The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-07-20
Declare Martial
LQW in Cer111Qt1u
Hindenburg Order Puts Ma.
tionaI Government in Con.
troll of Prussia
CIVlL OFFICIALS PROTEST
State Minister Of interior Or
poses Action; Is Removed
From Office

Berlin, July 2o.-tF)-The German
government, with old-time military
precision, moved swiftly wednesday
to establish a virtual dictatorship
over the huge state of Prussia and
to clamp down martial law on the
city of Berlin and the province OF
Brandenburg.
The first action was taken under
an emergency decree issued by Pres
ident Paul Won Hindenburg. 1t fol-
lowed critical pressure upon the gov
eminent to stop the political riots
which have taken toll Of more than
100 dead and 1900 injured in the last
three weeks.
Chancellor Franz Won Papen was
appointed commissioner of Prussia
and Lord Mayor Franz Bracht OF
Essen was named chancellors as
sistant and given dictatorial power
in Won Papen's name.
Army Man in Control
The decree of martial law was is
sued when Karl Severing, Prussiar
minister of interior, declined to &C.
cept the presidents first emergency
decree as binding and declared he
would yield only to force. General
Gerd Won Rundstedt, commander OF
the third Reichswehr (army) district
was placed in charge OF Berlin and
brardenburg under the martial law
order. He was also given command
OF all police forces in this area.
chancellor Won Papen decided, for
the present at least, to remove only
Premier Braun and Herr Severinp
from the Prussian ministry, leaving
the rest of the members of the state
cabinet In office as his deputies.
Besides deputizing Herr Bracht to
exercise the general dictatorial power
ne charged him especially to take
over Severing's functions as minister
of interior.
A government spokesman said
President Won Hindenburg's action
was taken only with view of estab-
fishing security and order in Prussia
and that 1t was merely a passing
measure.
Early in the afternoon the Prussian
ministry of state in the Wilhelm
strasse was occupied by soldiers. The
president of the police, the vice presi-
dent and the commander resigned.
Immediately thereafter the Prus-
sian cabinet announced it had ap-
pealed to the state supreme court.
The cabinet asked that the court
issue temporary injunction prevent
ing execution of the decree pending a
decision on its legality.
No Postponement Seen
The federal government spokesman
asserted that the appeal would not
postpone putting the decree in force.
The martial law order abrogates
the articles of the constitution which
deal with the right of free speech, the
right OF assembly, the rights of pri-
vate property and the privacy of tele-
graph, telephone and postal commu-
nications. All these rights may be
curtailed as necessity dictates.
Placards appeared throughout the
city bearing announcements by Gen.
eral Won Rundstedt that he had been
placed in charge of the execution of
martial law. He called upon the peo-
pie to maintain order. Punishment
was threatened for anyone defacing
the posters.
The general German Federation of
Labor, claiming membership of
5000, 900, announced it had summoned
delegates from all its member organi-
cations to assemble in Berlin Thurs
day for consideration of the political
situation.