Monday, 31 March 1930

Moscow:  The government exiles 90 Jews to Siberia for participating in groups the state deems illegal; 55 more are forced to sign statements promising not to leave Moscow and to discontinue their memberships. 

London:  The British fiscal year closes with a deficit of 14.5 million pounds, more than 18 million pounds below budget, due to the economic downturn.  Meanwhile, some 1,200 companies in the wool industry post notices of wage reductions, effective next week, due to the economic conditions. 

Sunday, 30 March 1930

Germany:

Berlin:  Alfred Hugenburg, nationalist political leader, is protesting loudly about the new government of Heinrich Breuning.  He claims Breuning’s cabinet is illegitimate, and that the Reichstag must be dissolved and new elections held.  So far, President Paul von Hindenburg is ignoring him. 

Leipzig:  The government enters a charge of high treason against Wilhelm Frick, nazi Minister of the Interior of Thuringia, on charges that he is seeking to reorganize the police in that state (over which his post has authority) along nazi lines of thought.  The public prosecutor will begin an investigation into the charge. 

Saturday, 29 March 1930: Heinrich Bruening Forms a Government

Berlin:  New Chancellor Heinrich Bruening succeeds in forming a cabinet.  It is more nationalist-leaning than its predecessor, with Martin Schiele of the National People’s Party as Minister of Agriculture.  Seven of the ministers are holdovers from the previous cabinet.  

Friday, 28 March 1930

Berlin:  

President Paul von Hindenburg asks Heinrich Bruening, floor leader of the Centrist party, to form a cabinet.  And he’s given him 24 hours to do it, telling him to focus on constructing a cabinet that can get approval by the Reichstag, regardless of which parties it contains, and then can push through financial reforms necessary to get Germany’s financial house in order. 

Bruening is reportedly considering asking Martin Schiele to join his cabinet.  Schiele is a member of Alfred Hugenberg’s National People’s Party, the nationalist group that spearheaded the Liberty Law campaign.  By including Schiele in his cabinet, Bruening would be hoping to create a rift within the National People’s Party and divide their vote, possibly giving his government a better chance to succeed.  The nationalists, however, announce today that they won’t participate in a new Bruening cabinet, and demand that the Reichstag be dissolved and new elections held. 

Heinrich Bruening

Bundesarchiv, Bild 119-2600 / CC BY-SA

Used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany license

Meanwhile, a scathing article by Gen. Erich von Ludendorff is published, in which he calls Hindenburg a “false hero” for signing the Young Plan.  Ludendorff says the world war veterans’ organization of which both he and Hindenburg are members should expel Hindenburg for “violation of duty.”  Ludendorff was a participant in Adolf Hitler’s “Beer Hall Putsch” in 1923 and a former Reichstag member, but he has been largely out of the public eye since 1928.  “Through four hard years, Hindenburg did what I told him to do,” Ludendorff writes.  “Now he has forfeited the right to wear the field-gray uniform or carry it to his grave.” 

Elsewhere:

Washington:  It’s all bad news on the economic front.  Retail sales through February in the United States are down 4% from same period last year.  And farm prices are at their lowest levels in 3 years – wheat the lowest in 17 years.

Thursday, 27 March 1930: German Chancellor Hermann Mueller's Government Falls

Berlin:  

The “Grand Coalition” government of Chancellor Hermann Mueller falls.  Having held together long enough to see the Young Plan through, against growing financial pressure, it falls apart now over a disagreement about funding unemployment insurance.  Two of the political parties that make up Mueller’s government, the German People’s Party and the Social Democrats –Mueller’s own party – cannot agree on the matter, and the Social Democrats announce they are withdrawing. 

 The Social Democrats, representing primarily socialists, want to see unemployment insurance funded to the fullest extent possible, despite the cry from many in the populace for relief from taxes.  The German People’s Party, representing primarily industrialists, want to see the cost of funding the unemployment insurance reduced.  Mueller and many of the socialists were prepared to negotiate a compromise, but Rudolf Wissell, Social Democrat Minister of Labor, wouldn’t budge and led the withdrawal.  Mueller tendered his resignation to President Paul von Hindenburg shortly thereafter.

Unemployment benefits are costing Germany $300-400 million annually. 

Mueller’s cabinet has governed since June 1928.  Early speculation centers on Heinrich Bruening, a centrist, as a replacement.  Mueller himself has recommended him. 

The Mueller cabinet 

Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1980-129-18A / Ruge, Willi / CC-BY-SA

Used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany license

Elsewhere:

England:  More evidence of the worldwide economic depression: a new survey shows that 100,000 mill workers are unemployed in Lancashire.  Sources call it the worst economic depression in that part of the country since the 1860s.

