Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten vs Executive Order

Following the presidential election's outcome in the States, people frequently ask whether the much-vaunted checks and balances will be sufficient to protect American democracy against the undermining measures announced by the newly elected president. Yes, and then the German press draws parallels to the fall of the Weimar Republic. How so?

Well, in 1933 Germany, it only took the Führer six months to turn a parliamentary democracy into a dictatorship. My German-speaking readers may follow the downfall here.

The certificate of appointment

The course of events in Germany started on January 30, 1933, when Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg assigned Hitler the task of forming a center-right government.

Hitler's cabinet: Next to the Chancellor, Hermann Göring (NSDAP)
and Vice-Chancellor Franz von Papen (independent, formerly of the Center Party).
Standing, from left: Franz Seldte (DNVP), Dr. Günther Gereke (CNBL),
Johann Ludwig Graf Schwerin von Krosigk (independent), Wilhelm Frick (NSDAP),
Werner von Blomberg (independent) and Alfred Hugenberg (DNVP).

Vice-Chancellor Franz von Papen sounded, "I have von Hindenburg's confidence. In two months, we've pushed Hitler into a corner so hard that he squeaks. There is no danger at all."

   

The Daily Herold sneered, "Hitler, The Clown Who Wants to Play Statesman."

And Keith Temple in the States sees nice, safe, conservative checks.

Back to the States. Trump said in his victory speech, "And now it's going to reach a new level of importance because we're going to help our country heal. We help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly. We're gonna fix our borders. I got to fix everything about our country. We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that ...".

Hitler must have whispered similar words in the ears of von Hindenburg, who signed the Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten zum Schutz von Volk und Staat. Vom 28. Februar 1933.

Von Hindenburg signed the decree one day after Zu Berlin im Jahre neunzehnhundert-
dreiunddreißig stand dann an einem Montagabend des letzten Reichstags Haus in Brand (In Berlin in the year nineteen thirty-three on a Monday evening the last Reichstag was on fire). Bertolt Brecht, 35, wrote these lines, interpreting the sign correctly. A day later, he went into exile with his wife, Helene Weigel, and their children.

The Communists were accused of having set the fire. Intended to combat their threat, the Reichspräsident's decree was soon used against Social Democrats and other undesirables.

Reichspräsident's decree for the Protection of the People and the State of February 28, 1933.

Based on Article 48 Ab. 2 of the Constitution of the German Reich, the following decree is issued to ward off Communist acts of violence that endanger the state:

§ 1 Articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124, and 153 of the Constitution of the German Reich shall be suspended until further notice. Therefore, restrictions on personal freedom, the right to free expression of opinion, including freedom of the press, the right of association and assembly, interference with the privacy of correspondence, post, telegraph, and telephone, orders for searches and seizures, as well as restrictions on property are also permitted outside the statutory limits otherwise specified for this purpose.

Paragraphs 2 to 5 define the penalties for violating this order's implementing provisions, which range from fines to imprisonment to the death penalty.

 § 6 This Order shall come into force on the day of its promulgation. Berlin, February 28, 1933.

The Reichspräsident von Hindenburg, the Reichschancellor Adolf Hitler, the Reichsminister of the Interior Frick, the Reichsminister of Justice Dr. Gürtner

Back to the States: Trump reported about an interview he had with Sean Hannity, "He says, 'You're not going to be a dictator, are you?' I said, 'No, no, no, other than day one. We're closing the border, and we're drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I'm not a dictator."

During one day, there is plenty of time to sign an executive order to protect America against "some sick people, radical left lunatics..."

Trump continued on FOX News, "And it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard or really necessary by the military, because they can't let that happen."

Reichspräsident's Decree versus Executive Order. Maybe drawing parallels between the situation in the USA in 2024 and the Weimar Republic in 1933 is not too far-fetched?

In his Madison Square Garden rally, Donald Trump glowered and gripped the podium. "On Day One, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history."

Will there be checks and balances after Day One?

In the meantime US citizens are doom spending.
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