GERMAN PRESIDENCY

Otago Witness, Issue 4074, 12 April 1932, Page 26

GERMAN PRESIDENCY

THE SECOND BALLOT

VON HINDENBURG’S ELECTION ASSURED.

BERLIN. April 10

Present indications are that Marshal Hindenburg will be re-elected fairly comfortably, despite the polling of fewer votes, partly owing to abstentions, also to the Steel Helmets plumping for Herr Hitler after the withdrawal of Herr Duesterberg, increasing Herr Hitler’s total, which was swollen as the result of an intensive Nazi campaign. Herr Thaelniann will he a bad third, thousands of Communists thinking polling a waste of time. It is estimated that 75 per cent, of the electors voted. The usual Sunday atmosphere prevailed throughout the country, the only signs of the election being the Red flags in the working-class districts and armed police patrols. There were numerous faction fights, the Nazis shooting a Communist dead during the night. Berlin partisans were all day long destroying election posters and attempting to set fire to the hoardings. The police were active, intervening in the Nazi and Communist scuffles, and preventing Communist demonstrations. They made 300 arrests.

The- police vigilance ensured peace at Munich, Herr Hitler’s headquarters, where the Nazis conducted a vigorous last-minute campaign. The authorities overlooked minor offences, including showers of propaganda leaflets, and concentrated on preventing assemblies of Nazis storm troops. A workman was killed in a street fight at Mainburg. Numbers were seriously injured at Hamm, Brunel, Treves, and Soldin, and many rowdies were arrested. The unofficial result of the polling is: — Marshal Hindenburg .. .. 19,307,688 Herr Hit1er13,419,603 Herr Thaelmann 3,705,898