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Germans, after hearing Dr. Goebbels' Death announcement, were warned to stand by: "There will be another announcement shortly." They waited a whole half hour. Then Dr. Goebbels shouted with Nazi exultation in his voice:
"In consequence of a law passed by the Cabinet last night the Leader takes all the powers of the President."
This was followed by a skillful printed press handout from the Chancellery in which Herr Hitler, purporting to make public a letter from himself to Minister of Interior Dr. Wilhelm Frick, sought to disarm criticism of his coup by a blend of adulation for the dead, professed self-modesty and popular appeal. Full text:
"The necessity for regulating the question of the chief of State, caused by the national misfortune that has overtaken our people, leads me to issue the following order:
"First—the greatness of the deceased has given to the title of Reich President unique and non-recurring significance according to the feeling of all of us, and, in what it meant to us. this title is indissolubly bound up with the name of the great deceased. I therefore request care be taken in official and unofficial communications to address me just as heretofore, as Führer [Leader] and Reichskanzler only. This stipulation is to be observed in the future also.
"Second—I desire that the vesting in my person, and thereby in the Reich Chancellor's office as such, of the functions of the former Reich Presidency, decided upon by the Cabinet and constitutionally valid, shall receive the expressed sanction of the German people.
"Steeped in the conviction that all authority of the State must proceed from the people and by them be ratified in free, secret election, I request you immediately to lay the decision of the Cabinet, with possible necessary additions before the German people for a free plebiscite."
Personal Oath. What would the Army do? When President von Hindenburg, full of misgivings, called Adolf Hitler to the chancellorship (TIME, Feb. 6, 1933), he insisted that as a "safeguard" Lieut. General Werner von Blomberg, an aristocratic brother officer in whom he had utmost confidence, be made Defense Minister. Last week the Army's attitude depended on General von Blomberg, custodian of the military heritage of Feldmarschall von Hindenburg. Would he stand for the coup?
Without an instant's hesitation Defense Minister von Blomberg issued orders to all German Army and Navy commanders that their men at once take to Adolf Hitler something never considered necessary for them to take to Paul von Hindenburg—a personal oath. Within 24 hours the whole of the Defense Ministry's armed forces, except a few score men on leave, had vowed officially as follows:
I swear by God this holy oath: that I will give unqualified obedience to the Leader of the German Government and the German people, Adolf Hitler, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army [or Navy] and that as a courageous soldier [or sailor] I am ready at any time to place my life at stake for this oath.