Historical Amnesia Feeds New Monsters, Recalling Hitler's Rise

Historical amnesia serves as a dangerous breeding ground for new monsters, a stark lesson underscored by the rise of Adolf Hitler. The article revisits a pivotal, yet clandestine, dinner held on February 3, 1933, just days after Hitler assumed the chancellorship. Hosted at the Berlin apartment of General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord, the informal gathering proved critical in solidifying Hitler's relationship with the Reichswehr, Germany's military.

Among the attendees were key figures like the new Minister of Defense, General Werner von Blomberg, and Admiral Erich Reader, head of the Navy Command. Senior military leaders from various districts and army corps also participated. Although the meeting was secret, details of Hitler's address and the proceedings were preserved through the notes of General Mellenthin. The presence of General Wilhelm Adam, chief of staff for the post-Treaty of Versailles German army operating under the guise of the 'Truppenamt' (Troop Office), highlighted the clandestine nature of the military's engagement with the nascent Nazi regime.

This historical account serves as a potent memento, illustrating how a nation's selective memory and willingness to overlook warning signs can pave the way for catastrophic events. The article implicitly cautions against complacency, suggesting that a failure to learn from history inevitably leads to the repetition of its darkest chapters. The meeting detailed was instrumental in integrating the military establishment into Hitler's political ambitions, a step that ultimately facilitated the consolidation of his power and the subsequent horrors of World War II.