Word: erhards
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...reports reaching Chancellor Ludwig Erhard at his vacation bungalow on Bavaria's Tegernsee were deeply disturbing. First, the commanding general of the Luftwaffe resigned in a huff. Then, in rapid succession, came two more walkouts, including that of West Germany's highest-ranking officer...
...Social Democratic opposition as well as some dissidents within Erhard's own coalition sought to use the resignations to embarrass the Chancellor. They demanded that Von Hassel be fired...
...Instead, Erhard returned to Bonn and publicly backed up his Defense Minister, accepting his nominations for new commanders to fill the place of the retiring generals. For one thing, Erhard did not want to set the precedent of firing a civilian Defense Minister just because a few generals were angry with him. For another, Von Hassel, the former minister-president of Schleswig-Holstein, commands the Protestant northern wing of the Christian Democratic Union, and Erhard does not want to offend some of his staunchest supporters...
...past record, Erhard might well be able to smooth things over and prevent a serious government crisis. But the Social Democrats have invited the generals to testify this week before the Bundestag's defense committee. After that, they will push for a full debate when the Bundestag reconvenes...
...long as I govern, I shall do everything to destroy this pest," Erhard thundered in a recent speech. He did not stop with rhetoric. Calling a Cabinet meeting on the subject, Erhard instructed Interior Minister Paul Lücke to ask regional officials to submit reports on the Gammler menace in their areas. Last week the reports came in. All agreed that West Germany's beatniks are just about as conscientious as any other West German citizens...