Crumbling Reich: A Weimar Republic Game (Gameplay Thread)

[GoTfan]

Wels on the campaign trail

August 12-19: Wels officially launched the SPD campaign in Berlin, releasing the SPD manifesto for all to see. The emphasis was on economic recovery, though he directly referenced the assassination attempt, decrying the political violence and labelling the Nazis as thugs and brutes, unsuited to political office and more of a street gang than leaders of a nation. The primary campaign vehicle would be the "Rallies for the Republic", organised nationwide.

August 20-September 1: Wels embarked on a whistle-stop tour across the nation from Berlin to Dusseldorf, making hay out of the assassination attempts on the way. Another attack was made, this time on the government, so disjointed that the Foreign and Interior Ministers fight with each other and a Chancellor incapable of exercising discipline over his cabinet.

In addition, He also took the time to meet with various women's groups, in an attempt to court the women's vote. To this end, he pointed to the fact that universal suffrage and relatively liberal social laws had stemmed from the SPD. As well as this, Wels also pointed to the other SPD achievements: unemployment insurance, and eight hour work day, and a 48-hour work week, all attained after the SPD proclaimed the republic.

The point of listing the achievements? To highlight tht the SPD, with its united front and ability to introduce reforms, is the natural party of government.

September 2-5: Wels sspent these days strategising with campaign leaders, with the focus being squarely on the SPD representing the last hope for the democratic republic. Again, major efforts are being focused on winning over the female vote, which has the potential to be a powerful voting bloc for the SPD.

September 6-10: Wels chartered several flights to areas that may be susceptible to SPD efforts, and as such, stopped in Aachen, Kassel, Darmstadt and Stuttgart, accompanied by high-ranking SPD local leaders at all major rallies. Fire was focused squarely on the Nazis by the SPD local leaders, who decried them as thugs; cruel, brutish, and ineffective at the business of leading. Wels himself focused his attention on the disjointed, disuntied government, with a chancellor unable to enforce discipline within his own cabinet.

September 11: Wels headed to Magedburg, where he held a massive rally with thousands of supporters. Much like a few weeks ago, protraits of the republic's founders and copies of Germania were held aloft, as Wels declared his intention to fight tooth and nail for the common citizen, man or woman, Jew or gentile, and workers of all stripes.

September 12: Election day. Wels made one final radio address from the party headquarters in Berlin, announcing that on this day, the German people must resist the call of radicalism and embrace the natural party of governance: the Social Democrats. Once again, he trained attacks on the Nazis, Communists and government, before concluding with his familiar sign-off: Wir stelehn als eins! Fur die Republik!

[RGM2609]

Hugenberg and Hindenburg, photo up together

Photos from a meeting taken a few weeks ago between President Hindenburg and the German Rebirth League leader Alfred Hugenberg have shown the two men smiling, clearly enjoying the company of each other. According to the newspapers which first announced this meeting, the President and Interior Minister had a great time together, as they discovered they saw eye to eye on almost all issues, including the one of the monarchy, of law and order and of foreign policy. The photos were spread in the entire country afterwards by League activists who interpreted this as a clear endorsement by Hindenburg towards their party.

[RGM2609]

Hugenberg, visits to the Kaiser and von Papen

Alfred Hugenberg, the incumbent Interior Minister and leader of the German Rebirth League, has made several important visits a few weeks ago that are published today by his media institutions. He had a very important meeting in Netherlands, where the former Kaiser lives. There, Hugenberg received a great, warm welcome from the Kaiser and his most loyal servants. After many hours of private discussions, the two statesmen took a photo shaking hands. That soon became the main poster of the Rebirth League going into the election. Hugenberg also attended a private meeting with von Papen, and rumors started spreading of von Papen secretly backing Hugenberg and the League against the Mahraunists, however the Interior Ministry swiftly denied such claims, saying that von Papen is too focused on competently governing to pay attention to electoral campaigns. However, there is no question that the League is trying to use the 3 meetings in their favor in the last week of the election. The entire propaganda of the League as well as the media empire owned by Hugenberg talked only about how close the relationship of the Interior Minister with these great statesmen is for days.

[Devout Centrist]

Socialism or Barbarism: Thälmann Makes His Closing Argument

Comrades, brothers and sisters, I am addressing you tonight from the Deutsches Theater in Berlin.