 Tokyo:  The government still hasn’t replied to a U.S.-backed proposal from the London Naval Conference that Japan accept a 66-2/3 ratio of capital ships compared to the U.S. and Great Britain (which is less than the 70% Japan sought).  Sources say opposition to the reduced ratio from within the naval general staff is so fierce, the government is fearful of precipitating a crisis if it moves too quickly.  

Wednesday, 26 March 1930

Berlin:  Rumors swirl tonight that Chancellor Herman Mueller’s government may be in trouble.  Evidently, with the monumental task of the Young Plan measures’ passage now complete, the political parties that make up Mueller’s coalition government are disagreeing over some of the financial measures in its wake.  The head of the German People’s party is quoted as saying, “The chances for a breakup in the cabinet are great.”  Reichstag delegates have reportedly already begun asking President Paul von Hindenburg to name Heinrich Bruening, leader of the Centrist Party, to replace Mueller.

Tuesday, 25 March 1930

London:  More evidence of the growing worldwide economic depression – new government figures put unemployment at over 1.6 million, worst since 1922.  The National Unemployed Workers’ Movement announces plans for a jobless march, asking for government relief.

Washington:  Still more evidence of the depression -- unemployment among union members is at 21%, according to the American Federation of Labor.  That’s actually down a notch from 22% in February, but, “Improvement is not yet general,” says William Green, President of the AFL.  

Monday, 24 March 1930

Paris:  

In the case of White Russian General Alexander Koutiepoff, missing since allegedly being kidnapped in broad daylight January 30, a newspaper claims to have proof that he is in prison in the Soviet Union.  La Liberte writes, “We have awaited the moment when the secret service has received official confirmation of the above facts in order to make them public.  We can now affirm that Koutiepoff six days ago was alive in the Lubyanka jail in Moscow.”  An accompanying editorial urges the French government to sever relations with the Soviet Union over the incident. 

Geneva:  The tariff truce conference that opened here last month ends with 11 European nations agreeing to limited restrictions on their protective tariffs.  The hope is that this will stimulate the economies of Europe, most of which are trending downward in the worldwide depression.

Sunday, 23 March 1930

Potsdam, Germany:  A mob of communists attempts to set free the inmates of a compulsory education school.  The facility director learns of their approach and calls the police, 22 of whom arrive armed with rifles.  120 communists are arrested.

 

Criuleni, Romania:  Authorities say they have uncovered a Russian spy plot after they arrest the municipal clerk of the town as he’s attempting to cross the Dniester River into Russia.  In his possession they find 500 forged Romanian citizenship certificates, a list of employees of the Romanian secret service, and a handful of confidential military documents.  The clerk says he got the materials from two officers in the Romanian military.  When police descend on one of the officer’s homes to arrest him, a gunfight erupts before he is arrested. 

London:  The worldwide economic depression worsens: government reports show unemployment is the worst since 1926, and still trending downward.

Saturday, 22 March 1930

England:

London:  At the naval conference, a scheduled meeting between British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and French Prime Minister Andrae Tardieu is cancelled, signaling definitively that France is out of the parley.  After two months of meetings, the conference is at a complete standstill – with nothing to show for its effort -- as Great Britain and the U.S. await word from Japan on whether a 3-way pact can still be signed.  Many in the press are saying the conference will have been a complete failure if Japan’s reply is negative.

Manchester:  More evidence of the Depression’s spread: an estimated 25% of cotton operatives in Lancashire are out of work, some so destitute they can’t get food to eat. 

Elsewhere:

Paris:  Finance Minister Paul Reynaud, in a committee speech, says that barring unforeseen circumstances, he expects France will remove all forces and end its occupation of the Rhineland by June 30.

Moscow:  Tens of thousands of demonstrators march for three hours here and in other cities around Russia in protest against religion.  

Friday, 21 March 1930

Manchuria:  

Warlord Zhang Xueliang, effective ruler of Manchuria, offers his services as mediator between Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek and rebellious Governor Yen Hsishan of Shansi.  The threat of renewed civil war in China has been looming for weeks.

  

London:  

The French delegation appears to withdraw from the naval conference, having left for Paris for the weekend and announcing that they won’t be back.  Observers think it’s a ploy to try to wrest an 11^th hour concession out of either Italy (to give up its demand for naval parity with France) or England (for a naval deal that includes continental security).  But Great Britain, the U.S. and Japan evidently saw this coming, and reportedly have a three-way “fallback” pact they will go to work on.  It is expected that if France is out, Italy will be too, as Italy presumably would not agree to any limitations on naval power with France under no such obligation.

