GERMAN POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21545, 18 January 1932, Page 7

GERMAN POLITICS

COMBATING THE HITLERITES COUNTER ORGANISATION FORMED. BERLIN, January 10. (Received Jan. 17, at 5.5 p.m.) Reichsbanner, known as the “ Iron Front ” movement, though still in its infancy, may become a decisive factor in German politics seeking to beat the Hitlerites at their own game and their own methods. Herr Holtermann, the leader, claims that 100,000 labour sportsmen are joining movements for a defensive force corresponding to Hitler’s “ shock troops,” and that another 100,000 are available if needed. The Iron Front, moreover, can mobilise 1,250,000 trade unionists to fight for the Republic. Following Hitler’s plan it is holding hundreds of meetings daily throughout the country.

Herr Adolf Hitler, who is the leader of the German National Socialist Party (the Nazis), in a recent interview with the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Mail, stated: “ There is not the slightest doubt that the National Socialists will come to power in Germany. It may be soon, and it may be in a year’s time, but there is nothing to stop the march of the party which I founded with six men—there were seven including myself —and which has grown to so many millions. The first thing we shall do is to cut down imports from abroad in a most drastic way. Germany and other countries have since the war aime>’ at enlarging their foreign markets. To do this they have resorted to rationalisation, and rationalisation means cutting down the labour employed, and therefore involves unemployment. As it is, Germany has 6,000,000 unemployed; the rest of the nation has to support them. Our aim will be to enlarge the home market. If instead of sending goods worth £500,000,000 abroad they are kept in the home market, then the proper circulation of money in the country is promoted and the wealth of the country is increased.” Herr Hitler emphatically denied that his party was tainted with either Bolshevism or Communism.