With just hours to go until election day, I wanted to give you my final thoughts on this campaign and my closing argument. This election has been characterized by chaos and violence on an unprecedented scale. Nevertheless, I am proud of the way that we have conducted this campaign. Our volunteers have been hard at work spreading our message across Deutschland. The brave men and women of the RFB have been busy protecting our brothers and sisters from state endorsed repression at the hands of the von Papen Government. We have toured this great nation, rallying the people behind the undying cause of socialism and liberation.

Our Party is founded upon the ideal of socialism. We believe that the working class deserves to be unshackled from the chains of oppression. Ours is a message of hope; for too long, the German people have suffered at the hands of the capitalists and militarists. Unlike our opponents, we offer the people of Deutschland a real choice. We recognize that Germany requires new leadership in order to exit this capitalist depression.

We refuse to embrace the oppression of the capitalist system. For far too long, the major parties have allowed the workers of this nation to be robbed of their labor. They take full advantage of our brothers and sisters in the name of the profit motive. Their mismanagement led to the worst economic crisis in our history. It has left millions of our friends and families in soul crushing poverty. Men like von Papen, Lettow Vorbeck, and Brüning insist that we must rely on rich men to drive our economy forward. The German people can no longer afford to place their faith in the rapacious nature of capitalism and the fraudsters that continue to tout its so-called value.

We reject the brutal rule of militarists and monarchists. The perverse forces of the Kaiser are still at work within Germany. They tell us that the only way to fix this nation is to embrace the leadership of Kaiser Wilhelm and place our undying trust in his ‘wisdom’. We are not fools, brothers and sisters! We know that the Kaiser rushed the German nation headlong into the Great War. In exchange, our nation lost millions of its best and brightest on the battlefield at Verdun, the Somme, and Ypres. We shackled ourselves to the failing Hapsburg monarchy and dragged their corpse with us as the war continued. And what did we gain for this adventure? Nothing! We lost ancestral German lands to the victors! We paid millions of Reichsmarks in reparations to the imperialists in France and Britain. The cowardly Kaiser fled to Holland when the full extent of his crimes were made public. Only fools would want to invite his failed leadership back into Germany.

We reject the failed leadership of the Social Democrats and their failure to protect our brothers and sisters from the capitalist war machine. Their Party betrayed the working class in 1914, in 1919, and in 1930. They handed the Kaiser unlimited power and allowed his cabal to run rampant over our brothers and sisters. They allowed the proto-fascists in the Freikorps to execute our countrymen in the streets. They supported the brutal austerity of the Brüning Government, only withdrawing their support after his austerity measures had plundered every single last working man in Germany. The German worker can do better than the false promises of Otto Wels.

This election comes down to a clear choice between socialism and barbarism. For nearly two decades, we have been robbed and deceived by an unholy alliance of capital, wealth, and power. Let’s be clear: the KPD rejects the rule of wealthy men, military men, and the Kaiser’s men. We pledge to give the German people new leadership and a fresh start in combating the capitalist depression that grips our nation. We pledge to empower the worker, the farmer, and the family against all powers of wealth and privilege. Our policies will lift the working class out of starvation and into the bright light of socialism. We will end the national humiliation that was foisted upon us by the Kaiser and his lackeys. We will replace the old capitalist system with a system of compassion and brotherhood based on the eternal ideals of socialism.

Brothers and sisters, join us in voting for new leadership and hope on September 12th. This may be our last chance to stop the capitalists and the monarchists. Let’s make our vote count!

[RGM2609]

The Telegraph Union: NSDAP Fuhrer Adolf Hitler, a secret Jew?

In a bombshell report that is sure to shock many and affect the election, Hugenberg's Telegraph Union claimed that it had sent journalists in Austria to find out more about Hitler's extended family and what they found out was shocking. Hitler's paternal grandfather is a man called Leopold Frankenberg, a Jew. Despite Hugenberg's call for order, his newspapers and minions unleashed in public anti-Semite statements, however actual attacks were prevented.

