Sir - Is Mr Declan Gilsenan (October 16th) suggesting that the Nazis didn't use both the bullet and the ballot in their bid for power? If he is then it is he who "displays a sad lack of historical knowledge".
Adolf Hitler attempted the violent overthrow of the government in the Munich beer hall putsch of 1923.
His violent means landed him in Landsberg prison, where the book Mein Kampf was written.
In the 1928 election the Nazis won a paltry 12 seats.
In 1929 Hitler allied himself with Dr. Hugenbcrg, leader of the Nationalist Party and owner of newspapers, magazines and a film company which owned theatres.
In the 1930 election the Nazis won a very respectable 107 seats.
By November 1933 they had 661 seats out of a total of 661.
Yours, etc.
19 Sheraton Park,
Foylesprings,
Derry.