PART VI: REPUBLIC
VOTED OUT
1937
was the last year of Eckener’s “goodtimes”. Starting with the election of 1938,
in which the Monarchists overwhelmingly took control of the Reichstag, going
from 113 seats to 202. Adenauer remained the Chancellor, but Vogel and the
other SDP members were no longer involved in the Government. When asked by a
reporter in Berlin in October of 1938, Eckener stated that he supported the
Republic, and was against returning the Hohenzollerns, or any other noble
family, to the throne. After this, Eckener would no longer be able to get any
usefull cooperation from the Reichstag, despite his good friendship with
Adenauer. His power as President stagnated as the popularity and moral
authority of Adenauer and the Monarchists grew.
On
Decmeber 3, 1938, the Reichstag passed the “Restoration of Monarchy” Act, which
set a one year time table for the dissolution of the Republic and the
reestablishment of the German Empire. The 1939 presidential elections were
cancelled, and a Regency Council was established, with Adenauer as it’s
Chairman. A constitutional committee was also establihsed, with the aim of
setting up a British-like constitutional monarchy system with a very limited
monarch. The tentative coronation date was set for December 1, 1939. The
Airship President’s days were now numbered.
-- Liebermann, Dr. William. The Zeppelin President."Chapter 6: The Restoration of Monarchy Act ” Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press, 2003
GERMAN VOTERS BACK MONARCHY ACT
BERLIN, DEC 20- Germans have voted overwhelmingly in support
of the “Restoration of Monarchy Act” that was passed earlier this month by the
German Reichstag. This vote was required by the act before the government here
in Berlin sets about to fulfill the act and restore the German Empire. Not all
here in this country are happy about the vote, including sitting President Hugo
Eckener, who stated, “It was my hope that the German people would reject this
bill and back the Republic, but it appears that the will of the people is to
have a return of the House of Hohenzollern. It is not that I dislike the
monarchists, but I feel that Germany would be better served by a republic.”
Eckener
isn’t the only one warry of the new act. Leaders throughout Europe have voiced
their concearn. In Britain, the government has stated that “While we will
continue to support the German government, and have no personal issue with the
House of Hohenzollern (as they are cousins of the British Royal Family), we do
hope that these events will not result in future conflict, and that the new government
that is created will follow after President Eckener’s example and proceed with
diplomacy when dealing with their neighbors.”
The
French appear to be more fearful, with one official in Paris being quoted as
saying, “It is the hope of the French people that the new Imperial government
that is to rise in Germany will honor the Treaty of Mainz and not attempt to
take back old disputed territories that were delt with in that agreement.” This
statement is an obvious refference to Alsace-Lorraine, which Germany dropped
all claims to in the treaty the official reffered to.
-“German Voters Back Monarchy Act,” The Times (London), Decemeber 21, 1938
December 25, 1938-
This shall be my last Christmas as President of the German Republic. This shall
be the last Christmas that Germany has a President. This shall be the last
Christmas that Germany is a Republic.
It’s
not that I’m agianst the monarchists, or don’t want to see the return of the
Imperial Family to power. Some of the papers here in Berlin have even accused
me of wanting to try and keep the power to myself and not give it over to
another. This is not it at all. I simply feel that a republic is what is best
for the German people. That in the long run, reverting back to having a
monarchy, even a more limited monarchy, is a step in the wrong direction.
I
suppose I could be wrong, of course. Adenauer has repeatedly pointed to the
British as an example of a monarchy done right, as he says. That’s the example
that the Consitutional Committee is using as they start their work. They meet for the first time next week,
and I pray that God guides them and grants them the widsom to establish a good
government. I also pray that the
Regency Committee is successful in finding just the right person to be crowned
as the new Emperor.
- From the personal diary of President Hugo Eckener
“Personal Documents of President Eckener.” The Zeppelin Institute,
Friedrichshafen.