Chisinau, Romania:  

Russian and Romanian border guards get into a firefight on the Dniester River near here.  According to reports, the Russian guards board a boat on their side of the river, then cross over and attack the Romanian border post with hand grenades.  The Romanians respond with rifle fire.  One Romanian is killed and several Russians wounded.  No one knows a reason for the attack, but tensions relative to Russia are high in Romania, as the government says it has uncovered communist plots to attempt a coup in the country.

Elsewhere:

Moscow:  Crowds of Young Communists and Young Pioneers (a communist version of the boy scouts) converge on the Italian Embassy and hold protests against the Pope. 

Bogota:  Thousands of unemployed conduct a demonstration that devolves into a riot when police fire on the crowd.  Two are killed and at least 20 injured.

Thursday, 20 March 1930

Soviet Union:

Moscow:  Newspapers run headlines, articles and cartoons ridiculing the Pope’s prayers on behalf of Christians in Russia.  Pravda runs a cartoon of a warrior wearing the Pope’s headpiece, riding a horse and carrying a banner that reads “Anti-Soviet Crusade.” 

Yet at a meeting of the All-Union Congress of Atheists tonight, speaker after speaker reminds the audience that religion cannot be stamped out of Russia overnight, and warns against excessive force or zeal in closing churches, synagogues or mosques.  The chairman of the meeting says removing God from the people should be done by peaceful persuasion, propaganda and scientific argument.  Special and intensified propaganda should be brought to bear on women and children, says one speaker. 

Elsewhere in the Soviet Union, reports say peasant revolts are flaring up in several places, as the people protest food shortages and having their lands collectivized.  Factory workers are living on black bread and thin soup, and striking for better food.  The OGPU (secret police) is arresting strike and revolt leaders.

London:  

At the naval conference (still going), the meeting is deadlocked.  Italy and France cannot come to agreement on Italy’s insistence for parity with France, and France’s demand for a high level of naval tonnage.  An unnamed British officials says, “My reasoning tells me that the present deadlock will not be broken . . . .”

Wednesday, 19 March 1930: Religious War of Words Continues

It's a day of religious "warfare of words."

Vatican City:  Pope Pius XI leads a special prayer service and mass at St. Peter’s for persecuted Christians in soviet Russia.  50,000 attend.  A Russian choir sings, and Orthodox Greeks join in Slavic chants during the service. 

 

Vienna:  Communists attack and break up a meeting of the Czechoslovakian Catholic People’s Party, which was protesting religious persecution in Russia. 

Moscow:  Meanwhile, the press here is full of anti-Pope messages.  The Atheist magazine publishes an article entitled, “Down With the Pope,” which calls the Pope the world’s biggest landowner and the capitalist scion of a Milan textile family.  The article goes on to boast that 33 churches, 2 cathedrals and 10 chapels were closed in one soviet in the past week, and 9 villages threw “God’s rubbish” from their homes, namely icons, church fences and bells, ecclesiastical robes and altar draperies.  The gold, silver, iron and other items filled 50 carts.  The magazine goes on to insist that the 240 remaining churches in the Moscow soviet be closed.  “We must turn the red capital into a godless city this year.” 

Pravda, official publication of the communist central committee, criticizes the Pope for his “personal enmity” for the soviets.

Berlin:  

Communist mobs attack churches holding prayer services for persecuted Christians in Russia.  The communists parade around the city all day in protest of the Pope’s prayer service in Italy.  But as night descends, they grow bolder and more violent.  In one working district, a group of communists bursts through the doors of a church shouting, “Long live the red front!” and ridiculing God.  The congregation rushes at the intruders and drives them out of the church, and a melee ensues.  Police arrive to break it up.

In another working district, communists attempt to raid a Catholic church, but are fought off by a guard established by the church members.

Yet not everything happening today is of a religious tone.  Minister of the Interior Karl Severing orders all funds for the police in the state of Thuringia suspended pending an investigation into charges that Wilhelm Frick, the nazi Minister of the Interior of that state, is plotting treason against the government.  This is in response to a manifesto issued by Frick (elected earlier this year), which denounced the federal government and called the public to support nazi ideas for nationalist rule.  The Prosecutor General will begin an investigation. 

Tuesday, 18 March 1930

United States:

New York:  More evidence of the worldwide economic depression: Francis H. Sisson, Vice President of Guaranty Trust Company, says export trade by the United States has declined $117 million since November 1929.  Meanwhile, at two different “bread lines” in the city, more than 1,000 unemployed are reportedly in cue. 

