From the S&S archives:
Half-mile divides Communists, anti-Reds on May Day in Berlin

BERLIN, May 1 (S&S) — Thousands of Berliners gathered today in separate May Day celebrations that reflected the rift between East and West.

Only half a mile separated the Communist and anti-Communist rallies, but fears of violence failed to materialize even though a large stream of Communists on their way to the Russian Sector meeting passed by the rival demonstration.

"March on, march on to Moscow," the anti-Communists jeered at parading Communists.

More than 200,000 persons, including a large number of red-flag-bearing children, attended the Communist rally sponsored by the Communist-dominated Free German Trade Union Federation in the Soviet Sector's Lustgarten.

Just five blocks away on the other side of the Brandenburg Gate in the British Sector's Square of the Republic, more than 120,000 anti-Communists rallied for "freedom and bread."

The British Sector rally was told Berlin would never again be the seat of dictatorship, that Germany would not allow the rise "of dictatorship of another color."

Pointing toward the rival demonstration on the other side of the Brandenburg Gate, Franz Neumann, leader of Berlin's Social Democratic Party, said: "Over there they speak of freedom and unity, but they erect barbed wire on the Elbe."

Thousands cheered Neumann wildly when he said: "Here we offer no liquors, no candy, no free meals, no cigars. Here we offer freedom."

Persons attending the Communist rally were given free beer and sausages.

Red cheered in Stuttgart

By Win Fanning, S&S staff correspondent

STUTTGART, May 1 (S&S) — In spite of rain and hail showers, an assembly of 5,000 Stuttgart workers applauded Communist Wurttemberg-Baden Labor Minister Rudolf Kohl at the May Day celebration here today when he demanded equal rights for the workers councils with plant owners.

Kohl, in a one-hour speech, outlined on Stuttgart's huge Karlsplatz his program of a new workers councils' law exclaiming: "The workers here are willing to cooperate in the reconstruction of our economy but we will do so only when we are given the equal rights which we can and must demand."

Kohl added it is now time to replace the old phrase, "if you want peace prepare for war," by the new motto, "he who wants peace must work for it." Kohl then addressed the Allies: "Give us a just peace. Let us fight for peace and liberty, for understanding among the peoples and justice all over the world."

Before the celebration on the Karlsplatz, long columns of workers marched through the town to music played by the Stuttgart police band. As a mutual emblem of May Day most of the workers wore red ties or red flowers on their jackets.

Frankfurt May Day is without incident

By Arthur Noyes, S&S staff correspondent

FRANKFURT, May 1 (S&S) — May Day was celebrated without incident here today, as only two small political demonstrations were held by the two Hessian workers parties.

The Communists, recently renamed the Socialist Peoples Party in the three western zones, drew 500 persons to a beer garden where a few speeches were delivered and traditional May Day dances were held.

Walter Fisch, local KPD chief, delivered a tame address with only casual mention of the "war-mongering U. S. monopolist-capitalists" and the "Marshall slave plan."

A few hours later Frankfurt's mayor Walter Kolb and other Socialist leaders addressed a gathering of a few thousand workers associated with the Socialist Party labor unions. Kolb urged workers unity to bring Germany unity.

Bavaria workers stress unity, peace

By Julia Edwards, S&S staff correspondent

MUNICH, May 1 (S&S) — Labor today renewed its demands for a unified Germany at a May Day rally of 26,000 workers on the Koenigsplatz here and at a meeting of Bavarian union leaders in Jubilee Hall, attended by Murray D. Van Wagoner, director OMGB.

On the platz built by Adolf Hitler to honor the men who died in the 1923 putsch, huge red posters today read: "No help for war, we want peace," and "No munitions. We want bread."

Green banners demanded: "Away with zonal borders," and "Four zones are bad."

Lorenz Hagen, president of the Bavarian Federation of Trade Unions, at Jubilee Hall, called for the political and economic unity of Germany, bust stressed the peace treaty must leave Germany independent and free from outside political influence.