Hep! Hep! Oberst Epp!

Adolf Hitler was in a tight place last week. Canny Chancellor Heinrich Bruning had helped to put him there, first by stealing Fascist Hitler's own battle-cry of "No more Reparations!" then by seeking his aid to keep Old Paul von Hindenburg in the presidency after his term expires in May (TIME, Jan. 18). Handsome Adolf would have to think twice before ousting the man who might end Germany's "economic slavery" (Bruning), and four or five times before opposing the "Idol of the Fatherland" (Old Paul). From his conference with Chancellor Bruning Herr Hitler stalked in a huff.

The other man who helped to squeeze him was his own lieutenant, fiery Wilhelm Frick, chairman of the National Socialist Party in the Reichstag. Without waiting for his leader to make an announcement, Nazi Frick blurted out to a mass meeting at Kempten, Bavaria, the flat declaration that Bruning must quit, that the Nazis would take no part in the movement to re-elect Old Paul by popular vote. The meaning was clear: If Old Paul wanted Nazi support he must get rid of Bruning, a thing Old Paul would hardly do. Handsome Adolf's mustache wiggled convulsively. Here was possible rebellion in his own party.

All Germany immediately wanted to know: If not von Hindenburg, whom would the Nazis support? They must have a hero, preferably a War hero, a man around whom could be thrown some of the glamour that attached itself to the Hero of Tannenberg. The Nazis had such a man: handsome, stern-faced Franz von Epp.

When the War broke out Oberst (Colonel) Epp was a dashing youthful blade stationed in Munich. He was made a general, held commands in France, Belgium, Serbia, Rumania, Italy. Idolized by his men, he was many times decorated. He emerged from the War with a von before his name, but to oldtimers General von Epp was still known as Oberst Epp. He joined the Bavarian People's Party, became known for his militarism, his patriotism, once testified at a murder trial that he thought political murder was justifiable homicide if committed in the interest of the Fatherland. In 1928 he changed parties, was elected to the Reichstag by the Nazis, re-elected in 1930. At 63, he is tall, stiff, soldierly, with piercing eyes and a fine scowl that to Nazis contrasts favorably with the octogenarian benignity of President Paul.

Last week Chief Arthur Mahraun of the Young German Order started a movement to get a national plebiscite to re-elect President von Hindenburg. Adolf Hitler wrote Chancellor Bruning a belated letter flatly refusing to help prolong the President's term by Reichstag action, whereupon the Government set Feb. 28 as election day. On the subject of election candidates Herr Hitler was glumly silent. Silent', too, was Oberst Epp. With so much almost within his grasp he did not want to overstep.

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