Pittsburgh:  Newspapers report more than 1,700 people standing in a bread line at one location, 800 at another. 

Elsewhere:

Moscow:  Notwithstanding the soviet executive’s order of Saturday, the Moscow soviet votes to close 56 more churches in Moscow and the surrounding region.  The churches are to be converted to schools, clubs, libraries, restaurants and laboratories.  The congregations have the right of appeal, however.

Hanau, Germany:  Communists attack Paul Rehbein, a Social Democrat member of the Prussian diet, while he is visiting a cemetery.  They knock him down and beat him with spades so severely he is taken to a local hospital.  The attack is understood to be in retribution: Rehbein was formerly a communist, but became a socialist.  

Monday, 17 March 1930

Paris:  The negotiations between France and Germany over the Saar region are suspended after five months of on-again off-again meetings that have thus far produced few results.  Reason given is that France wants to wait for the London Naval Conference to end before resuming.

Moscow:  The Godless One, newspaper of Russian atheists, calls for anti-religion demonstrations to “counteract” the Pope’s call for Catholics to pray on Wednesday for the persecuted church in Russia.

Sunday, 16 March 1930

Tokyo:  

Press reports state that the “two-thirds” ratio of capital ships proposed for Japan at the London Naval Conference is causing a rift between military and civilian government leaders in Japan.  Naval officers are displeased with the “second-class citizen” status the ratio would give Japan.

Vienna:  

The government announces that the Austrian national anthem has been changed (for the fourth time since the World War).  The new anthem will be Deutschland, Deutschland-Uber Alles (Germany, Germany Above All) which is also Germany’s national anthem.  This was also Austria’s national anthem before the war (though with different words).  The socialist mayor of Vienna, Karl Seitz, dislikes the anthem so much he refuses to stand or remove his hat when it is played.

England:  

In response to a call from Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, Anglicans throughout the country hold special prayer services on behalf of persecuted Christians in Russia.  Indeed, Christians as well as Jews around the world are supposed to be holding similar prayer services .  Rev. A.F.W. Ingram, Bishop of London, says, “to think that all those bishops have been butchered [in Russia], all those priests murdered!”

New York:  

Police are busy guarding special prayer meetings in area churches, called on behalf of persecuted Christians in Russia, as well as guarding 12,000 people attending a communist anti-religion rally at Bronx Coliseum.  At the communist rally, the crowd boos religion, calls for an end to class war, and pillories everyone from New York Police Chief Grover Whalen to Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini to the Pope.  The meeting is guarded by 450 police with riot gear, machine guns and paddy wagons, but it is peaceful.

Paris:  

Miguel Primo de Rivera, who until six weeks ago was dictator of Spain, dies unexpectedly in his hotel room here.  Cause of death is said to be an embolism, a complication of his diabetes.

Saturday, 15 March 1930

Germany:

Berlin:  A newspaper reports that Germany and Russia are scheduled to hold a conference to discuss German concerns about the spread of communist propaganda in Germany.  Meanwhile, Chancellor Hermann Mueller announces that he expects Germany’s approval of the Young Plan to help the nation’s economy, attracting fresh capital, stimulating trade and helping with unemployment.

Schleswig-Holstein:  Bombs connected to clock timers are found in two different places – one in the cellar of the town hall, the other against the wall of the treasury building.  Both are discovered before they explode, and are safely removed and disarmed.  No claims of responsibility. 

New York:  

The impact of the worldwide economic depression widens:  The Family Welfare Association of America releases a report indicating that 54 of its city agencies around the country are reporting a 100% increase or higher in families needing welfare assistance compared to a year ago.  Moreover, “A number of the societies stated the number of families under their care at present does not give a true picture of the unemployment situation in their respective communities,” the report states, “as many dependent families whose difficulties are only of unemployment are being referred to the tax-supported departments.”  It goes on to say, “It is estimated that between 55 and 60 per cent of the relief funds for January, 1930, went for unemployment relief.  There was never, in the history of the society, a month like January, 1930.”

Moscow:  

Despite Russia’s fiery rhetoric defending its elimination of religion, the soviet Central Executive Committee issues a new decree ordering punishment for those who ridicule religion or close churches without consent of the majority of a local populace.  In doing so, the order effectively concedes that earlier claims by various Russian authorities and media, that churches and synagogues were closed at the request of the people, were lies: it prohibits church closures under the pretense of “fictitious petitions of the inhabitants.”  Additionally, it says party officials and organizers “unnecessarily” ridiculing religion will be severely punished. 

