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"After the other war (1914-1918), the Jesuits' general, Halke von
Ledochowski, had conceived a vast plan... the creation, with or without
emperor Hapsburg, of a federation of the Catholic nations in central and
(26) Francois Charles-Roux, op.cit., p.231.
(27) Antonio Aniante: "Mussolini" (Grasset, Paris 1932, pp.123 ss.). (28) Maurice
Laporte: "Sous le casque d'acier" (A. Redier, Paris 1931, p. 105).
128 THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE JESUITS
eastern Europe: Austria, Slovakia, Bohemia, Poland, Hungary, Croatia
and, of course, Bavaria.
"This new central Empire had to fight on two fronts: on the eastern side
against the Soviet Union, on the western side against Prussia, Pro-
testant Great-Britain and republican, rebellious France. At that time,
Monseigneur Pacelli, future Pius XII, was nuncio in Munich, then in
Berlin, and an intimate friend of Cardinal Faulhaber, von Ledochowski's
main collaborator. The Ledochowski plan was the dream of Pius XII's
youth".(29)
But was it only a dream of youth? The "Mittel-Europa" Hitler tried to
organise was very similar to that plan, apart from the presence, in that
block, of Lutheran Prussia, a not very dangerous minority, and the
recognised zones of influence which maybe temporarally belonged to
Italy. In fact, it was the Ledochowski plan, adapted to the needs of the time,
which the Fuhrer was trying to realise, under the patronage of the Holy See,
with the help of Franz von Papen, secret chamberlain of the pope, and the
nuncio to Munich, then Berlin, Monseigneur Pacelli.
M. Francois Charles-Roux writes: "During the contemporary epoch world
politics never felt the Catholic intervention more than during the ministry of
Monseigneur Pacelli".(30)
And from M. Joseph Rovan: "Now, Catholic Bavaria... is going to
welcome and protect all those who sow trouble, all those confederates and
assassins of de la Saint-Vehme".(31)
From amongst these agitators, the choice of Germany's "regenerators"
will fall upon Hitler, who is destined to triumph over the "democratic
mistakes" under the Holy Father's standard. Of course, he is a Catholic,
like his principal collaborators.
"The nazi regime is like a return to the government of southern
Germany. The names and origins of its chiefs demonstrate it: Hitler is
specifically Austrian, Goering is Bavarian, Goebbels is Rhenish, and so
on".(32)
In 1924, the Holy See signs a Concordat with Bavaria. In 1927, we can read
in "Cologne's Gazette": "Pius XI is certainly the most German pope who ever
sat on the throne of Saint-Peter".
His successor, Pius XII, will rob him of this palm. But, for the time being, he
pursues his diplomatic career rather his political career in this Germany
for which, as he later told Ribbentrop, "he would always have a special
affection".
Promoted nuncio in Berlin, he works, with Franz von Papen, at
(29) VLa Tribune des Nations", 30th of June 1950.
(30) Francois Charles-Roux, op.cit., p.93.
(31) Joseph Rovan, op.cit., p.195.
(32) Gonzague de Reynold: "D'ou vient l'Allemagne" (Plon, Paris 1939, p. 185).
PREPARATIONS FOR THE SECOND WORLD WAR 129
destroying the Weimar Republic. On the 20th of July 1932, a state of
siege is proclaimed in Berlin and the ministers expelled "manu militari". It
is the first step towards hitlerian dictatorship. New elections are prepared
which will establish the success of the nazis.
"With Hitler's approval, Goering and Strasser got in contact
with Monseigneur Kaas, party chief of the Catholic Centre".(33)
Cardinal Bertram, archbishop of Breslau and primate of Germany,
declared: "We, Christians and Catholics, do not recognise any religion
or race...". With many other bishops, he tried to warn the faithful against
"the pagan ideal of the nazis". Obviously, this prelate had not understood
papal politics, but he was soon going to be taught.
"The "Mercure de France" gave an excellent study in 1934:
"In the beginning of 1932, German Catholics did not consider they had
lost the cause but, in the spring, their chiefs seemed somewhat irresolute:
they had been told that "the Pope was personally in favour of Hitler".
"That Pius XI was sympathetic to Hitler should not surprise us... For
him, Europe could settle down again only through Germany's hegemony...
The Vatican had thought of changing the centre of gravity of the Reich,
through the Anschluss, for a long time, and the Company of Jesus was
openly working towards that aim (Ledochowski's plan), especially in
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