NAZI BRUTALITY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 79, 13 January 1940, Page 3

NAZI BRUTALITY

TREATMENT OF OWN NATIONALS JEWS IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS TORTURE OF MIND AND BODY. The British Government recently issued a White Paper dealing with the treatment of German nationals in Germany in 1938 and 1939. The document is being published by the “Guardian” in instalments, the second of which is as follows: No. *3. Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax. BERLIN, May 25, 1938. Dear Secretary of State* I have received a letter on the Church question, in which the writer asks that you should be apprised of her views. As the letter is of some interest as reflecting the attitude of many German parents, I .am enclosing a translation in case you have time to look at it when these alarums are over. Yours ever, NEVILE HENDERSON. Enclosure in No . 3 (Translation.) May 21, 1938. Your Excellency, In the following letter I am undertaking something which I myself feel to be a very difficult task: — 1. I appeal to a foreign Power _ for help in a matter which is the private concern of the German people. 2. I write without mentioning my name.

Anonymous letters should by rights be consigned to the wastepaper basket, but since you are aware of the state of affairs in Germany as regards the censorship of letters, moral compulsion, concentration camps, and so on, I. hope that you will lend a willing ear to this appeal in spite of its anonymity. The object of my petition is that England, the country which is still the strongest in Europe, and which is trying to preserve its Christian character, will make all future negotiations with Germany conditional upon the cessation of hostility towards Christianity in Germany.

The first condition upon which the end of this conflict depends would be the release of our imprisoned pastors, especially the pastor Martin Neimoller, whose lot must be a source of the greatest bitterness to all fair-minded people. But almost more important still, it seems to me, is the demand that the systematic alienation of our youth from Christ shall be stopped. We parents must surrender our 10-year-old children to the control of the Hitler Youth, the League of German Girls, and later on the Labour Service. Our exceptionally gifted boys must attend the Adolf Hitler Schools and afterwards pass on to the National Socialist Schools of Political Training (“Ordensburgen”), there to be prepared for future leadership in the State and the party. In all these institutions a great deal that is excellent, and which wo parents welcome with joy ahd gratitude, is offered to youth. But they one and all serve ax well to exert upon our youth an influence hostile to Christianity! , Perhaps it may be possible to forward this letter, which expresses every Christian mother’s way of thinking, despite its anonymity to your revered Queen. She, as a Christian mother, will understand our anxiety for our children.

It.is not, however, quite correct to say, as I have done above, that the question at issue is the private concern of the German people; for, if in the heart of Europe a rising generation is brought up not only in indifference to Christianity but all too often in hatred of it, the future will he fraught with disaster not only for Germany hut for Europe. At the present time the ancient Christian traditions of grandparents and parents have a restraining influence still—but woe to Germany, and woe to Europe, when these traditions, shall have passed away! Your Excellency, many German mothers would he grateful to you from the bottom of their hearts if you could bring these lines to the notice of your Foreign Minister, Lord Halifax, who has been brought up in the spirit of Christianity, and, if at all possible, of your Christian Royal couple as well. We hope for England’s selp in our hard fight against the forces hostile to Christianity which are threatening our pastors and our youth

A German Mother, Who is of one mind with many Christian parents. No. 4. Consul-General Gainer to Viscount Halifax. His Majesty’s Consul-General at Vienna presents his compliments to His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to transmit to him a copy of his despatch to His Majtsty’s Ambassador, Berlin, dated the 10th October, respecting the Catholic and antiCatholic demonstrations in Vienna. VIENNA, October 10, 1938. Enclosure in No. 4. Consul-General Gailner to Sir N. Henderson. VIENNA, October 10, 1938. 'Sir, I have the honour to report that a sermon was preached on Friday evening the 7th instant, in the Cathedral Church of St. Stephen in Vienna by Cardinal Archbishop Innitzer. After the sermon a large group of young persons demonstrated outside the cardinal’s palace shouting “Heil, Christas!” “Heil Innitzer!” The cardinal appeared several times upon the balcony of the palace and received the greetings of the demonstrators.

2. This is the first occasion since the Anschluss that any kind of public Catholic demonstration has taken place in Vienna, and, as was to be anticipated a counter-demonstration was promptly organised. This counter-demonstration, however, assumed so violent an aspect that a very serious situation resulted. 3. On Saturday evening, the Bth instant, at about 7.30 p.m., groups of young men belonging to the S.A. and H.J., but not in party uniform, began to arrive iu the Stephansplatz in parties of five, armed with ladders and bludgeons. The ladders were planted against the cardinal’s palace and the lads entered the first floor of the building after smashing in all the windows. Once inside, they destroyed every religious picture to be seen, leaving other pictures untouched, smashed the busts of several Popes, stole valuable chalices and three episcopal rings, and collected the robes, and even the personal wardrobe, of the cardinal, which they threw into the courtyard with several articles of furniture and set fire to them. The cardinal fled to an attic, protected by his servants, and remained undiscovered. A priest of the cardinal’s household who endeavoured to restrain the attackers was mishandled and an attempt was made to throw him out of a window. He was badly cut about the hands and arms by broken glass. A similar attack was made upon the residence and officers of the dean of the cathedral, and. a priest there was actually thrown out of the window and both his legs were broken.

4. The police were telephoned for seven times from v the palace and arrived three-quarters of an hour after the first telephone call. On their arrival, the leader of the mob blew a whistle, the attackers formed a column and marched off the square in procession unmolested and undetained by the police, whose efforts were confined to controlling an angry crowd which had gathered. The fire brigade was summoned to put out the bonfire and an ambulance was sent to collect the injured priests and members of the cardinal’s household. The S.A. are to-day in occupation of the palace, where the cardinal remains, and no one is allowed to enter. The leader of the assault was a 16-year-old boy. 5. The above facts were given to me by a priest who to-day visited the deanery and took stock of the damage done 6. It is reported that the Papal Nuncio arrived at Vienna from Berlin yesterday to enquire into the matter, but has not been given access to the cardinal. , 7. A meeting of all the parish priests in Vienna has been summoned for 5 o’clock this afternoon, and it is expected that instructions will be given to read a letter of protest in all the parish churches next Sunday. 8. Strong protests have been made to Gaulteiter Burckel, who has conveyed his regrets to the cardinal and has promised that energetic action, will be taken against those responsible, but this will merely lead to further difficulties for Herr Burckel with the local party organisations. I have, etc. I). St. Clair Gainer.