The order comes the day before Christians both Protestant and Catholic, as well as Jews, are scheduled to hold coordinated prayer services for persecuted people of faith in Russia.  

Friday, 14 March 1930

Germany: 

Berlin:  The worldwide economic depression worsens: new reports signal that manufacturing production is decreasing, and bankruptcies are up 30% from a year ago. 

Munich:  The Muenchner Neuste Nachrichten newsapaper reports that two nazi Reichswehr officers in Bavaria have been arrested as a result of a decree by the Minister of Defense to eliminate political propaganda in the military.  More arrests are expected. 

Leipzig:  The Federal Supreme Court sentences Richard Schultz, Editor of the communist newspaper Rote Fahne, to 15 months in prison for attempting to incite treason.  One of the articles on which Schultz was found guilty was titled, “Away with the Bourgeois republic, fight for soviet power.”  

Elsewhere:

Moscow:  The League of Militant Atheists announces plans for a “counter-papal prayer” day to kick off an anti-religious campaign scheduled to last two months.

Thursday, 13 March 1930

Germany:

Berlin:  President Paul von Hindenburg signs the Young Plan bills passed yesterday by the Reichstag.  Among other things, they commit Germany to World War debt payments until 1988.  After the morning signing ceremony, Hindenburg issues the following proclamation.  “With a heavy but firm heart and after thorough and conscientious examination, I affixed my name to the Young Plan.  After hearing the advocates and opponents of the plan, I have reached the conclusion that, despite the heavy burden which the plan puts on the German people for long years, despite the strong criticism of some of its terms, compared to the Dawes Plan, the Young Plan means progress on the long road of liberation and reconstruction of Germany.  I could not refuse to sign, since such a refusal would bring immeasurable harm to German economics and finances and would cause a great crisis to our fatherland.  I am wholly convinced that the acceptance of the Young Plan does not free us from all sorrows in the future, but I believe it is the road that will bring us our long-desired freedom.  I have received many letters asking me to keep my name – the name of a former field marshal – from being darkened in history through these documents.  My answer is: during my entire life I have served in the school of duty, and I have learned to do my duty for the fatherland without consideration for my person.  Therefore any thoughts my person had was abandoned in this decision, and I gave up the idea of relieving myself of the responsibility by a plebiscite or resignation.”

Dresden:  Communists conduct a “hunger march,” which quickly leads to clashes with police.  Armored cars are used to disperse the demonstrators, and 125 people are arrested. 

Elsewhere:

Madrid:  One thousand unemployed people march peacefully, with banners announcing simply: “We want work.”

Wednesday, 12 March 1930

Germany:

Berlin:  The Reichstag approves the final reading of the Young Plan bill, 266-193, ending the days of political maneuvering over the bill and, some hope, ushering in a new financial era for Germany.  At the last minute, nationalists, supported by the communists, attempt to introduce a resolution which would delay signature of the bill by President Paul von Hindenburg for two months.  The government counters with a proposed resolution making immediate signature of the bill mandatory – and the government’s resolution carries the vote.  The communists make one last-ditch effort to derail the proceedings, calling for a vote of no-confidence in the government of Chancellor Hermann Mueller, which also fails, 277-169.  The nationalists jeer as the votes are counted.

Breslau:  More impact from the worldwide economic depression: the old German trading house Molinari declares bankruptcy.  The firm, though not overly large, is famous for the literary popularity it gained as the model for the fictional trading house in Gustav Freytag’s novel Debit and Credit.  

Tuesday, 11 March 1930: Germany Ratifies the Young Plan

Berlin:  

The Reichstag approves the Young Plan bill on second reading, as well as the separate war debt payment agreement with the United States.  President Paul von Hindenburg threw his support behind the measures when he threatened reluctant lawmakers that he wouldn’t sign the bill unless it passed by a substantial majority, thus placing the blame on them.  The plan additionally calls for all foreign occupation of the German Rhineland to end by June 30.  Today’s approval makes it virtually certain that the final bill will pass when it gets its third reading tomorrow. 

The Reichstag also rescinds parliamentary immunity for seven of its communist members who incited violence during the March 6 International Unemployment Day demonstrations.  Four people have died as a result of the riots. 

Also, the Reichsbank Board of Directors unanimously appoints Hans Luther, former Chancellor of Germany, to the post of bank president, vacated by Hjalmar Schacht a few days ago.

 

Moscow:  

The government’s persecution of religion intensifies, despite worldwide condemnation.  Leaders of the League of Communist Youths instruct their members to have “special shock brigades and groups of light cavalry” ready during Easter week to lead anti-God activities, and to investigate how anti-religious training is going in schools and universities. 

