If a politician frequently meets with leaders of the labor movement, in European and American countries, they would be considered a communist. This is true in the United States, and it is true in Germany.

In Berlin, Germany, Joseph Goebbels sat in the inner section of a beer hall, explaining the plan for a joint strike to the person in charge of the German Communist Party (KPD) in Berlin sitting opposite him. "We will release news to all factories, hoping that workers will participate in this strike march. Approximately half of the factories in Berlin will receive our message."

The KPD's Berlin leader responsible for this strike calculated the number of people the party could organize. Originally, the KPD was the party closest to the workers, but since the rise of the Nazi Party, the KPD's influence among workers had declined significantly. If the strike was to be powerful, there had to be enough participants. Moreover, it absolutely could not be just a few workers from each factory; it required entire factories to strike en masse.

Beyond increasing the numbers for the street march, if only a small number of workers from a factory struck, those workers would face dismissal. For the interests of the working class, the majority of workers had to strike together. Currently, the number of factories in Berlin that the KPD could fully influence was already less than half.

This was not to say that the other half of the factories had been controlled by the Nazis, but rather that the workers in those factories were unwilling to strike due to their excessively difficult lives. Entering 1932, registered unemployment alone had reached 6 million, and there were many more who were unwilling to register. As job opportunities became fewer and fewer, some factory owners did not care about firing an entire factory's workforce.

After considering for a moment, the KPD leader replied, "We can also issue strike demands to two-thirds of the factories."

Having confirmed that the strike could basically cover the whole of Berlin, Goebbels discussed the detailed content such as strike slogans and march routes with the KPD Berlin leader. Merely organizing the workers was not enough; the organizational details required for a major strike were truly numerous. After an hour of discussion, Goebbels and the KPD leader shook hands briefly, then went their separate ways.

Compared to the German Communist Party, the Nazi Party was a very young political party, but the Nazis' organizational capability had already surpassed that of the KPD. Three days later, at the agreed time, a large number of Nazi Stormtroopers (SA) put on the ordinary clothes they wore when not unemployed and converged towards the assembly point for the march.

As the flow of people on the streets increased, the Berlin police noticed a scene that was very familiar to them. But the Berlin police only stood guard and did not obstruct it. Because beforehand, they had already received news from the Nazi Party side not to have the police block them.

Although the Berlin police had no love for worker strikes, they also did not like the powerful upper class, not to mention that many grassroots police officers were supporters of the KPD and the Nazis. In the current situation of widespread unemployment, the police had even less reason to serve the chaotic government.

Workers and the unemployed gathered together, raising banners against unemployment and hunger. According to the agreement between the Nazi Party and the KPD, this march absolutely could not display their respective flags; it was to be a pure demonstration. Massive columns of workers began to march along various streets, shouting slogans of protest, their voices echoing through the streets. Shopkeepers closed their doors one after another, especially Jewish merchants; hearing the Nazi Party slogans of "Germany Great" and "Jews Get Out," they locked their doors tight.

Just as floods start from trickling streams, workers walked out of the streets, converging on larger streets, and then merging onto even larger avenues. After more than an hour, on the main thoroughfare of Berlin, only a long dragon composed of protesters remained. At this point, the police simply dared not obstruct it anymore, because this long dragon had no visible head and no visible tail. Just the sheer number of people walking on the street seemed to split the city of Berlin in two. The meager number of police was insignificant in the face of this long dragon.

The Nazi Party and the Communist Party were both competing for the populace, but no conflicts broke out among the people in the marching columns. If the German economy hadn't been so terrible, they would have had no interest in coming out to demonstrate in the cold wind of early winter. Most people wore tattered clothes they had worn for many years; any clothes that could be sold for a little money had already been sold. In the cold wind, the workers were already shivering somewhat. Not only because the temperature had dropped, but because the tiny bit of food they ate every day made it hard to resist the wind of late autumn and early winter.

Finally, the marching column gathered near the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's largest landmark, where a platform had already been set up. Ernst Thälmann, the leader of the KPD, walked onto the platform first. Thälmann called on the workers to unite and exert pressure on the capitalists and the upper class to obtain better wages and treatment.

"Down with the capitalists!" "Long live the workers' state!" "Proletarian revolution!"

A roar of angry voices erupted from below the stage.

