Evening star., 1946-11-03
What Germany's Elections Sho,v
axt Strength Reflected but Rehsts Demonstrate
Growing Power in Soviet Areas of Control

4
somewhat right Of center, and the Lib
eral Democrats, the party farthest to
the right. ... ..-.
1t Is notable that the Communist
Party which had strong representation
in many parts of Germany before the
rise of Hitler has or Q per cent
Ct the major party ballots in the United
States. French and British zones. This
percentage has been remarkably con-
stant and indicates a solid core OF con-
yineed Marxists in the country.
But there is little indication of any
strong continuing support for convinced
Nazis. NaM leaders attempted to induce
voters to boycott the first United States
zone elections last January. The heavy
turnout of voters showed the complete
failure of their program. But discomfort
with the political powers given Germans
perhaps was indicated in the June elec-
tions Id which apathy on the part OF the
voters was apparent. The Nazis had
long since given up their boycott at
tempts, but in many instances, the vot-
ers were not keenly interested In the
election. .--...
On the other hand, the opposition to
Soviet pressure also has been apparent.
The Russians forced merger of the
leftist Social Democrats with the Com
munist Party in their zone. The Ger
mans charged bitterly that the result
ing Socialist Unity Party was given
many special favors But in the latest
Soviet zone voting it is notable that the
Russian Party polled only about so per
cent of the major party vote. In many
districts, observers said coalition of
opposition parties might we'll leave the
leftists In decided minority.
Berlin Significant.
The situation was emphasized in the
Berlin voting where the Russians divide
control with the other powers. The
Social Democrats maintained their own
organization and claimed more than 48
per cent of the vote. The Unity Party
polled less than 20 percent in the Berlin
area. In the face of these developments
some politicians said that Russia might
abandon the merger attempt and con-
centrate on strong, unified Communist
Party throughout Germany.
Among German charges of Russian
election influences, charges often denied
by the Russians, were statements that
the Unity Party got paper for posters,
was designated as distribution agent for
consignments of much-needed shoes and
stamped party propaganda on rationed
coal briquets. Germans also said that
in some instances opposition candidates
were refused places on the ballot. Since
the Berlin election, there have been
charges, also denied by the Russians,
that opposition leaders have been sent
to Russia against their will.
1t is notable that the humping defeat
for the Red-sponsored party in Berlin
came in city where the Russians had
set up the government before any voting
was permitted.
Another development has been grow
ing strength for the rightist, Liberal
Democrats in the Soviet zone while re-
naming weak in other zones. This
party emerged as second to the Unity
Party in the Soviet zone Saxony vote OF
September l.. In the October voting the
Soviet zone Liberal Democrats again
emerged in second place, although IN
Berlin where the rump Social Democrats.
were active the Liberal Democrats polled
less than 10 per cent OF the vote.
In the heavily Catholic French zone the
rightists polled only 2 percent OF the
vote.
(Dastributsd ~, the Associated PrsssJ