[NewYorkExpress]

Adolf Hitler response to Alfred Hugenberg

Who my grandfather is has long been a status of dispute in my family. In addition to Herr Frankenberg, there is Johann Heidler and Johann Nepomunk, neither of whom are Jewish. I am  appalled at Herr Hugenberg's allegations about my ancestry without any proof at all, and I call on him to retract the allegations. 

[RGM2609]

Hugenberg responds to Hitler

First of all, even if I own the Telegraph Union, I do not also write its articles. I have given the journalists there full independence and freedom of speech. Second of all, after I read the article, it is very possible for Hitler to be a Jew, and he knows that. How dare he stand there and say, well I might not be Jewish, I do not know. If he is a Jew, he should stay away from public office instead of claiming that he is the savior of Germany

[GoTfan]

Wels' final radio address on election day:

"My fellow Germans,

Over the last few weeks, you have heard calls from all political leaders in this country. They have all attempted to make their case to you. on this, the day of the election, I make you this vow:

Under our leadership, the Republic will survive.

I understand many have the desire to replace the Repbulic. Too seek its abolition in favour of a stronger central authority. I ask you, what is to stop such an authority from suspending the consitution? What is to pevent it from clamping dwn on civil liberties? Your right to vote? Your right to freedom of speech? Or freedom of the press?

Some may call us Social Democrats naive idealists, but I will not apologise for being an idealist. Our goal must be simple: we must establish a progrerssive Republic, where all are welcome regardless of sex, religion or race. These are the ideals of the men who created our Republic. This year, we face its darkest hour, but I swear, the Social Democrats will never abandon the fight for our Republic.

We believe that all men and women have the right to vote. We believe that all people should be able to pursue their own happiness. We believe that all Germans deserve a country free of poverty, hunger and crime. We belive in a progressive Republic that will restore our honour on the world stage.

Ernst Thalmann, what does he believe? That we should be subordinate to Moscow and implement Stalinist rule here. Millions of Russian workers have died in the execution of Stalin's plans in Russia. Millions more have been massacred as political enemies. This is the future that Her Thalmann says he will fight for.

Adolf Hitler, what does he believe? He believes much the same things as the communists, ironically because he despises them. He belives that Jews should be massacred or sent to work camps. He believes in starting a war that we cannot hope to win. he belives in having men attack his political opponents. The attempt on my life was either authorised by him and he is now attempting to deny it, or he cannot control his own street thugs. This is not a man who should be allowed near power.

Chancellor Von Papen, what does he belive? HE believes in the restoration of a monarchy that will seek to trample over the rights that the republic has given you. A man who cannot control his own cabinet, and attempts to take credit for ideas that were proposed by us Social Democrats.

These are the men who present themselves as Germany's saviours. I ask that you do not listen to their siren somg.

Vote for the party of reform. Vote for the party who fights for progressive causes. Vote for the party that will protect our Republic. Vote for the Social Democrats.

Wir stelehn als eins! Fur die Republik!"

[RGM2609]

The schedule of Alfred Hugenberg in the last days of the campaign

During the last week of the campaign, Alfred Hugenberg will work twice as hard to get his party a good result in the election. In the September 6-10 period, the Minister will hold rallies in reactionary strongholds in Northern Germany and East Prussia, hoping to convince as many voters as possible that the Rebirth League is the best choice for someone who wants law and order, Monarchy and economic recovery. His speeches will feature a variety of subjects, from attacks towards the Nazis, Communists and Mahraunists to promises of bringing back the Kaiser. On September 11th, Hugenberg will go back to Berlin for a parade. The new police is ready to a large degree and it will march on the streets. The Interior Minister, the Chancellor and the rest of the Cabinet will attend the festivities with high security around them, except for the Foreign Minister, who has not been invited. Both Hugenberg and von Papen are expected to give speeches, as this is one of their last chances to connect with voters. On September 12th, Hugenberg will give a radio address to voters and then go to the Interior Ministry where a system has been set up to coordinate with local police departments in order to ensure the safety of the election. He will be back at the DNVP Headquarters, where he will give a speech in front of thousands of supporters after the polls close.

[RGM2609]

The speech of Alfred Hugenberg at the police march

Patriotic Policemen and my fellow Germans,

It is my honor to be here with you, the brave men in uniform, ready to bring order on our streets and end the reign of mobs and thugs like the RFB, SA or Jungdo. I am so proud that this government has managed to accomplish something that most thought would be impossible and create this police to protect the citizens of this nation, allowing them to safely walk on the streets of their city, without having to worry about being attacked, robbed or murdered. And I want to thank you for joining this new force and committing to make our nation great again.

