Swing to Fascism

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1078, 16 September 1930, Page 9

Swing to Fascism

german election debacle

Coalition Government Out

SLOGAN “DOWN WITH EVERTHING” WINS

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright a m ’ BERLIN, Monday. piwbKbbh returns show that the German Coalition Goveminent lias suffered a crushing- defeat at the General Election, which has proved a landslide in favour of the Hitlerites (National Socialists advocating Fascism), who at present are Hit: second strongest party. The Social Democrats, or Socialists, retain the. position ot. the strongest party in the Reichstag.

It is estimated that 85 oer cent, of the voters attended the polls. The Bruening Ministry will certainly not be able to form a Government of the Centre Parties in the new Reichstag and will be obliged to seek the Socialists’ support. However, every hour makes it more doubtful if even a coalition with the Socialist and Bourgeois Par- Dr. Bruening ties will be able to command a majority. The provisional final figures are: Social Democrats 13S Hitlerites (National Socialists) 107 Communists 7 Central Party ,;<> German Nationals n People’s Party ”g State Party 22 Economic Party ->3 Bavarian People’s Party .... 18 Land League is Various small parties 30 Prominent among those re-elected are Dr. Curtius, Foreign Minister, and General Von Seeckt. In commenting on the result, the Press generally admits that it is staggered at the success of the Fascists, which surpasses the fondest hopes even of the Fascist leaders. The Press attributes th« phenomenal rise of the Hitler supporters to great discontent of the masses to the Bruening Government’s unpopular taxation and the irresponsible promises of the party leaders, which the people blindly swallowed. The proceedings in the new Reichstag are likely to be most lively. The Hitlerites do not conceal their contempt for the Parliamentary system and intend to make it impossible as quickly as they can. Their victory has been secured in the teeth of the opposition of all sections of the Press. The catchword of the Hitlerites: “Down with everything for which the Republic stands.” caught on like wildfire, not only with the workers, but also with the middle classes. The Hitlerites, who are not Monarchists, desire a dictatorship similar to that of Fascist Italy. The success of the Fascists (Hitlerites) is particularly marked in Saxony, Thuringia and Pommerania, but the advance of the Communists also is

startling. Already they have added 1,500,000 to their voting strength. The Hitlerites were practically without newspaper representation, so that their success is the more remarkable. It is noteworthy that Herr Hitler, their leader, who is an Austrian by birth, will not be able to sit in the Reichstag, as he is a foreigner. The end of the polling was marked by rioting and skirmishes, the most serious of which occurred in front of the Communist headquarters in Bulow Square, Berlin. There shots were tirecl at Herr Adolf Hitler, founder and leader of the National Socialist Party. One man was killed and several were wounded.

Bottles of hydrochloric acid were hurled at members of the Fascist organisation, 12 of whom were seriously injured. The police had to quell disturbances throughout Germany and 400 people were arrested in Berlin alone, most of whom were released after the polling.

President Hindenburg was one of the earliest voters, arriving at a'booth before 8 a.m. The members of the German delegation at Geneva went from there to Loernach in order to fulfil the legal requirements of voting on German soil. COALITION EFFORTS

Chief interest in the elections is now centred in the negotiations of the political leaders with a view to establishing a coalition of all the Moderates, including the Socialists, against the National Socialists and the Communists.

The task is difiicult. The Economic Party does not believe its financial programme is acceptable to the Socialists, and consequently is prepared to join a coalition with the National Socialists, whose leaders declare they will accept the task of forming a Government.

The Hitler supporters’ ideas of Government. which were set out on the eve of the poll, were to the effect that if the party were re-

turned it would alter Germany’s foreign policy and discontinue the policy of perpetually courting the favour of France. Futhermore, it would advocate another strong army and the repudiation of tributes imposed under the Young Pl^n.

Meanwhile Dr. Bruening has called on President Hindenburg, and it is understood has obtained leave for the Government to ca*rry on and present itself to the Reichstag on October 14.