ABSTRACT
As the fall of 1924 began, the North German Directory started to regroup from its summer setbacks. Already, in many National Socialist circles throughout Germany, there was somewhat of a backlash to the creation of the National Socialist Freedom Movement (NSFB), which, in turn, increased interest in the more pure program of the northern National Socialists. 1 This was demonstrated by the dramatic increase in the areas represented at the 7 September meeting of the Directory in Harburg since the time of the previous gathering there in July. 2 In addition, that meeting was also another indication of the resiliency of the Directory as well as the NSDAP. To begin with, the party could meet openly in Harburg, since that town was part of Hamburg, whose senate, on 4 September, had confirmed the national decision of 26 July to lift the ban on the NSDAP. 3 Second, Adalbert Volck felt confident enough to open the meeting by addressing complaints apparently made earlier about his leadership. 4 He did not, he maintained, look upon the Directory as his own personal instrument, and, although he had been granted dictatorial powers, he tried never to use them. Instead, he was only a ‘place holder’ for Hitler who had been elected by his peers while he was absent. 5