On September 12th, we must protect this new force. Because it is no secret that our opponents want it dismantled. Otto Wells for example, despite the police saving his life from murderous thugs, still continues to call for it to get cancelled, and wants us to return to the chaos characteristic to this Republic. Which is why we must all go to the voting booth, and deny them the opportunity to dismantle it. We must protect the great accomplishments of the Von Papen Ministry, which in only 5 months did what others could not do in years by going to the polls and voting for competent, responsible parties that can fix our country. Thank you.

[Lumine]

FINAL ELECTION RALLY - KÖNIGSBERG
SEPTEMBER 1932

PRESS RELEASE: General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck closed the Vaterländische Union campaign at a rally in Könisgberg, which closes a final campaign dash conducted across the Free State of Prussia. The General appeared on stage alongside Ernst Udet and Kuno von Westarp, calling on voters to support the VU to reinvigorate German politics and bring some much needed common sense into the new Reichstag. He also urged voters across the nation to support the party list including Zentrum and BVP, describing it as "the best bulwark against communism and chaos".

"Germans! We face a crucial decision ahead of us. Each and every one of you will hold Germany's fate into your very own hands when you step inside the voting booth, and your decision may very well determine whether we will be able to defeat chaos, anarchy and extremism, whether we'll be able to conquer unemployment, restore order in the streets, and bring much needed change into our tired and decadent politics.

During this campaign and during the last couple of years you have heard endless tales and wild promises from certain men. Men who take their marching orders from foreign capitals. Men who shield behind failed ideologies and who pretend to be a solution. Men who champion Marxism, whether from one extreme or the other. Men who promise change, but cannot deliver a single promise. Men who promise to lead, while being unable to work with anyone else. Where I come from, ladies and gentlemen, we call these men charlatans.

And in normal times, fellow Germans, these charlatans ought to be a subject of laughter. But these are not normal times, and the risk is very serious. This nation, OUR NATION, deserves strong and capable leadership, brave men and women willing to take a stand and battle the problems that you and your families face every day, as well as the problems that plague our politics. Today I ask you not to waste your vote on those who promise but can't promise. Not to waste your vote on men who would turn Germany into a vassal of the Reds. Not to waste your vote on those whom, despite their shiny promises, will never enact meaningful change!

My friends, these last few years have been dark times for most of us. But there is reason to be hopeful, and there is a road ahead of us. A road of hard work, a road of Christian values, a road of firmness against criminals, of economic prosperity, of a strong foreign policy, of a return to institutions that did so much for Germany. The Vaterländische Union and its allies are taking that stand for you, for your families, and for Germany. We stand today as the best bulwark this country has against communism and chaos!

And if you vote for us, we shall not waste your vote. We shall not sit around delivering speeches whilst doing nothing. We shall not be a divided mob, too busy shooting at each other. If you vote for the VU and we are elected to the Reichstag, we will go to Berlin, and we will work to support our Chancellor, restore order and prosperity, and change Germany for the better!"

[NewYorkExpress]

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler closed the NDSAP campaign in Nuremberg, calling out each of the other parties for betraying Germany or in the case of Chancellor Von Papen, bringing back the Kaiser, who has already failed Germany.

His political organization has been hard at work identifying voters willing to vote for the NDSAP and will be assisting them in getting to the polls.

[RGM2609]

Radio address of Interior Minister Alfred Hugenberg on election day

My fellow Germans,

Soon you will go to the polls, and decide what future do you want for Germany. The options are pretty clear.

On one hand, you have the Bolsheviks, the Socialist agitators that want to take away all values that make Germany what it is, confiscate all lands and do whatever the state pleases with it, give control over factories to the Union cartels, destroy our country and hand it over to the Soviet Russia.

On the other, you have the Republic-backing Social Democrats, Mahraunists, Centrists and all others. They are all responsible for the chaos that this country faced until recently, for the slums, economic disaster, hyperinflation, austerity, anarchy, loss of prestige, of honor. They had a decade of power to fix our country, but miserably failed again and again. They will fail this time as well.

