He is Already a Tycoon at a Young Age! - Chapter 58



Only Krnovel

After Hoover was visited, the newspapers stopped running special articles on Hitler.

Interest in Hitler remained, but there was no new information.

Citizens who were expecting new information turned their attention to other issues.

“The Texas papers say there was a witness who saw a man who looked like Charles Ponzi.”

“I wonder when they’ll catch that son of a bitch.”

The sound of people talking.

I sat in my office chair and looked out the window at the stalls.

‘So it turns out Hoover was behind it.’

People flocking to buy the morning newspaper.

‘Hoover is now on a leash, so he won’t talk back to me.’

I would like to release the photos and embarrass myself, but…

‘If that happens, there’s no benefit for me.’

It would have been a problem if someone other than Hoover had taken the position of Director of the Information Agency.

개새끼라고 해도 내가 아는 개새끼가 낫지.

‘Because of that guy, I’ve been getting a lot of unnecessary interview requests.’

As book sales, which had been stagnant, skyrocketed, media interest also flared up again.

“How many are scheduled for today?”

“Yes, five in total. If that seems too many, should I reduce it?”

“No, it doesn’t matter. There’s nothing urgent anyway.”

I looked at Richter and answered.

Since I have nothing else to do, I play mahjong with Joseph Kennedy and Capitalism Ho!

You have to keep doing interviews.

Media play is a serious matter.

“Four out of five are reporters from Germany and Austria.”

“Germany and Austria. They’ve increased a lot recently.”

Until recently, most of them were American journalists.

After the Ponzi scandal, reporters from all over the world began to arrive.

The most numerous of these are by far Germany and Austria.

‘Is it the fact that you are of German ethnicity that caught your attention?’

Adolf Hitler.

A German-Austrian immigrant who came to the United States and achieved great success within a few years.

It was of interest not only in his home country of Austria but also in Germany.

“Then get ready. By the way, the first person will be here soon.”

After about 30 minutes, the first reporter came up to the office.

A neat suit.

There was a pen stuck above his ear, as if to show that he was a reporter.

“Hans Altmann from Deutsche Zeitung. Please call me Hans. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.”

“Nice to meet you, Hans. You can call me Adolf, too.”

“I didn’t know you would agree to the interview so quickly.”

The man said with a blush on his face.

“I am afraid that I am taking up Mr. Hitler’s, or rather Mr. Adolf’s, precious time.”

“Of course not. If you are a German compatriot, you are always welcome.”

I smiled naturally.

I’m not German, but I guess I should at least act like this.

“Nowadays, there is no one in Germany who does not know the name of Mr. Hitler. News about Mr. Hitler appears in the newspapers every day.”

My news is in the newspaper every day?

Is this just the typical exaggeration of journalists?

I haven’t heard anything to that extent.

“I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration.”

“I’m surprised Mr. Hitler didn’t know about it. You know, the book you wrote with Mr. Carnegie? I think it’s probably sold more than that…”

Hans scratched his head.

“There will be at least five hundred thousand volumes.”

“Fifty…ten thousand volumes?”

A snicker came out.

This is clearly an exaggeration.

Even if you say it’s a bestseller these days, it’s only selling tens of thousands of copies.

A book that’s only been out for a few months has already sold five hundred thousand copies?

Are you lying to make me feel better?

“Didn’t Mr. Hitler transfer the copyright without charge? And the cheap paperback format was also very popular in Germany. It was just the right book format for the post-war period.”

Hans, seeing my expression, added in a bewildered tone.

“If you add up the books sold in Austria, the number could exceed a million. If you want, I can show you related newspaper articles.”

“…a million volumes.”

A million volumes.

A million copies????

＊＊＊

‘Actually, if you think about it, it doesn’t make any sense.’

A book written by Carnegie and me.

It wasn’t just about praising America.

Hitler’s life in Germany and Austria.

Even stories of desperate survival on the battlefields of World War I.

‘I only included vivid episodes.’

The concept of the German people was also briefly discussed.

Of course, it is the exact opposite of ‘Mein Kampf’ originally written by Hitler.

There was no such nonsense as Lebensraum about expanding the living area to the east.

I haven’t been able to figure out the sales figures since I gave up the royalties.

Did they translate it and print it out directly overseas?

“The story about the war can be considered cynical, but the story after coming to America has a unique composition that feels hopeful. There is even a rumor that the Weimar Ministry of Culture is planning to designate it as an exemplary book this year.”

Hans said.

“Many Germans have been encouraged by Mr. Hitler’s story. What do you think about this?”

“…”

I expected my book to be popular in Germany.

I never thought it would be this much.

It turns out that copyright transfer and paperbacks weren’t just affecting the United States.

“I believe in the strength and will of the German people. The last world war was a disaster that didn’t have to happen. Many young people lost their lives for nothing.”

I remembered the scenes I had seen on the Western Front: officers ordering a charge just before the ceasefire.

Even the rookie recruits who just graduated from school.

No matter how much you package them as patriots, it means nothing to the dead parties.

“Soldiers who were in the same unit as Hitler at the time said this in interviews. They said Hitler saved their lives.”

You saved my life?

Are you talking about the charge that took place on the last day of the war?

I stopped the new recruits from charging in. I couldn’t just let high school graduates die.

“Anyone would have done that.”

I said.

From now on, I have to be very careful with what I say.

I had to take into account that what I said would also affect Germany and Austria.