Additionally, the Society of Militant Atheists calls for Easter Day bonfires of icons (the religious symbols beloved by Eastern Orthodox Christians), to celebrate the “extinction of religion.”  The Godless One, newspaper of the society, writes, “In answer to foreign agitation against us, we will strengthen our Red Army.  We will build armored tanks and an entire tractor column which we shall name ‘The Godless.’  Forty-thousand rubles have already been collected for this purpose.  By intensifying the struggle against religion, we will hasten the collectivization of peasant farms.  By liquidating the kulak as a class we will quicken the fall of his chief support, which is religion.  We will convert the state and collective farms into great centers of atheism.”  

Sunday, 9 March 1930

Washington:  Commerce Secretary Robert P. Lamont announces that a $7 billion government construction program intended to relieve unemployment is being accelerated.  

Saturday, 8 March 1930

Germany:

Berlin:  Defense Minister Lieut. Gen. Wilhelm Groener issues a memorandum to military officers around the country to be extra watchful, as his office has received information indicating that communists believe the time is right in Germany for a communist revolution.  Meanwhile, Germany sends notice to the Soviet Union that it will blame that country for any future communist propaganda within German borders.  Most western governments consider it a “worst-kept secret” that COMINTERN is state sponsored by the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, Wilhelm Marx, former Chancellor, pens an article which appears in newspapers outside of Germany, warning the world against the “insane bolshevist teachings” of soviet Russia.  “Bolshevism, which is regarded by all advanced peoples as utterly insane, is striving for world wide revolution, and has secured dominion over the Russian people.  Its aim is to shatter every state and human institution, and especially capitalism, in order to erect on the ruins a new order – to create indeed a new type of human beings.  The ideas embodied in this doctrine, so destructive to humanity, exercise a strong fascination especially on peoples little affected by general culture.  The Chinese empire, which had hardly been touched by world history for over a thousand years, was within an astonishingly short space of time menaced to its very existence to the highest degree by Bolshevik propaganda.  All this was finally counteracted, but perhaps only temporarily. 

But for Europe the menace of the East remains as a threatening storm cloud on the horizon.  Supported by incalculable natural resources and the tenacity of the Slavic race in its endurance of the greatest wretchedness, men in power in Russia are carrying on their propaganda with inexhaustible funds.  Naturally the neighboring states are the chief sufferers.  Perhaps the countries victorious in the world war will one day have to regret that in drawing up the Treaty of Versailles they concentrated all their efforts toward weakening Germany.  It is alone due to the healthy common sense of the German people and to their steadfast love for order that bolshevist agitation has hitherto been able to gain comparatively little ground.  But the bolshevist menace should serve also as a warning to other countries not to destroy Germany’s economic basis.  An impoverished people whose widest circles are doomed to want, is naturally the best culture medium for bolshevist agitation.  The very existence of states, the conservation and health of peoples and all social and economic order are menaced if these insane teachings of the bolshevist leaders should gain dominion over a still greater part of humanity.”

Meanwhile, the effects of the worldwide economic depression deepen:  Bankruptcies are up 43% over same month 1929.  In Cologne, the Social Democrat Association of Police announces that carnivals will be considered out of place at a time when 2.5 million people are receiving unemployment assistance.

Elsewhere: 

Washington:  The National Unemployment League appeals to President Herbert Hoover and Congress to enact immediate legislation starting a public works system to reduce unemployment. 

London:  The British government releases a white paper which it says reveals a decree issued in the Soviet Union earlier this year limiting religion.  The decree forbids meetings for prayer or Bible study, calls for religious buildings to be nationalized, and mandates that all confiscated church funds be turned over to the state.  

Friday, 7 March 1930

Berlin:  

Dr. Hjalmar Schacht resigns unexpectedly as Reichsbank President, citing again his opposition to the Young Plan – which he now calls merely a distortion of the original.  “Please don’t call it the Young Plan.  Sanctions, moral discriminations and even the taking of our property – as Snowden [Philip Snowden, British Chancellor of the Exchequer], France, Poland, New Zealand, Canada and Australia are doing – have nothing in common with the Young Plan as conceived in Paris.  I am for the Young Plan, especially in the Young spirit; I am even now willing to accept the Young Plan in the Young spirit.  What is now before the Reichstag I call the Hague protocol, and as to what I think of Germany’s future under it . . . .  Well, I don’t say anything.”

Schacht’s antagonism, directed both at Germany’s financial situation and the revisions to the Young Plan, had made headlines throughout Europe.  But his resignation catches official circles by surprise – it lends him a kind of moral high ground, some say, in that he is willing to give up a powerful and high-paying position over principles.  But some officials worry that Schacht is simply planning to launch an attack on the cabinet of Chancellor Hermann Mueller from the outside, possibly bringing down his government. 