After Thälmann finished his speech, it was Goebbels' turn to take the stage. One of the core figures of the Nazi Party, he rested his right hand on his waist and raised his left index finger. "Dear German compatriots, ever since Germany was betrayed, the people have always lived in pain. We have no retreat left; we can only rise up and launch an attack against enemies abroad and at home! Reality has proven countless times that aside from ourselves, no one can be relied upon! Only by uniting together—dear German compatriots, only by uniting together—can we win victory, win bread! Win the dignity of being German! This strike is just the beginning; so many compatriots have already gathered. Then next time, we will launch an attack against enemies abroad and at home. The German people will win victory, and must win victory! *Sieg Heil*!"

*Sieg Heil*! is an old German greeting, pronounced ['zi:k'hail], meaning "Hail Victory."

As Goebbels' speech ended, a burst of response erupted from the crowd of marching workers. *Sieg Heil*! *Sieg Heil*! *Sieg Heil*!

Slogans are always the simplest, most powerful, and most oppressive force. Although Pariser Platz by the Brandenburg Gate was large, and many strike participants in the distance might not have heard Goebbels' speech clearly, as the sound of *Sieg Heil*! approached from afar, the workers—who had long seen the final chanting of *Sieg Heil*! in various Nazi Party rally propagandas—already started shouting along with it.

The German masses, having endured all kinds of suffering, were shouting, hoping to join in such a struggle. The shouting echoed over Pariser Platz, shooting straight into the clouds.

Goebbels stood on the stage. He had suffered from polio in his childhood, causing his left leg muscles to atrophy. But at this moment, Goebbels still stood straight, listening to the earth-shaking *Sieg Heil*! Goebbels' expression was even more solemn, even somewhat pious. Goebbels felt the pain of the German people revealed by this march. He believed that only if the Nazi Party took power as soon as possible could these pains be ended.

Now, only one step remained before taking power. President Hindenburg had not yet appointed Hitler as Chancellor. This resulted in the Nazi Party, despite being Germany's largest party, still failing to grasp true power. Only when Hitler became Chancellor could the policies the Nazi Party had prepared for a long time be truly implemented.

After holding this strike, which could be said to be very successful, Goebbels was extremely excited inside. As soon as he returned to the Nazi Party headquarters in Berlin, he immediately asked Himmler, "Has the Führer returned?"

Himmler controlled the German SS, whose main job was protecting Hitler and high-ranking Nazi personnel. There was not the slightest fluctuation in Himmler's expression; he simply replied in his Austrian-accented German, "The Führer has arrived. He demands that you go see him right now."

It wasn't until Goebbels walked quickly toward Hitler's office that a trace of contempt appeared on his face. Because after Hitler learned that Goebbels had actually organized a general strike together with the KPD, he had immediately rushed to the party headquarters and demanded Goebbels see him as soon as he returned. Himmler, seeing Hitler's angry expression, knew that Hitler's purpose in calling for a meeting with Goebbels was absolutely not to praise him.

Sure enough, as the door to Hitler's office was pushed open and then closed, Hitler's roaring voice could be faintly heard through the wooden door.

Facing such a scolding right to his face, although Goebbels was somewhat surprised, he was not afraid. When Hitler finished his scolding, Goebbels seized the opportunity to say, "Führer, we need to get the workers' votes."

Hitler immediately reprimanded, "Goebbels, do you know that I rushed here temporarily from a banquet? Do you know why I wanted to attend that ridiculous banquet? I had to guarantee to those fat-headed merchants that we have the ability to stop worker activities! We have the ability to ban trade unions and exterminate the Communist Party! And yet you stood together with the Communist Party! Do you hope those people will think this is a hint from me?"

Goebbels could also understand Hitler's anger, so he replied, "Führer, we need the workers' votes now; only in this way can we win in the upcoming election!"

After venting his anger for a while, Hitler's rage dissipated considerably. He shook his head, "Goebbels, no need! It's no longer needed now! The time for us to gain power will be advanced!"

Goebbels was overjoyed upon hearing this, but still asked cautiously, "By how much can it be advanced?"

Hitler did not answer directly; he just stood up and stared at Goebbels, saying, "Goebbels, I order you, from now on you must absolutely not meet with those communists, and absolutely must not conduct any actions together with them. Now we must absolutely not have any more actions that make people feel fear. At least for now!"

Goebbels heard the determination in Hitler's voice and felt a joy in his heart. He immediately performed the Nazi salute to Hitler, "Yes, Führer!"

Hitler sat back in his seat and waved his hand, "Go prepare to welcome our leader from Southern Germany."

Goebbels noticed that Hitler's voice was very calm. Based on his understanding of Hitler, this was Hitler's characteristic reaction when preparing for a big move. It seemed that the leader from Southern Germany, the head of the other largest faction in the Nazi Party, was about to face a showdown with Hitler.