The Nazis may have mostly the right policies in mind, but they are erratic and unpredictable. A vote for them is not a vote for a greater Germany, but a vote for a wasted opportunity. They are led by a Jew who claims he is the savior of the nation, but he has no accomplishments, no vision and has long lost his sanity. He surrounded himself with thugs, immoral men and homosexuals. We can not hand our country to this kind of a clique.

The best choice is, my fellow patriots, the German Rebirth League. We are an alliance of staunch patriots and competent statesmen ready to tackle the disorder and lawlessness of the streets, the economic mayhem brought to us by politicians, the injustice of having the rightful Kaiser away and the filth of the society in the Reichstag. During the Von Papen Government we have shown our competence, because there is no coincidence that exactly in the areas of Interior and Transportation, the Ministries led by our men, were registered the most glorious successes. Despite the uselessness or outright sabotage of our coalition partners, we have stayed loyal to our great Chancellor and helped him lead the most successful government in recent history. We have also supported our Kaiser consistently, and he is very supportive of our goals to bring him back to the Fatherland as soon as possible. And of course, we have been the most loyal backers of President Hindenburg, the greatest statesman in the entire Republic and a staunch patriot. The German Rebirth League can and will make Germany great and whole and we will have law and order. Thank you.

[Kingpoleon]

August 15: Foreign Minister Announces Treaty
Ceremony in Berlin with VP Curtis, Foreign Minister John Simon, the Ambassadors, President Hindenburg, the Chancellor, and Minister Mahraun

Summary:

I. The current amount of reparations paid, roughly 20.5 billion marks, is to be the final amount paid.
II. All further amount required by international treaties are formally forgiven and abolished by the undersigned.
III. This shall only take effect when the German, French, American, and British governments have all signed.

Foreign Minister Mahraun distributes a short statement to the assembled press, while Oskar von Hindenburg prepares to give an address on behalf of the government.

The statement from the Foreign Ministry:

The President’s authority, the Chancellor’s governance, and the Minister’s diplomacy have finally undone the worst overreach of Versailles. This is a day of victory for the German people, the first in a long time. The invisible criminal of reparations, which strangled the German housewife, stole from the worker’s pay, starved the children of Germany, and assaulted our nation’s soul, is no more. This is truly the greatest day for the people of Germany in a decade and a half.

[NewYorkExpress]

Adolf Hitler's comments on the Berlin Treaty

Any treaty that requires us to continue to pay so called "war guilt" is an unfair treaty to the German People. The fact is the Austrians, Serbians and the Russians started the last war, and we were simply enforcing our treaty obligations.

They should be paying reparations, not us.

[Devout Centrist]

Statement on the Berlin Treaty

This so-called ‘deal’ is a day late and 20 billion Reichsmarks short. We have let the Western imperialists rob the working men of our nation for over a decade and this is the best our leaders can negotiate? Where’s the apology? Where’s the money they forced our workers to pay them? This is nothing short of a total and utter betrayal of the German People.

A KPD Government will fight hard to reclaim every single last Reichsmark sent to the imperialists in the West. This is yet another example of the failed leadership of the militarists and monarchists in our Government. Chancellor von Papen should be ashamed.

[RGM2609]

Hugenberg responds to the Berlin Treaty

When asked about the Berlin Treaty, the Interior Minister said that it is the worst deal that he had ever seen and that he was not consulted on it. He said that it was simply impossible, even for Mahraun, to be so incompetent as to negotiate this deal and that he probably received certain services in exchange for signing it. Hugenberg promised to make sure Mahraun is gone from the next Cabinet.

[Kingpoleon]

DVP-DSP Joint List Platform:

Part One: A commitment to a stronger Germany; to restore international prestige; and to again make our nation a major player on the world stage. With the signing of the Berlin Agreement, regular relations with our neighbors have been restored. We support the renewal of ties with the United Kingdom and the United States, the cautious acquaintance with France, and the general acceptance of Germany by the international community. The efforts of Gustav Stresemann succeeded in making Germany a serious player on the world stage before, and we will continue such efforts.