Who knows what would happen in a Germany without Hitler.

It would be a problem if a tyrant as powerful as Hitler were to come to power and start a world war.

‘Germany is in complete chaos right now.’

Paramilitary organizations made up of discharged soldiers.

Armed communist groups.

These two fight every day, blood flying.

Gunfights on the streets were also common.

The military did not follow the civilian government, and the government did not trust the military.

If I could influence Germany across the sea…

“The power of the Germans does not come simply from military force and force. German film directors are already producing masterpieces that are no less than Hollywood’s.”

I said.

“Beethoven, Bach, Handel, Wagner, Gutenberg, Einstein, etc. German culture and technology have always been at the forefront of the world. Expanding this soft power is the same as expanding Lebensraum.”

“If it’s Lebensraum…”

Hans looked curious.

“Are you talking about the German people’s living area and territory? What does that have to do with soft power? Actually, this is the first time I’ve heard the term soft power, but I think I understand what it means.”

“Lebensraum can mean not just a physical territory, but an entire culture.”

I answered in a calm tone.

Actually, I never thought about this before the interview.

That seems kind of plausible.

Let’s keep building it.

“If the culture and science of the German people spread throughout the world, that would be the expansion of Lebensraum. Not just the expansion of land, but the expansion of spirit and culture. That is what I think true Lebensraum is.”

“That’s a revolutionary idea. So, Mr. Hitler, you’re also expanding Lebensraum in America?”

A Führer who expands Lebensraum in the United States. People in the 21st century would be horrified to hear that.

“You could say that. My interest in rockets, as well as Disney animation, comes from my German blood.”

“In fact, I was convinced when I first heard about the Advanced Research Institute for Inventions established by Mr. Hitler.”

Hans leaned forward and spoke in an excited tone.

“It is clear that it was modeled after the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in the German Empire.”

“If it’s the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute…”

“Scholars there were also guaranteed autonomous research. They could receive support from the government for any topic they studied. Didn’t you get your idea from there for the Advanced Invention Research Institute?”

“Oh, yes. I guess you could say that to some extent.”

Actually, it was conceived at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Was there something similar in Germany?

The interview continued in a heated atmosphere.

The Weimar Republic constitution, the Treaty of Versailles, the German reparations issue, etc.

There were questions and answers on numerous topics.

‘How will my argument sound to the German public?’

In Germany today, there is growing discontent with the Treaty of Versailles, the Allies, and the Weimar government.

I couldn’t just support democracy and the Weimar Republic.

“I think the Weimar system is great, but it still needs a lot of improvement. For example…”

It is necessary to reflect the thoughts of the majority of Germans.

“It is urgent to provide proper jobs to discharged soldiers and resolve the tangled diplomatic issues. The economic issue is the most urgent.”

After several dozen minutes, the interview finally ended.

Hans stood up, holding a notebook full of writing.

“I must go to the hotel right now and send a telegram.”

He smiled broadly across his face.

“Tomorrow morning, all Germans will read Hitler’s interview.”

“…That makes me happy.”

Actually, I’m more scared.

The reporter walked out of the office and Richter followed him in.

“Hey, how was the interview? Should I call the other reporters now?”

“Cancel my future appointments. I’ll collapse if I have one more interview.”

My head is spinning.

To this extent, I think I did pretty well.

I leaned back on the sofa and sighed.

Surely something strange isn’t happening in Germany again?

＊＊＊

“Aren’t you too worried? Even Mr. Hitler thinks positively of you, sir?”

“Thinking positively and evaluating someone as competent are two different things, Miss Catherine.”

Bernays looked at his secretary and sighed.

He looked at the desk where papers were scattered in a mess.

Marketing, public relations.

Until now, Bernays considered himself to have a talent for marketing.

Wasn’t it also recognized by the United States Public Information Commission?

His uncle, Dr. Freud, also boasted about his nephew’s achievements whenever he had the chance.

‘I never thought I’d feel like a sunflower.’

Hitler has waged numerous public relations campaigns in his short time.

From radio broadcasts, Capitalism Ho!, cola, movie theater popcorn, animation, and even rockets.

It would be difficult to count on one hand the things he popularized.

The fashions of the past few months in America all started with Hitler.

‘People didn’t even realize it was an advertisement.’

Hitler had numerous successful advertising campaigns without spending a dime.

Ideas that seem a hundred years ahead of their time.

The way he used the newspaper so freely was such that he could be said to be a natural-born advertiser.

It was difficult for Bernays to keep up with the things he was doing.

“Now that it has influence in politics…”

“Politics?”

“The radio debates were ultimately designed by Hitler himself. They were very well planned.”

Marketing and politics are essentially the same: they both appeal to other people.

Hitler made presidential debates possible without him even saying a word.

Didn’t even politicians flock to him and ask him to hold a presidential debate?

‘This is a golden opportunity.’

If you stay by Hitler’s side, you will learn a lot in the future.

To do that, he had to prove his abilities somehow.

He stood up and grabbed his fedora and coat.

“I must go see Mr. Hitler. I must make him an offer he cannot refuse.”

Hitler’s marketing skills were more overwhelming than anyone else’s.

But you can’t manage dozens of businesses by yourself.

If he had aimed for that part, Bernays would have had a chance. Hadn’t Hitler himself said something similar before?

He said, wearing a fedora.

“The department that oversees the PR of the Hitler Group. He will need such an organization as well.”