Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, European Advisory Commission, Austria, Germany, Volume III

862.00/12–2945: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

Berlin, undated.
[Received December 29, 1945—6 a.m.]

1344. December has produced important developments in the so-called united front of the four political parties operating in Berlin and the Russian zone. Some months ago both Hermes (CDU) and Koch (LDP) predicted that an eventual showdown might be expected between their parties and the Russians (see my 583, September 21, 1 p.m. [midnight]). This has now occurred as regards both parties, at least to the extent of producing changes in party leadership.

The following comes mainly from SSU⁹⁸ and G–2⁹⁹ sources, which obtained the information directly from German (CDU) sources:

Case of Hermes and the CDU is far and away the more important of the two, in view of the much greater influence of this party, as a result of which it has constituted a far greater obstacle than LDP to realization of Russian and Communist objectives through framework of the United Front. My 1345, Dec 28¹ summarizes account of last weeks developments in Russian controlled press, indicating how this has been presented to the German people as spontaneous move by progressive CDU elements to oust their reactionary leaders. Details given in second paragraph below, however, throw added light on the apparent sequence of events. Russian decision to eliminate Hermes from CDU leadership aimed at both liquidating this unpliable political leader and teaching his party a lesson, was presumably brought to a head by: (a) CDU continued refusal to endorse land reforms as carried out in Russian zone, even to extent of refusing to participate in four-party appeals for help to the newly-settled farmers; and (b) Fact that Hermes organized a CDU conference in first, half of December at Bad Godesberg in British, rather than Russian zone. CDU had also been critical of recently launched education reforms in Russian zone. A more basic consideration may well have been the outcome of recent Hungarian and Austrian elections.² At any rate, Russians allegedly brought pressure to bear on certain selected CDU leaders in province Saxony, hinting at possible arrest if latter would not play ball and promising long desired local CDU newspaper, cars and real estate in case of compliance. CDU Saxony leaders, especially Herwegen, apparently agreed and came to Berlin to demand change in party leadership. So-called founders meeting of CDU took place here on Dec 21, at which Hermes and Schreiber were allegedly forced to resign by direct order from Zhukov. Kaiser was informed that he and Lemmer would take over party leadership. Kaiser loath to do so under the above circumstances and has said that he will do so only if Russians agree to leading party members being informed of true story of party crisis and Hermes’ forced resignation and if Russians indicate clearly extent to which they will in future permit free party activity by CDU. All representatives present at this Dec 21 meeting spoke regretfully of Hermes’ resignation, except Herwegen, who made provocative speech. Entire front page of Dec 21 issue of Die Neue Zeit, announcing resignation of Hermes at CDU meeting, was furnished by Russians and had to be printed by editor without change. Similarly, entire first issue of CDU newspaper in Saxony which appeared on Dec 18 was written by the Russians.

British are providing Hermes with airplane transport to their zone, and have informed Zhukov of their so doing. Hermes plans to carry on party activities there, together with CDU elements already active in western Germany.

If Kaiser sticks to above position, he may not long remain as new CDU leader, as questionable that Russians will agree to his terms. We understand that Lemmer’s journalistic record under Nazi regime is not absolutely pure and Russians may be using their knowledge of this fact to induce him to go along with their present plans for CDU and its new leadership. Also worth noting that according to Hermes, Russians have all along tried to bring pressure to bear on him through fact that they hold his son as prisoner of war and last September Zhukov assured him son would then be released. Fact that Hermes eventually became persona non grata to our eastern Ally is quite understandable, in view of his opposition to certain recent policies, such as land and education reforms as launched in zone. In these cases, as well as in way Hermes was removed from his position as CDU leader, Russians used their customary tactics of working through Germans rather than taking direct action themselves. Change in LDP leadership was not nearly as important as the above. Though there is good reason to believe that resignation of Koch about Dec 1 was due in part to Russian pressure, there also seems to have been real dissatisfaction within party circles over his leadership. While Koch has courage and ideas, he was obstinate and his personal relations with party members were apparently never very close or warm. He has been succeded by Kuelz, who impresses us as an even older and weaker personality than Koch, who on account of his greater pliability and apparent vanity should prove more tractable and agreeable. A few days after Koch’s resignation LDP joined the other three parties by moving its headquarters from British into Russian sector of Berlin, apparently because of failure to obtain from British coal for office heating and fact that Russians had promised such fuel to them.

Murphy

98. Strategic Services Unit; interim successor to the Office of Strategic Services.
99. Army general staff intelligence section.
1. Not printed; it provided an account of the press campaign to oust Dr. Hermes from the leadership of the CDU (862.00/12–2845).
2. See telegram 886, November 9, from Budapest, vol. iv, p. 904, and telegram. 498, November 27, from Vienna, ante, p. 664.