Field Marshal von Hindenburg.

Those who have been, or might be proposed as counter candidates, in view of the situation, cannot be an affirmation, but rather the negation of the German will for unity — in the best case an irresponsible weakening of it.

The heroic figure of Hindenburg has been tested in war and peace, in times glorious and dark. He enjoys unique respect both at home and abroad. In contract, his opponents, chosen for partisan reasons and burdened by partisan politics, sink into insignificance. Their path to power is through rabble-rousing and demagoguery. They would exercise power through incompetence and violence.

The attempt to save the German people from this election failed. The partisan near-sightedness of certain circles has forced this important matter into the depths of partisan squabbling and egotistical calculation — despite the will of the best and most responsible elements of the nation. We missed a unique opportunity to unite our domestic peaceful forces to face the world.

In conscious opposition to such turmoil, and confident of the agreement and support of countless people’s comrades outside our ranks, we members of the German Center Party affirm our support of Hindenburg, regardless of all political and religious barriers. We do this for reasons of statesmanship and the unity of the spirit of our people. With joy and determination, we declare him our candidate, convinced that we can do no greater service to the recovery of our common fatherland in peace and freedom. Ignoring all that separates us, 13 March will be an affirmation of the unified patriotic will of our people, an affirmation of our spirit of community.

We therefore call on our friends in the cities and countryside to realize the importance of this election and the magnitude of their responsibility. Rise or fall, peace or war, construction or destruction depend on the wisdom and strength of character of the leadership, on intellectual and moral maturity, on the consistency and impartiality of the man in whose hands will be placed the responsibility for Germany’s fate in these grave days.

We have made our choice. He is the worthiest ever born to a German mother for this time of need. Germany’s recovery is bound to the name Hindenburg. For us, he is the ideal of German brotherhood and German unity, the guarantee of a happy future.

His victory will be Germany’s victory!

Berlin, 16 February 1932

Signed: Dr. Kaas, Chairman of the German People’s Party”

The separatist Kaas calls for a “united will”!

Can one imagine greater insolence?

In 1919, this famed chairman of the Center Party openly called for separatism and worked with his friends in the Center Party to give up the Rhineland. Kaas is notorious because of the telegram that was sent to the Center Party leader Trimborn in March 1919 that called for establishing a republic along the Rhine. We present the telegram in its original form:

This “honest” man who had to stand before the state’s attorney for high treason wants to teach the German people about its national duty.

This same Kaas, who hypocritically claimed in his 1932 proclamation that “We have made our choice. He is the most worthiest ever born to a German mother for this time of need.” — did not refrain in 1925 from insulting this “worthiest”man in the crudest way:

“A man who has never in his life been involved in politics.

A puppet of the Hohenzollerns.

A man whose honorable name is shamefully misused by a German clique.

The signal of war!

Hindenburg represents the constant economic and political crippling of Germany from abroad, and therefore the worst economic damage with such bad results as inflation and unemployment.

Hindenburg means war!

Hindenburg means the rule of the Prussian Junkers!

Hindenburg means the oppression and impotence of the of all the people’s productive classes!

Hindenburg means: Enemies all over the world!

Proposing Hindenburg is a frivolous game by the Right.

Abroad, people are saying: ‘A crazy action, the loss of the Third Battle of the Marne.’”

Nonetheless, this separatist leader Kaas is a worthy representative of the System patriots. Such a person puts Field Marshal von Hindenburg on his party’s shield.