Ben Wilson

So in other words, Hey.

This might seem different than what you're used to, but let's just try it.

Just give us four years.

Just give us a fair shot to see how it goes.

In his first major speech to the German people as chancellor, Hitler gave one of his greatest rhetorical performances.

He said, quote,

Give us four years, then judge and sentence us.

German people, give us four years and I swear that as we and I entered into this office, I will then be willing to go.

I can't free myself from belief in my people.

Can't get away from the conviction that this nation will once again arise.

Can't distance myself from the love of this my people and hold as firm as a rock

to the conviction that sometime the hour will come when the millions who today hate us will stand behind us and with us, will welcome what has been created together, struggled for under difficulty, attained at cost, the new German Reich of greatness and honor and strength and glory and justice.

Amen.

Well, of course, he doesn't just rely on his rhetorical skills.

He also pours state resources into the National Socialist Party to help give them a leg up.

He uses police and other state resources to ban opposition newspapers and meetings.

It was not a level playing field election.

And then something happened six days before the election that changed everything in ways that nobody could have accounted for.

On the evening of February 27th, 1933, Hermann Goering was working late in his Berlin office.

Around nine o'clock, he arose from his desk and walked to the window.