Leader of German Party Forced to Quit Parliament After Anti-semitic Tirade

Wolfgang Hedler, a leader of the rightist German Party, who last night delivered a violent anti-Semitic speech while addressing party officials at Einfeld, near Bonn, seat of the West German Government, today resigned from the parliament. His resignation was demanded by parliament members immediately after the contents of his speech became known.

An announcement of Hedler’s withdrawal from the parliament was made by Dr. Erich Hoehler, president of the House. He said that the state government of Schleswig-Holstein was expected to apply shortly for the lifting of Hedler’s parliamentary immunity.

In his speech at Einfeld, Hedler said that Germany can be rebuilt without Jews. He criticized Kurt Schumacher, leader of the Social Democratic Party, for speaking out against the Nazi barbarities against the Jews. “Schumacher talks so much of Hitler’s barbarism against the Jews,” he said. “On whether the gassing of Jews was right, everyone should have his own opinion. Maybe there were other methods of cleaning Germany of the Jews.

“Schumacher did not talk about German refugees,” the German Party leader continued, “but of the reconstructive powers of the Jewish spirit. Therefore, the Jews will again become impertinent.” Hedler also labelled all members of the anti-Nazi underground in Germany “traitors” who “sabotaged Germany’s war potential and led to its unconditional surrender.”