HEIR APPARENT KILLED BY LEFTIST
KOLN, JAN 17- Crown Prince Wilhelm, son of the last German
Emperor Wilhelm II and for many people the obvious choice as the person to be
chosen by the Regency Council, was killed today in Koln by a Marxist. His
Imperial Highness was in the city to meet with Monarchists leaders who had
planned on supporting his candidacy to become the new German Emperor, when
Heinrich Nollert, a former member of the RFKF, attacked the Crown Prince in his
hotel suit. Nollert had gotten around the Prince’s security detail by
pretending to be a member of the hotel staff.
Nollert
is now in the custody of the Reichspolizi. RP officials have searched the man’s home, and found
evidence to suggest that he had been planning this event for weeks. He also appears to have been planning a
bomb attack on the Chancellor with other former RFKF members in Berlin. RP spokesman in Koln said that this
information would be very helpful in preventing further attacks.
-“Heir Apparent Killed by Leftist,” Frankfurter Zeitung, January 18, 1938
My fellow Germans,
I
come to you this evening via the radio to speak publicially about the horrible
events of today. At 11:14 this morning, Crown Prince Wilhelm of the House of
Hohenzollern, was killed in cold blood by a man once belonging to the RFKF. I
am so grieved that this communist terrorist was able to snuff out the light of
such an important leader, a man that could have very likely been the next
Emperor of the Germans. I offer the sincere condolences of myself and my family
to the Crown Prince’s family and friends, and offer them anything that I can to
help them in this time of sorrow.
And
now I make a promise to the German people. Many have criticized me of late for
my stance on the recent “Restoration Act”, trying to paint me as someone who
would stand in the way of the people’s decision. That is not the case ladies
and gentlemen. My unwavering support is behind the will of the people of this
country, no matter what that will may be. As such, I have issued orders to the
Reichspolizei to render round-the-clock protection to all members of the former
Imperial Family, along with anyone else being considered by the Regency
Council. In addition, I have ordered the RP to hunt down all former members of
the RFKF that might be involved in the plot to kill the Prince, or other
related plots that have since been uncovered.
I
am also declareing a state of public mourning for the next 2 months in honor of
the life of Crown Prince Wilhelm. All flags will be lowered to half-staff
around the country. And now, I ask that you all join me in a moment of silence
in honor of His Imperial Highness.
……………………………………………
Thank
you all, may God bless each of you and may he guide us through this hardship.
- Radio Address given from Berlin by President Eckener on
January 17, 1939. Reichs Historiches Institue, Berlin.
President
Eckener’s handling of the death of the Crown Prince won him great respect
amongst the public, especially among those who had been very critical of his
attitude regarding the Restoration of Monarchy Act. At the funeral, he gave a
very moving speech in honor of the Prince and the Imperial Family. One of the
most famous photos of Eckener was taken at the funeral of Crown Prince Wilehelm
on January 25, 1939. It is of him embracing the Prince’s widow, as she weeps,
mournful of the loss of her husband. This photograph was reprinted in
newspapers around the country, and the world, and appeared in TIME magazine
that year.
After
the funeral, events moved quickly. On June 3, the Consitutional Committee submitted
it’s draft consitution for review and approval by the Reichstag. The
legislature passed the document on June 12. Then on August 1, the Regency
Council made it’s big announcement.
The new German Emperor would be His Imperial Highness Prince Louis
Ferdinand, the 32 year old son of the late Crown Prince Wilhelm. This surprised some, who expected the
Coucnil to choose one of the Prince’s older brothers.
On
November 30, 1939, President Eckener handed over power to Prince Louis
Ferdinand in a cereomny at the Reichstag. During the ceremony, the red, black,
and gold flag of the German Republic was lowered, and the old red, white, and
black flag of the German Empire was raised above the Reichstag. The next day,
in a glorious ceremony in the Berliner Dom, the Prince was crowned as Kaiser
Louis Ferdinand I, German Emperor. The nation was jubilant and proud.
Eckener
announced that he would retire from public life and return to Friedrichshafen,
despite initial requsts from Adenauer to stay on as part of the Government.
Eckener said that it was his time to return home to his airships, and see what
his son and the others had been up to all this time. On December 20, Eckener
boarded the Gtaf Zeppelin and
returned to his home on the shores of Lake Constance.
- Liebermann, Dr. William. The Zeppelin President."Chapter 7: President No More ”
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003
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