The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-18


plished the Revolution in 1917. The
German Communists knew all
this"
Dimitroff then proceeded TO giYs
a detailed description OF the Com
munist International as the leader
Of the revolutionary world Commu-
mist Parties. TN February, the Com
munist Party organized resistance
against fascisn," Dimitroff said, @but
from this, it is absolutely illogical to
conclude that they contemplated any
preparations for armed uprising. The
burning of the Reichstag is an iso-
lated deed, and as such is rejected
on principal by Communists. No
proofs whatever have been adduced
that Communists were in any way
connected with the fire. Nothing, no
trace has been found showing the
slightest connection with my COM
rades, myself and the fire, much less
with any Communist uprising
Picking up a remark OF the
Prosecutor that he had lied because
he did not respect the authority OF
the Fascist Court, Dimitroff declared
passionately:
IL have often been accused OF
not taking the German Supreme
Court seriously. 1t Is true that
while / recognize only the Soviet
Court Of Control as the highest
Court, this charge is false. Every
thing have said here was in bitter
earnest. i have never told false
hood in this court.
The Fascist Judge, Buenger again
rushed in at this point TO warn DiIni
troff against attacking the Fascist
Government, but Dimitroff continued
pointing out that Van der Lubbe
could nos possibly have set fire TO
the Reichstag alone. At this point
the Fascist Judge again rebuked
Dimitroff.
ivan der Lubbe is no Communist,
Dimitroff continued, but only
lumpen (degenerated type prole-
tartan"
Demands Damages
Dimitroff then calmly proceeded
to show how IL was the growing
inner disputes in the ''NationaI'
camp and the diminishing Naxi
influence at that time that created
the special situation, and which
made IL necessary for the NaziS to
have just such an action as the
Reichstag fire to save their faces.
Dimitroff then astounded the court
by not only demanding his release
on account of his proved innocence.
but demanded that the Court pey
him for his lost time, taken up by
the trial.
Torgler Speaks
After Popoff and Taneff had
stated briefly that they we're COM
pletely innocent, and had never in
tended to interfere with Germany's
political affairs, Torgler rose to speak.
Speaking slowly, and with firm ac-
cents, he declared:
II am perfectly innocent. 1t il alb
soiutely sclf-eyident that such a
deed as the Reichstag fire would
be disastrous for the Communist
Party. MY whole life, have fought
for the vital interests of the Ger
man working class, against the YER
sailles system, the Young Plan
Neither the German Communist
Party, nor any member, ever
thought at that time of any armed
uprising, because the necessary pre-
requisites were lacking. did NOT
have the slightest thing to do with
the fire"
Torgler then demanded his acqust-
tai and release.
Defense Lawyer Halls Hitler
Torgler's Fascist lawyer, DR..
Sack, began his speech by praising
Hitler, and denouncing the Brown
Book of the Hitler Terror" vol-
ume which masses irrefutable evi-
dence Of Eazi guilt in the Reichstag
fire and proves the existence OF an
organized fascist atrocities cam
paign. He attacked only those Nazi
witnesses who have been dropped
even by the prosecutor for obvious
crudity of their perjury. He adj
dressed an appeal to Goering, and
stated mildly that perhaps the other
Nazi witnesses, whose periuries are
evident to all, were mistaken"
The entire Nazi frame-up now
stands clear before the world, with
the guilt OF the Nazis themselves
clearly indicated even by their own
evidence,
This explains the growing lynch
note in the Nazi press as the Fascist
judges prepare to let the defend
ants get into Goerins's hands.