“Hindenburg dies at nine o’clock on the 2nd of August, one hour later a ‘law’ of the Reich Government of August 1 appears: The offices of the President and the Chancellor are united in Hitler’s person, the army (Wehrmacht) will give its oath to him, and at half past six the troops in Dresden swore their oath and everything is completely calm. Our butcher says indifferently: ‘Why vote first? It just costs a lot of money.’ The people hardly notice this complete coup d’etat, it all takes place in silence, drowned out by hymns to the dead Hindenburg. I would swear that millions upon millions have no idea what a monstrous thing has occurred.”
— Aug. 4, 1934