The Reichstag bills to approve the Young Plan have been tied up in negotiations for days, as political parties who’s support for the plan will be needed use that in turn as leverage to negotiate for things they want – in particular, for or against a tax increase on individuals to help pay the government’s bills. 

Meanwhile, more communists riot in East Berlin, with two police and a civilian shot.  It starts with a demonstration of several hundred.  When police attempt to break it up, someone opens fire. 

Moscow:  

The Commissariat of Health issues a rule that priests and other “former people” of the old Russian monarchy are not to be given beds in hospitals until all the treatment needs of the “proletarians” have been met.  Since non-proletarians are already prohibited from receiving medical care at public clinics – whose physicians are the ones referring patients to hospitals – this all but excludes these “former people” from the healthcare system (although they still may receive private medical care in their homes).  

Thursday, 6 March 1930: International Unemployment Day Rattles European, U.S. Cities

International Unemployment Day

New York – Detroit – Chicago – Boston – Milwaukee – Pittsburgh – Philadelphia – Cleveland – Washington – Seattle -- Berlin – Hamburg – Munich – Vienna – Manchester:  

In dozens of cities in Europe and the United States, International Unemployment Day is observed with demonstrations and marches, many of which erupt into riots, all organized by the Communist International, or COMINTERN. 

In New York, a crowd estimated at widely divergent numbers – from 35,000 to 110,000 – marches down Broadway toward city hall, and is broken up by an estimated 1,000 police.  As many as 100 are injured and another 100 arrested.  Police Commissioner Grover Whalen calls it the worst riot in the city since the World War. 

In Detroit, a crowd estimated from 30,000 to 100,000 turns out for a demonstration that devolves into a two-hour battle with police, who charge the crowd with horses, injuring anywhere from 5 to 26.  31 are arrested. 

In Chicago, a crowd estimated from 10,000 to 50,000 marches peacefully for four hours.  Crowds in other U.S cities range from 50,000 in Boston to 10-25,000 in Cleveland, where the crowd battles police.  Seattle sees 10,000 demonstrators battle police.  International Unemployment Day is reportedly observed in a total of 30 U.S. cities.

In Washington, several hundred communist demonstrators march in front of the White House.  Some attempt to climb the White House fence and are pulled down by spectators.  Then the whole crowd is dispersed by police with tear gas.  9 are injured, 13 arrested. 

In Berlin, where demonstrations were banned, smaller groups of demonstrators nevertheless clash with police in various outbreaks.  One is killed and 14 injured, half police.  270 are arrested.  Two people are killed in Halle, Germany, where marchers attack police by throwing rocks.  56 are arrested in Munich.

 

In Bilbao, Spain, 400 communists and socialists battle each other, some with gunfire.  Police arrest 40. 

In Vienna, a crowd of 1,500 attempts to rush police guarding the university district, where students are shouting derision at the marchers. 

Moscow:  Meanwhile, the Soviet newspapers Pravda and Izvestia publish front-page editorials urging workers and the unemployed worldwide to rise up in revolt against capitalism. 

International Unemployment Day in New York

Elsewhere:

London:  Meanwhile, back at the stalled naval conference, the French delegation returns, now that France finally has a government again.  Work on caps and parity of naval fleets is expected to resume.  

Moscow:  The government evicts 5,326 traders, former noblemen, landlords, officers and other members of the non-laboring class, from their homes, freeing up 33,367 square meters of living space, which the government then distributes to industrial workers and demobilized Red Army soldiers. 

Tripoli:  Native forces serving Italy clash with a fleeing band of Libyan resistance fighters south of the city, headed by Sulelman Sefennasser.  He and one of his sons are killed in the fighting, and his wife and five other sons are taken prisoner, along with the entire caravan.  

Wednesday, 5 March 1930

The world gears up for what are expected to be massive communist demonstrations tomorrow.  Police and authorities in major cities throughout Europe and the United States are taking different approaches to the preparations.  Berlin, Paris, Riga and Prague have all banned demonstrations.  Berlin will have 7,000 police on patrol to enforce their ban.  Czechoslovakia has suppressed two communist newspapers in addition to banning demonstrations.  Stockholm has banned street demonstrations, but will allow open air meetings.  New York and Philadelphia will allow meetings, but have let it be known they expect them to be orderly.  Chicago initially refuses to permit a gathering, when the chief of detectives announces he's learned that 12 "executioners" (presumably communist) are arriving from New York with orders to kill him.  But the police commissioner overrules him and permits a parade.  

