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.”