THE GERMAN FASCISTS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1930, Page 2

THE GERMAN FASCISTS

(Aucklnnd Star)* The German elections last mouth resulted i» a great triumph for the Hitlerites, or Fascist Party, who now hold over. 100 seats in the Reichstag, At ' the same time the Communists greatly strengthened their position, and though they stand at the other political pole from the Fascists, they are equally hostile to the Social Democrats who form the backbone of the Republican Party. As both Communists and Fascists prefer a Dictatorship to any form of constitutional government, some apprehension was felt that the changes produced by the election might prepare the way for a return of absolutism, So far this has been averted, but the opening of the Reichstag on Monday was marked by an amount of disorder and violence that augurs ill for Germany’s immediate political future. The policy of .the Hitlerites, as set forth in their election programme, is of a peculiarly aggressive and dangerous kind. In regard to foreign affairs, they demand the repeal of the peace treaties and the restoration of Germany’s oversea colonies. At home, they insist upon a strong army; they have declared war on capitalists, financiers and Jews; and they believe in compulsory military service, “compulsory work,” the censorship of the Presß, and generally the sort of autocratic despotism that Mussolini has developed in Italy. It is easy to imagine the extent to which such proposals would appeal to the imagination and the emotions of a docile people like the Germans, accustomed for generations to militarism and despotic government, and feeling acutely the degradation and loss imposed upon them by their defeat. Since the elections Herr Hitler and his lieutenants have made a number of inflammatory speeches, denouncing the Republic and threatening vengeance on those whom they regat’d as responsible for Germanv’s depressed and abject condition. The Steel Helmets, a military organisation numbering hundreds of thousands of numbers, are in do e alliance with the Hitlerites, and at a recent review celebrating the release of the Rhineland manv truculent snceclies were made hv Fascists and others, “laden with threats from home and foreign consumption.” and linsistine that “the martial will of Romany” shall not he broken. All this forms a fitting prelude to the scenes that have marked the opening 'of the Reichstag*

Inside the House, though the 11 •1 - terites marched to then* seats in military uniform, and. systematically howled down their * political opponents there was less disorder than might have been expected. But in the streets of Berlin there was a good deal ol rioting, and significant manifestations of hatred against tlie two principal objects of Fascist aversion, the great capitalists and tlie Jews. Altogether, political conditions in Germany are distinctly precarious. For the Fns/ist leaders are reckless and irresponsible, and they must, to save their own reputations, at least attemnt to carry their threats into effect. The redeeming feature in the situation is the hostility between Fascists and Communimimsts, and the evident desire of the Hitlerites to propitiate Britain and to secure her sympathy far “an embittered nation, desperate to the verge of crime” But. in any this revival "Of the traditions of militarism and autocracy has had a jlisastrucs effect on the national credit. Capital is fleeing from the country, and the cstock Market has collapsed with startting rapidity. Worse than all, France has naturallv taken alarm at the threat to “right the wrongs of Versailles,” and her resentment at this ungenerous return for her evacuation of the Rhineland may embitter her relations with Germany for many vear.s to come.