Tuesday, 4 March 1930

Washington:  The worldwide economic depression worsens: Labor Secretary James J. Davis announces that unemployment in the U.S. is at 3 million. 

New York:  A New York Times article says that while soviet Russia is fomenting unemployment riots around the world, its own official figures put unemployment there at 7-10 million -- higher than any country it agitates against.  Moreover, Russia’s unemployed are ruthlessly suppressed from demonstrating.  

Monday, 3 March 1930

Berlin -- Paris:  Authorities report that they, like their counterparts in the United States, are getting word of massive communist and unemployed demonstrations being planned for March 6.

New York:  Matthew Woll, Vice President of the American Federation of Labor, says “Communists are purposely planning to start riots here so police will be forced to interfere to maintain order.  Women and children sympathizers of Soviet Russia will be placed in the front ranks in the red demonstrations.  Then when the police put down the riots, the soviet sympathizers will cry: ‘Police are Cossacks! They ride down women and children.’”

Sunday, 2 March 1930

Moscow:  

Joseph Stalin issues an article, titled “Dizzy With Success,” published in newspapers around the Soviet Union, which appears to call for a slowdown – a “consolidation” -- in the soviet assault on the lives of peasants, including their religion.  Stalin says overzealous prosecution of anti-religious activity stems from overconfidence, and he warns against it.  “I say nothing of those ‘revolutionaries” . . . who begin the work of organizing artels [a cooperative association] by removing the bells from the churches.  Just imagine removing the church bells – how r-r-revolutionary!  How could there have arisen in our midst such blockheaded exercises in ‘socialization,’ such ludicrous attempts to overleap oneself, attempts which aim at bypassing classes and the class struggle, and which in fact bring grist to the mill of our class enemies?  They could have arisen only in the atmosphere of our ‘easy’ and ‘unexpected’ successes on the front of collective-farm development.  They could have arisen only as a result of the blockheaded belief of a section of our party: ‘We can achieve anything!  There’s nothing we can’t do!’  They could have arisen only because some of our comrades have become dizzy with success and for the moment have lost clearness of mind and sobriety of vision.  To correct the line of our work in the sphere of collective-farm development, we must put an end to these sentiments.  That is now one of the immediate tasks of the party.” 

Observers hope this may signal an easing of religious persecution in Russia. 

Elsewhere: 

Germany:  The worldwide economic depression worsens: unemployment in Germany has grown to 2.34 million. 

Paris:  Andre Tardieu is named Prime Minister, barely more than a week after he fell from the same post. 

Saturday, 1 March 1930

Madrid:  

Fears of everything from a coup to a new dictatorship by either the king or new Prime Minister Damaso Berenguer sweep the nation.  The government has prohibited political gatherings, and threatened martial law if civil disorders continue.  King Alfonso is said to be hosting supporters from around the country to bolster his position, and staying in contact with military generals, who are reportedly assuring him that they support him.  Meanwhile police patrol the streets to prevent demonstrations, press freedoms are curtailed, and those arrested in the previous days’ disorder are said to be charged with treason.  Yet rumors also fly that several military officers are resigning and holding conference at Barcelona – possible prelude to a coup. 

Germany: 

Leipzig:  Police raid a communist meeting hall and find 16 machine guns and 125 rifles that were stolen from a nearby military barracks on Thursday.  Police in a nearby village find another 6 machine guns and 30 rifles at another communist gathering place. 

Berlin:  Meanwhile, fighting breaks out between nationalists and communists during a funeral for a nationalist student who was allegedly killed by the communists.  As the funeral procession is passing, the communists reportedly jeer, and trouble ensues.  Police eventually break up the melee and the funeral continues.

Poland:  

Newspaper correspondents report a steady stream of peasants crossing the border from Russia to flee loss of land, food shortages and villages burned at the hands of soviet authorities.  Many are shot by Russian border guards as they try to escape.  One detachment of border guards, however, reportedly joins the refugees and escapes into Poland, sick of going hungry and being ordered to shoot their own people.  Poland, however, appeals to the League of Nations for aid in helping the refugees, as unemployment and economic conditions in Poland are already so bad due to the depression that they fear things will get desperate. 

New York:  

Matthew Woll, President of the American Federation of Labor, says the recent communist disturbances around the country have been financed by the Communist International, to the tune of $1.25 million.  He says the communist strategy is to take advantage of rising unemployment to urge revolution.  Additionally, federal, state and local authorities across the nation report they’re also uncovering evidence of major communist demonstrations being planned for March 6.