Part Two: A pledge to help the German economy. We fully support infrastructure projects, some of us even one as expansive as the Autobahn. We support high paced railroad development, such as the soon to be released Flying Hamburger. We support canal projects to ensure river driven commerce does not dissipate. We support port expansions to bring maritime trade to German shores. We support wide investments in international development, both to forge new friendships and to bring more money into Germany. We support financing an Office of Technology and Research to innovate the German economy. We support tax cuts on sales, income, and corporations. We support land grants to German farmers, and deregulation of the German farming industry. We support extensive trade agreements that will encourage trade, while protecting manufacturing and farming jobs. Through tax cuts for all Germans, international investment, development of German technology, and public work projects, we are proposing the only serious alternative to the Nazi-KPD proposal of more welfare.

Part Three: To engage with the youth of Germany. We have established neighborhood watches and volunteer groups. Our youth organization has opened soup kitchens, distributed food to the starving, brought murderers to justice, and made clean once bloody streets. They have protected men of God from mobsters, guarded schools, hospitals, and churches from arsonists. To the young people of Germany, we say: you can make a difference! Stand up for your neighbor; do not be silent in the face of Nazi bigotry; do not stay quiet in front of Communist thugs.

Part Four: To make Germany better than ever. We will rebuild Germany’s economy with a four-pronged approach of innovation, infrastructure, tax cuts, and foreign investment. We will establish Germany as a serious player on the world stage through trade deals, diplomacy, and cultural exchange programs. We support an eventual plebiscite to return the Kaiser. We will secure German streets, house the homeless, promote Germany’s interests abroad, and grow the economy, for we can do nothing else.

[KaiserDave]

Note: Wow that took a while to compute and organize. But....here we are. Hope you like it!

The Reich



Wikimedia Commons

Federal Elections: The Results



From every corner of the German fatherland the votes have been counted. From Stettin to Munich, from Cologne to Königsberg, from the mountains of Bavaria to the soft banks of the Rhine, the German people have made their final decisions. The next Reichstag has been duly elected by the German people, and they have elected 646 deputies with a majority of 323+1. The exact compositions are listed below.


Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP): 143 (+36)
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD): 125 (-17)
Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands (KPD): 97 (+20)
Deutschnationale Volkspartei (DNVP): 95 (+2)
Deutsche Zentrumspartei (DZP): 78 (+10)
Deutsche Staatspartei (DStP): 45 (+25)
Vaterländische Union (VU): 28 (+28)
Bayerische Volkspartei (BVP): 23 (+3)
Nationale Landbund (NLB): 6 (-3)
Deutsche Volkspartei (DVP): 4 (-26)
Deutsch-Hannoversche Partei (DHP): 1 (-4)
Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands (SAP): 1



In some respects the results are not out of the ordinary, in other ways they are quite extraordinary. One must first note the turnout, with over 46,000,000 Germans voting. Many thought that the shortened campaign season would result in a smaller turnout, perhaps even a negative turnout and a smaller Reichstag, but alas not. It seems the calm, in many places, brought about by the new Reichspolizei muted street violence and intimidation as voters went to the polls. Extremist parties such as the KPD and NSDAP gained a substantial amount of seats, the NSDAP (though it was entirely expected) has even become the largest party in the Reichstag, though the gains they made were smaller compared to expectation. The Communists did well, gaining 20 seats, and getting almost 100 Communists in the Reichstag. The Social Democrats performed poorly at the polls, though many in the party were relieved, given that some speculated that the party could be reduced to double digits after the disastrous no confidence vote.

The government performed well, almost every pro-government party gained seats. Most notably the DNVP, Zentrum, the DStP and the new party led by Paul von Lettow Vorbeck, the VU. However it is the mathematical reality of the Reichstag that they may have trouble governing without NSDAP or SPD support. The German people have deployed their vote, but it will be up the politicians how the battle is won. Here is a breakdown of the results by popular vote percentage, and a breakdown of political alliances.



Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP): 22.15%
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD): 19.34%
Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands (KPD): 15.04%
Deutschnationale Volkspartei (DNVP): 14.74%
Deutsche Zentrumspartei (DZP): 12.06%
Deutsche Staatspartei (DStP): 6.94%
Vaterländische Union (VU): 4.33%
Bayerische Volkspartei (BVP): 3.52%
Nationale Landbund (NLB): 0.93%
Deutsche Volkspartei (DVP): 0.66%
Deutsch-Hannoversche Partei (DHP): 0.65%
Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands (SAP): 0.64%




German Rebirth League
Deutschnationale Volkspartei (DNVP)
Nationale Landbund (NLB)
Deutsch-Hannoversche Partei (DHP)

Vorbeck-Kaas-Held Pact
Deutsche Zentrumspartei (DZP)
Vaterländische Union (VU)
Bayerische Volkspartei (BVP)

Mahraun List
Deutsche Staatspartei (DStP)
Deutsche Volkspartei (DVP)






Wikimedia Commons

Interview with Otto Wels

Q. You have led many "Marches for the Republic" in recent days, what makes the Republic so important to you?

A. A republican governemnt is the most equal form. It allows us to reinforce the idea that all people, man or woman, Jew or gentile, are born equal,  a principle reflected in our uniquely progressive constitution.

This is an ideal that we hold dear. The right of the people to determine their own fate, to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and to elect their representatives. These are our ideals. Some may call us naive. I will not apologise for being an idealist.

Q.  Aside from protecting the constitution, what are the political goals of the SPD?

A. Our goal is to create a more progressive and equal society, where all can pursue their own form of happiness free of hunger, poverty and crime. Every advancement made in our Republic, social and political, has had its roots in the SPD. The eight hour work day, the 48-hour work week, unemployment insurance, the right of women to vote and hold public office. All SPD ideas, all adopted by our nation.

Progress cannot be acheived in our nation without recovery however. That is why we placed such an emphasis on economic recovery in our manifesto.

Q. Do you believe that cooperation with the KPD may be necessary to ward off reactionary dictatorship?

A. The only circumstances under which I would even consoder this notion would be if Herr Hitler managed to seize power so decisively that nothing else would be able to stop him. Otherwise, our historic point still stands: the communists are no better than the Nazis.

The omly real difference i see between the two is Herr Hitler's odious racial doctrine as espoused in Mein Kampf. Yes, I did take the time to read it, and aside from the truly awful ideas in it, it's also incredibly hard to read from a literary standpoint.

Q. What is the role of the German Jew in Germany?

A. The Jews are citizens of our republic, no more or less important than any other. It is truehowever, that they have been unfairly blamed for defeat in the Great War. We were not defeated the Jew, we were defeated by the by the British naval blockade, which made food beyond expensive. We were defeated by the tank, a steel-armoured, gun-bristling comnraption. We were defeated by the arrival of the Americans and by the Kaiser's loss of support from the army.

The German Jew is a citizen who has been put upon by demagogues. Men who exploit discontent to win a few votes. So I say this: we greet our persecuted friends, and i believe Social Democracy can draw strength from them


Q. You have made waves with your decisive condemnation of the Nazi Party leadership, are you afraid for your own life?

A. My life is not some precious thing to me. I would gladly martyr myself for the cause of our republic. However, I would fear for certain things: as long as radicals seek the downfall of our republic, my work remains undone. As long as one citizen goes jobless, my work remains undone. So long as one child goes hungry, my work remains undone.

I am also supremely confident however that my deputy, Kurt Schumacher, and the other party executives and senior figures, such as Hans Vogel and Arthur Crispien, are more than capable of carrying on our work in the event some deranged lunatic attempts to gun me down.

Q. You’ve just recently been attacked in the streets? Who do you blame for this political violence?

A. I wish I could say that there is one man alone who could hold the blame, but it is a group of men, led by Adolf Hitler.

These men, as I have stated, are all uniquely evil in their own way, and I believe Herr Hitler could not have risen to prominence without them.

The Nazi Party-I will never call them the NSDAP because it is a false appeal to our workers-are the direct root of all the political violence in this country. They are thugs, brutes, snakes. I will not be silenced by some two-bit Austrian corporal and his enablers.

[Continential]

I'm dropping out.
---
Following the poor results, Karl Frank will join the SPD.

