B. The Nazi conspirators curtailed the freedom of popular
elections throughout Germany. Under the Weimar Republic
there existed constitutional and legislative guarantees of
free popular elections. The Weimar Constitution guaranteed
the universal, equal and secret ballot and proportional
representation. (2050-PS) These general principles were
implemented by the provisions of the Reich Election Law of
1924, particularly with respect to the multiple party system
and the functioning of proportional representation. (2382-
PS)
In Mein Kampf Hitler stated the conspirators' purpose to
subvert the system of popular election:
"Majority can never replace men. *******The political
understanding of the masses is not sufficiently
developed to produce independently specific political
convictions and to select persons to represent them." (2883-PS)
The occasional national elections after 1933 were
formalities devoid of freedom of choice. Bona fide elections
could not take place under the Nazi system. The basic
ideological doctrine of the Fuehrerprinzip (Leadership
Principle) dictated that all subordinates must be appointed
by their superiors- in the governmental hierarchy. In order
to insure the practical application of this principle the
Nazis immediately liquidated all other political parties and
provided criminal sanctions against the formation of new
parties. (For further discussion see Section 2 on the
Acquisition of Totalitarian Political Control.)
Although the Reichstag, unlike all other elective assemblies
in Germany, was allowed to continue in existence, elections
no longer involved a free choice between lists or
candidates. At these elections there were usually large
bands of uniformed Nazis surrounding the polls and
intimidating the voters. (2955-PS)
The surreptitious marking of ballots (e.g. with skimmed
milk) wa also customary, to ascertain the identity of the
persons who cast "No" or invalid votes. (R-142)
Although it had already become practically impossible to
have more than one list of candidates, it was specifically
provided by law in 1938 that only one list was to be
submitted to the electorate: (2355-PS)
By the end of this period, little of substance remained in
the election law. In an official volume published during the
war there
[Page 221]
are reprinted the still effective provisions of the law of
1924. The majority of the substantive provisions have been
marked "obsolete" (gegenstandslos) (2381-PS).
The comprehensive Nazi program for the centralization of
German government included in its scope the whole system of
regional and local elections, which soon ceased to exist.
Article 17 of the Weimar Constitution had required a
representative form of government and universal, secret
elections in all Laender and municipalities (2050-PS). Yet
in early 1934, the sovereign powers (Hoheitsrechte) of the
Laender were transferred by law to the Reich, and the Land
governments were placed under the Reich control:
"The popular assemblies (Volksvertretngen) of the Laender
shall be abolished." (2006-PS)
Pursuant to the German Communal Ordinance of 30 January
1935, the mayors and executive officers of all
municipalities received their appointments "through the
confidence of Party and State" (Article 6 (2)). Appointments
were made by Reich authorities from lists prepared by the
Party delegates (Article 41). City councillors were selected
by the Party delegates in agreement with the mayors (Article
51 (1)). (2008-PS)
The original plaintext version of
part
one or
part
two of this file is available via
ftp.
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