Soviet Youths Raid Western Berlin, Tear Down Election Posters

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 November 1948, Page 5

Soviet Youths Raid Western Berlin, Tear Down Election Posters

LONDON, Nov. 28 (Rec. 12.10 p.m.) —Organised groups from left wing political, organisations last night “invaded” the western sectors of Berlin, tearing down election posters and putting up printed appeals not to vote in the municipal elections on December 5, said Reuter’s Berlin correspondent. Police officials stated that whole streets were littered with torn election posters. They described the “invasion” as being on a large scale and carried out by pro-Soviet youth organisations. The elections are banned in the Soviet sector of Berlin and pro-Soviet organisations have for the past few weeks been conducting a violent antielection campaign. Lieut.-General Dratvin, Soviet Deputy Military Governor in Germany, accused the Western Allies of having declared a virtual state Qf emergency for the election. He said: “Scout cars, armoured cars, and military patrols have demonstrated through the streets to force the German population to take part in the separate elections.” Earlier Major-General E. D. Herbert, British Commandant in Berlin, denied Soviet sponsored statements that the British authorities planned to deploy 500 armoured cars during the polling hours.