[RGM2609]

Hugenberg addresses the election results

My fellow Germans,

This is a big victory for stability, law and order, economic recovery and competence! The German people have offered gains to all the pro-von Papen parties, including the DNVP, which honors us. We will not let you down! This is more than double the result we had in 1930, and it shows that the support of the country for the Kaiser and for a Greater Germany is getting stronger day by day. I would also like to announce that the parties forming the German Rebirth League have decided to merge by the next election. We will continue to fight for our country and to provide a real alternative to the chaos and extremism of other parties. I would also like to thank the brave policemen, who have done their jobs honorably, and managed to maintain order and peace during an election for the first time in the history of this accursed Republic. And last but not least, I wish to call for the Reichstag to keep Chancellor Von Papen in office, as his competence is greatly needed in these troubled times. Thank you.

[RGM2609]

In accordance to campaign promises, the first thing on the agenda of Hugenberg and the DNVP is to propose a new vote of no confidence in Mahraun. Hugenberg said that it is imperative for the arrogant saboteur to leave the government as soon as possible so it can move on to addressing the important issues of our country without the constant attack on its effectiveness by the thugs supporting Mahraun.

[Lumine]

PRESS RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 1932

From the Vaterländische Union HQ

Party Chairman von Lettow-Vorbeck celebrated the results of the electoral contest alongside candidates, staff and supporters, expressing his inmmense satisfaction at what he described as a "very successful performance". Citing the fact that the party was only formed a couple of months ago, he asserted that its 28 elected deputies represent an incredibly encouraging outcome, amplified by the colective gains reached by the so-called Vorbeck-Kaas-Held Pact.

Lettow-Vorbeck confirmed his intention to support Franz von Papen for Chancellor, as well as the willingness of the Vaterländische Union to enter the next government and serve the nation. Finally, the Party Chairman encouraged the different conservative political forces to put aside their personal differences to allow for "the formation of a sufficiently stable and appropiately strong government", arguing that Germany could ill afford personal rivalries at a time in which unity was of the outmost importance.

[Devout Centrist]

The Day After: Thälmann Claims Victory in Historic Vote

Courtesy of Wikimedia

Thank you! Thank you!

Brothers and sisters, yesterday's vote was a historic moment for Germany. Millions of you and your countrymen took to the polls in a decisive show of solidarity against militarist and capitalist repression. The KPD owes a debt of gratitude to you. Thousands of your brothers and sisters volunteered during the campaign, knocking on doors and calling on friends and family members to vote for real change.

This election was a referendum on the politics of the past. Last night, the purveyors of hunger and austerity were defeated by a diverse working class coalition representing all walks of life across our great country. The people of Germany rejected the capitalist forces that profited off their misery and repression. Thanks to your efforts, the case for German Socialism has never been stronger! Our Party depends on the support of hardworking men and women across Deutschland. I am eternally grateful for your support. The KPD will always fight for the rights of working people! Our cause will not be won until every German man and woman can live a life free from hunger, poverty and oppression.

This election has sent a message to the guardians of the capitalist system that their days are numbered. The working people of this country will no longer tolerate the inhuman brutality of a faceless exploitation. Brothers and sisters, let us go forth and continue to stand in solidarity. Let's continue to make the case for German Socialism! Thank you! Solidarity forever!

[KaiserDave]

The Reich



Wikimedia Commons

Strasser is back!



The great National Socialist thinker and dissident Otto Strasser has returned to Germany. The leftist thinker and nationalist fled Germany after his expulsion from the Nazi party and the split from Hitler and his brother in 1930, but has continued to agitate for his brand of revolutionary national socialism. Just two months ago he was nearly killed, and Adolf Hitler has openly denounced him as a traitor worthy of death.

But today he has made a dramatic return to Germany. Returning through mysterious, reportedly clandestine means he has returned to Germany to retake his place in public life. He gave a speech in the outskirts of Berlin to a euphoric crowd of the Kampfgemeinschaft Revolutionärer Nationalsozialisten (Combat League of Revolutionary National Socialists), better known as simply the Black Front. He spoke in dramatic terms of the necessity of the German race to destroy the exploitative capitalist system and establish a society based on collective ownership of the means of production as opposed to "Jewish capitalism and freemasonry." He denounced Adolf Hitler as a "puppet of the war profiteers and capitalist industry" and a "traitor to the German workers."

He declared his intention to found a new political party to contend the next round of federal elections. So far this has been his only public appearance, at which the stage was surrounded by Black Front members armed with clubs.