Ben Wilson

As Osama bin Laden once observed, when people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature, they will like the strong horse.

And I don't normally turn to bin Laden for wisdom, but that is very true.

The strong horse principle, power attracts.

Once you demonstrate it, it multiplies.

And so Hitler asks Hindenburg to dissolve the Reichstag and call new elections.

And so Hindenburg agrees.

The Reichstag was dissolved on February 1st.

Now, here's the thing.

Just since Hitler had become chancellor, 1.6 million Germans had joined the NSDAP.

Again, there's your strong horse theory in action, right?

They see him getting in power.

They see him passing these laws, consolidating power.

And they think, yeah, man, here's someone who's getting stuff done.

So, so more and more people are joining the Nazi party in droves.

Swastika flags appeared on public buildings across the country.

Nazi music filled city centers.

There are rallies everywhere.

The slogan of the election that spring was attack on Marxism.

The other main message was give us four years, then judge us.

Okay.