Evening star., 1932-04-25
The Hitler Landslide.

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made all but a clean sweep in the Ger
man elections yesterday. In four of
five state parliaments they are now
the strongest political party, including
preponderant Prussia and the states
of wurttemberg, Hamburg and Anhalt.
Only in Bavaria, by the narrow margin
Of 1000 votes, did the "Nazis" fail to
top the poll. In Prussia, which ac-
counts for two-thirds of Germany and
whose control almost carries with it
the rule of the Reich, the Hitlerites
increased their Diet strength from a
handful OF seats to 1862 Their pro-
digious gain was made at the expense
of nearly all other parties, including
their archfoe, the Social Democrats,
who were cut down from 1877 to SO seats.
"Nazi" vote in Prussia aggregated
8,008,0o0, which, IN a total vote of
%, ,4O0, 900, falls only $4,000 short of
the combined poll of the Social Demo-
Gratis, Catholic Centrists and Demo-
Gratis, who form the present coalition
government. These groups emerge
with 162 seats between them, or ex-
actly the same number the "NaZis''
captured. They can retain control of
the government with the aid Of three
or four smaller party groups, but II
the Communists, who rose from 48 to
ST seats, join the National Socialists
Hitler and the Prussian Reds could
seize the helm.
The parliamentary situation will be
clarified as soon as the new Diet as
sembles The existing Braun coalition
government will probably be deposed.
Then its real troubles will set in, as II
attempts to form a cabinet with a
workable majority. Prussia faces
storm and stress which are incalculable
at this time, but are certain to be
fraught with ominous possibilities for
German domestic peace and the
Reich's foreign relations.
There is no gsinsaying the disquiet-
ing significance of the Hitlerite land
slide. The most optimistic view that
can be taken of it is that the Nazis'
victories have not yet assumed dimen-
sionS which entitle them to take over
governments in their own right. Mo-
where yesterday was the National So
cialist vote sufficient to enable Hitlers
Fascists 10 form majority cabinets,
though in Anhalt, and possibly in
Wurttemberg, they seem almost certain
to be able TO form rightist coalitions
hostile to the Republican groups. The
'Nazis" cannot be blamed for boasting
that the next trial of strength at the
polls will clothe them with absolute
power.
The world views with anxiety the re-
suits of Hitler's political progress be-
cause Of its international implications.
The state elections directly increase his
influence over Germanonational affairs
through the Reichsrat, or upper house
of the Reichstag. This body consists
of nominated representatives from the
individual states and holds veto power
over Reich policies, both at home and
abroad. Prussia and Bavaria, in
which the Hitlerites will now WELD
enormous strength, possess between
them thirty-seven of sixty-six Reich
srat seats.
Perhaps the only man outside Of
Adolf Hitler himself who reioices over
the history made In Germany yesterday
is Andre Tardieu of France. The
French parliamentary elections begin
next Sunday. The Nationalist parties,
, captained by NJ Tardieu, are fighting a
bitter campaign for retention of power
The rising tide of Hitlerism. with its
unabashed purpose Of repudiating the
treaty of Versailles, is direct menace
! to France. The Tardieu Nationalists ale
sure to capitalize the Hitler avalanche
for their immediate political purposes.
Altogether the European prospect is
now one that bodies little good for that
peace and tranquility so sorely needed
| for world economic recovery. The rest
of us can only hope that it viii turn
out to be less gloomy prospect than
it looks today, with Hltler's defiant
/ banners waving triumphantly across the
whole German commonwealth.