Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-05
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
BY GEORG STRANDVOLD

In this column it was said Last week
that Adolf Hitler, chancellor of Ger
many, was facing political trouble"
1t came-faSt and furious.
Almost since Hitler a year and a
half ago became the head of the gov
eminent, political opposition has re-
NAMED silent because it had to; re-
pressive measures had been system
atically organized. Then, on June II,
this year, something happened: Franz
Won Papen, vice chancellor in Hitler'S
government, at Marburg delivered an
address which contained severe criti-
cism of some of the Hitler methods,
and to make matters worse President
Paul Won Hindenburg let it be known
that he had read the speech in adj
vance; he also sent a message of con-
CALCULATIONS to Won Papen.
These incidents made it clear that
the far-famed unity of the National
Socialist party was endangered, and
also that the old president did not
sanction everything Hitler has been
doing.
UONeTHmcHt OfUeTs
To observers it was plain that the
government party was dividing itself
into radical and conservative sec
ton, and an indication that Hitler
probably would take his stand with
the conservatives was found in an
order issued through Propaganda
Minister Josef Goebbels on June 81;
this read in part, as follows:
1.-THE campaign against the OppO-
nents of the government will come to
an end on June 80; national and dis
trict party speakers are ordered to
take a vacation during the month of
July, as are members of the storm
troops and all political leaders,
This sounded almost too good to be
true. And it wasnt-whatever the
governments intentions may have
been.
For on June 30-the date set for
the cessation of propaganda against
OppOnents-one of the bloodiest events
in the history of modern Germany
took place; it continued the next day,
that is, last Sunday, and its rever-
berations will be heard for long
time to come.
Killings.
Hitler made the c. i'm that evidence
in his possession pointed toward
treachery within his own party; some
of the members were suspected of
having plotted a revolution; others of
having secretly negotiated with an
unnamed foreign power" for the
overthrow of the Hitler regime.
Armed with these suspicious, and
without stopping to obtain proof, Hit
Ter started his campaign of repres-
sion.
One of the early victims was his
predecessor in office, Kurt Won
Schleicher, who-it was said-was
killed while resisting arrest; Frau
Won Schleicher also died in the at
tempt to rescue her husband.
Another was Ernst Roehm, intimate
friend of Hitler and head of the storm
troops; he was denounced as a traitor,
discharged from his position, impris-
oned and ordered to commit suicide
which he refused to do upon which
he was shot down, either in his cell
or in the prison court yard.
Several other prominent Nazists were
killed, and in some cases it was pre-
tended that they had committed sui
eide.
AT the time of this writing reports
from Berlin mention hundreds of
men" who were executed by firing
squads, some, it seems, without a trial,
others after a three-minute trial"
When the massacre was ended, tri-
umphant announcement was made
Continued on Page 81