higher-resolution unretouched image.
EXPECTED IN GERMANY; WILL
INSURE HITLER’S CONTROL
Young Dutch Communist Caught After Setting
Fire to Half Century Old Reichstag Build-
ing—Police Begin Wholesale Arrests
day prohibited publication of the entire Leftist Press and
also ordered the arrest of the 100 Communist members of
the last parliament.
With Reichstag and Prussian Diet election five days
off, both orders were regarded as forerunners to the out-
lawing of the Communist party. They followed swiftly
upon partial destruction of the massive half-century old
Reichstag building by a fire started by an alleged Dutch
Communist last night. Many persons thought the fire
was set by others so Communists could be blamed.
|
by noon were two leading mem- bers of the Pacific League for Human Rights and several rad- ical writers. Ernst Torgler, Communist floor leader of the Reichstag, voluntarily presented himself to police. Police squadrons occupied the building housing the Vorwaerts, principal newspaper of the Social- ist party, for four hours this morn- ing, and confiscated truckloads of election propaganda. The two leftist parties formed the bulk of the majority opposition against the Hitler regime in the Reichstag dissolved this month, holding 221 of the 554 states. The Communists and Hitlerites formed the two largest parties in the Prus- sian Diet, which also was dis- solved. |
ists was expected to assure Chan- cellor Hitler’s party of control in both the Reichstag and the Diet to be elected Sunday. It will take eight months to re- pair the damage to the Reichstag building and the new Reichstag will meet in the Prussian Diet building. Investigation disclosed the Reichstag building, which in- cludes some offices of Chancellor Hitler and other officials, was set on fire in 15 different places. Police began arresting Commun- ist Reichstagers early this morn- ing. It was impossible to deter- mine how many were taken in cus- tody this forenoon as many Com- mfunists arrested will be held pending a complete investigation of the fire. A 24-year-old youth named Van Der Lubbe admitted setting fire to the famous building. He came from Amsterdam where an invet- tigation disclosed he was known as a Communist and founder of his own party in Holland. the fire to the former kaiser’s pal- ace last Saturday night. This fire wasm extinguished before causing much damage. Van Der Lubbe was caught as he was running from the Reichstag building last night. He admitted starting one fire on the main floor. Police believed he had ac- complices who escaped. Prominent Communist Reichstagers were re- ported to have been seen fleeing from the building. No official estimate of the dam- age had been made this morning but it was expected to amount to several million marks. |