862.00/3158
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 5.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that since the transmission of my despatch No. 263 of November 15, additional information received by the Embassy tends to confirm the statements in that report regarding the pressure exerted upon the voters to cast their ballots.
The Consul at Stuttgart states that from four until six p.m. uniformed National Socialists visited the houses of delinquent voters who were [Page 268] practically forced to go to the polls in automobiles provided for that purpose. The same procedure is reported by the Consul in Breslau. Copies of these reports have been forwarded to Washington.65
In an interesting letter to me, dated November 14, Consul General Simmons at Cologne reports to the same effect regarding the balloting in the Rhineland. The pertinent passages are enclosed herewith.65
The Consul at Leipzig has written me that “Storm Troopers and Steel Helmet men were busy all day of the election seeing that every elector cast his vote, as otherwise many electors might have stayed away from the polls.”
From the foregoing it seems clear that the National Socialist organization not only exercised pressure on the voters to go to the polls, but to a definite degree influenced the character of the votes cast, despite official assurances concerning the secrecy of the ballot.
Respectfully yours,