NAZI VICE-CHANCELLOR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3822, 16 October 1936, Page 11

NAZI VICE-CHANCELLOR

COLONEL-GENERAL GOERING. After almost three and a half years of Nazi rule, Colonel-General Herman Goering, Prime Minister of Prussia and Reich Minister of Aviation, has emerged as Germany’s virtual ViceChancellor and successor-designate to Herr Adolf Hitler. Speculation was rife after the death of Hindenburg on August 2, 1934, as to which person might be chosen, who, by special decree of that day, Hitler is empowered to appoint as his successor. This speculation has ceased. In Government circles as well as in the Nazi Party, it is tacitly understood that Hitler’s mantle is to fall upon the dashing war ace who holds more offices than any other German. There never has been any public announcement of this. The German Cabinet, however, knows that Goering is the man upon whom, in the last analysis, Hitler relies to carry out his policies. The Cabinet further knows that Goering is to succeed Field-Marshal Werner von Blomberg as War Minister when this 58-year-old soldier has reached the retiring age. Goering is only forty-three. Nothing showed more clearly what Goering’s position is in the scheme of things than did his appointment, on April 27, as supreme dictator over foreign exchange and raw materials. Not all who read the brief communique could fathom all its implications. It said: “Inasmuch as, in the handling of questions concerning raw materials and foreign exchange, numerous Government and party offices must cooperate, the Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor has delegated the examination and execution of all necessary measures. “Prime Minister Colonel-General Goering is authorised in this connection to hear and give instructions to all Government and party offices.” Nazi party functionaries as well as Government officials quickly realised that here for the first time someone other than Hitler himself was vested with powers to command both the party and officialdom. In Goering, therefore, Germany now virtually has a Vice-Chancellor who relieves the head of the State of much of the necessity for making decisions. Hitler is more and more ridding himself of administrative and party detail and is attempting to play more impartial role of Chief of State. He is keeping his mind free for the big issues ahead. As time goes on Hitler probably will do the directing. Goering will do the governing.