"HINDENBURG SEEMS TO BE FACING A REAL DILEMMA"

HOW SHALL THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF GERMANY DRESS, CIVILIAN OR MILITARY?

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) On April 28, 1925, Associated Press reports that the president-elect of Germany, Paul von Hindenburg, faces the 'minor problem' of "how he shall attire himself" for his inauguration.  

As a retired field marshal general, he can wear a uniform.  That would fit right in with his scheduled review of a military parade on inauguration day.  Previous president-elects, however, reviewed parades dressed "in civilian attire."  

AP says if Hindenburg appears in uniform before the Reichstag*, he will offend that body.  Accordingly, AP concludes...

"The President-elect thus seems to be facing a real dilemma."

*Reichstag, aka Imperial Diet, is the lower house of Germany's national legislature. 

 SOURCE 

 "Hindenburg's Inaugural Attire Is Delicate and Puzzling Question," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Bildnis Paul von Hindenburg

1915

Stautsbibliothek zu Berlin

Preufischer Kulturbesitz

PRESIDENT WILSON WILL BITE GRANITE

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2297

REICHSTAG PRESIDENT SAYS WILSON SEEKS TO DIVIDE THE GERMAN PEOPLE

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, May 2, 1917, Dr. Johannes Kaempft*, president of the Reichstag**, charged President Woodrow Wilson of ignoring "long years of encirclement and machinations" against Germany.  He argued, in the opening address of the session, that the United States president was attempting to "sow discord in Germany."

Dr. Kaempft told the members of the Reichstag that President Wilson "had not stirred a finger to hinder England when (she) announced its war of starvation against Germany."  He also stated that Mr. Wilson had rejected a German proposal to secure the lives of American on American vessels on certain routes which carried no contraband.

Dr. Kaempft concluded that Woodrow Wilson's attempt to divide Germans would "have no influence."  The Reichstag president minced no words when he said, "President Wilson will bite granite."

*Dr. Johannes Kaempf (1842-1918) was director of the branch of the Bank of Trade & Industry in Berlin & represented the left-wing liberals for the first Berlin Constituency in the Reichstag from 1903 to 1918.  JK was president of the Reichstag 1912-1918.

**Reichstag Building opened in 1894 & housed the Diet until 1933 when it was severely damaged by fire.  In 1916, the words "Dem Deutschen Volke" (To the German People) were placed above the main facade.

SOURCE

"Bitter Attack Upon Wilson in Reichstag, Leader Says President Seeks To Divide the German People" The Chicago Daily Tribune, May 3, 1917, www.archives.chicagotribune.com/

Reichstag in Berlin

Photo by Jawed Karim (2014)