terior a bottom-spanker [Steiss-Trommler],” reported one scan-
dalized police official. “He referred to the foreign minister [Dr.
Julius Curtius] as ‘that guy Curtius,’ ” he added; and as for the
defense minister, General Wilhelm Groener, Göring had scoffed
that his only combat experience so far had been to advance from
desk to desk. To hoots of laughter from his mass audience, the
police report said, Göring had advised Groener to take the sa-
lute at the Constitution Day parade in two days’ time “with a
slouch hat on his head and a peacock’s feather sticking out of a
certain part of his anatomy.” For this lèse majesté the courts
fined Göring soon to become one of the richest men in
Europe three hundred marks.
The Nazi campaign paid off. On election day, September
, , they won of the seats. It was a landslide.
Taking Thomas von Kantzow with him, Hermann went to
congratulate Hitler at Jena the next day. In his little green
pocket diary the lad wrote an amusing vignette of his stepfa-
ther’s sly tactics:
Hitler is here. Hermann speaks from a balcony
and everybody is so enthusiastic that they could have
thrown themselves at the feet of Hitler and Hermann,
so the police have their work cut out.
Hitler is very busy, so it is difficult for Hermann
to speak to him. “Wait, watch this!” says Hermann
and goes chasing after a tall, pretty blond actress from
Munich, whom he takes over to Hitler. She is tickled
pink and Hitler gets a delightful moment of relaxa-
tion... They chat for some time, after which
Hermann finds it easier to approach Hitler about the
important questions he has.During those exhilarating weeks Göring had not seen much of
Carin. He had ridden the political tide, but had left her more or