the 'Blood Purge' or 'The Night of the Long Knives.' The Army and its leaders took no actions against the excesses of the S.S. and on July 1st the Order of the Day issued by von Blomberg spoke of the 'Fuhrer's soldierly decision and exemplary courage' in wiping out 'mutineers and traitors.'
On August 2nd, Hindenburg died and Hitler assumed the position of President and Chancellor of Germany. In this role he also became the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Von Blomberg immediately had every officer in the armed forces swear a new oath of allegiance to Hitler personally rather than to the office of the presidency or to the State.
At Hindenburg's funeral on August 7th, von Blomberg went even further and suggested to Hitler that the Armed Forces should cease to address him as 'Herr Hitler' and substitute 'Mein Fuhrer' in its place. Hitler agreed.
However, despite von Blomberg's apparent unwavering support for Hitler, he had not forgotten Hitler's pledge to eulogize the Armed Forces. After all it was the price that Hitler had to pay for ultimate power.
Just two days later, on August 9, 1934, von Blomberg wrote this letter to Hitler, reminding him of his unpaid debt in a short, succinct, single sentence. His salutation, 'Mein Fuhrer' was one of the earliest, if not the first, uses of this form of address. Its use, by the man who devised it and ordered its implementation is of particular historic interest.
More importantly the content of this succinct but polite enquiry is of tremendous historic importance in that it is requesting, from Hitler, the honoring of a pledge without which Hitler would not have been able to gain political and military supremacy. Just five years later, that supremacy would enable him to throw the world into a state of war.
In the meantime, Hitler was considering the publication of Hindenburg's testament. A controversy still exists in connection with the authenticity of the material which Hitler released for publication. On August 15th, apart from extolling the virtues of the Hitler and the Nazi government it additionally stressed the importance of the Defense Ministry as a supporting member of the State: 'The guardian of the State, the Defense Ministry, must be the symbol of and firm support for this superstructure (i.e., the new form of state). On the Defense Ministry as a firm foundation must rest the old Prussian virtues of self-realized dutifulness, of simplicity, and of comradeship…Always and at all times, the Defense Ministry must remain the model of State conduct, so that, unbiased by any internal political development, its high mission for the defense of the country may be put to good account.' To several officers this testament looked too good to be true, particularly as the status assigned to the Armed Forces smacked so highly of Nazi propaganda.
In a further show of gratitude to von Blomberg, Hitler acknowledged the loyalty demonstrated by the Armed Forces in the unusual form of a letter which he wrote shortly after the confirmation of the new wording of the oath by the passing of a new, retroactive law on the August 20, 1934: 'After the completed confirmation of the Law of 2 August, I wish to express my thanks to you, and through you, to the Wehrmacht, for the oath of loyalty which has been sworn to me. Just as the officers and men of the Wehrmacht have obligated themselves to the new state in my person, so shall I always regard it as my highest duty to intercede for the existence and inviolability of the Wehrmacht, in fulfillment of the testament of the late Field-Marshal, and in accord with my own will to establish the Army firmly as the sole bearer of the arms of the nation.'
Hitler had repaid his debt to von Blomberg and the world was on the path to war.
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