Friday, July 18, 1930: The Reichstag is Dissolved

Berlin:  The vote on the socialists’ measure to declare illegal Chancellor Heinrich Bruening’s emergency-decree enacting his tax measures is held, as expected, and it passes, 236-221.  As a result, and also as expected, Bruening follows immediately with an announcement that based on the decree he’s already received from President Paul von Hindenburg, the Reichstag is dissolved.

 

The uproar on the chamber floor is so great Bruening’s last words are drowned out, with communists shouting, “Down with Hindenburg and Bruening!  Down with fascism!”

Within five minutes of the announcement, however, the floor of the chamber is almost empty, except for 50 or so communists singing the “International” song.  Other communists, as well as nazis, make a quick getaway because they know their parliamentary immunity from arrest will end with the Reichstag’s dissolution. 

This parliament thus joins every previous parliament since the founding of the Weimar Republic in being dissolved before its natural adjournment (which would have been 1932, four years after its election).

The dissolution means new parliamentary elections will be held, required by law within 60 days.  They are set for September 14.  Already political observers are speculating on what the new elections will bring.  One new political party has already come into being: the German Conservative Party, formed under Kuno von Westarp, who for many years was the floor leader for Alfred Hugenberg’s nationalists.  Incensed over Hugenberg’s willingness to vote with the socialists, Westarp has bolted.  This could fragment the nationalist vote – one reason why one of the predictions political observers have already made is that the party with the most to gain by the elections will be the nazis, led by Adolf Hitler. 

Tonight Bruening issues a proclamation to the country: “The Reichstag has refused to the Reich the means for carrying out its tasks.  President von Hindenburg’s financial reform program was rejected by a small majority which is divided in itself and incompetent to assume responsibility.  An appeal is now made to the nation to decide its future.  Do the people wish to withhold from the government what is necessary for regulating finances, maintaining German economic life and safeguarding social obligations?  That is the question for September 14.”

 

Hindenburg, meanwhile, departs on his planned tour of the newly liberated areas of the Rhineland.  It will be his first time to cross the Rhine River since 1918.

Moscow:  The “Volunteer Defense Society” announces that Russia plans to have a military of 17 million by 1933 as part of its new five-year plan for aerial and chemical defense.

 

Tokyo:  Reports circulate that Admiral Takarabe Takeshi, Minister of the Navy, will resign once the London Naval Treaty is approved by the Japanese government if he is not forced out before then.  Ratification of the treaty has been delayed again by a scheduled recess of the Privy Council.