A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 284, 26 August 1940, Page 6

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Germany From Within AMERICAN GERMAN’S VISIT Ever since the war began there has been great interest in the state of public feeling in Germany. Opinions have differed and changed somewhat a.s the war has progressed, particularly concerning the possibility of internal trouble in the Reich. Some light on the outlook of Hie German people up to the spring of this year is provided by an article in “Harper’s Magazine’’ by Hans Schmidt who, after childhood in Germany during the last war, went to the United States and then returned to be in Germany from August, 1939. till the early part of this year. HLs opinions, however, are probably to be considered together with the fact that Hitler has scored some spectacular successes since then.

The outstanding sentiment during the first half-year of the war, he says, was undoubtedly a trend away from Hitler and National Socialism and a willingness on the part of many, jieople to sacrifice Hitler, his entourage and much of his policy’ if that would bring an economically sound and morally justifiable peace. Feeling After Munich

Up till the time of Munich be thought that Hitler had gained the support, if not the confidence, of the vast majority of Germans. Had the truce developed into a strong four-Power pact and been made the basis for relaxing the tension in Europe and. at the same time easing the grip in which the Nazis held their own nation both spiritually and economically, the attitude of the German people would have been very different from what he found it. It was probably as good an analysis as any to say that 10 to 15 per cent, of Germans would support Hitler to the limit and that a similar number was bitterly opposed to him. The remainder fluctuated back and forth. The spring anil autumn of 1938 were particularly good seasons for Hitler, the autumn of 1939 and the spring of 1940 were very bad. Beer Cellar Explosion

Mr. Schmidt does not think the Nazis staged the Munich beer cellar explosion because they would have been bad psychologists to do so. He walked among the stolid crowds gathered near the debris left by the explosion and found that none of them showed any signs of excitement or anger—they had lived through too much in the last 25 years.

They had learnt to detest the Muscovites as the incarnation of all evil and now read of the deep and lasting friendship between Russia and Germany. “We don’t care a damn—as long as we live and eat”—this was the basic and potent formula of living to which 25 years of frantic activity, worry and suffering, including seven years of totalitarianism, were tending to reduce a people that once upon a time was called a nation of poets and thinkers. Varying Sentiment

Sentiment toward Hitler and the war varied from region to region, class to class and age group to age group. In Austria where, at the time of the Anschluss, a majority of the people were for Hitler, feeling was now outspokenly hostile. Munich and its general vicinity were considered rather hostile territory for the Nazis. Their popularity had decreased in the cities and Catholic rural areas of the south, whereas it was obviously very great in cities and towns of central and eastern Ge inn any. The general hardships of war weighed heavily, but what was even more important were the spiritual forces—and this was perhaps the only encouraging message he took out of Germany.- The blackouts and the food rationing were not the things which made the people really bitter; they tended only to make them think and turn their minds toward some fundamental questions. Fundamental Questions

“During these many months I became convinced of one thing, ami it is this one conviction that enables me to go on hoping for a German and a European future. Liberty, Christianity, decency are the three fountains from which spring the force which some day will defeat Hitler. Personal liberty, sheer human decency, Christian charity and love —these are nonexistent in the Nazi totalitarian Stale; millions of Germans have begun to yearn for them sincq Hitler’s spell as a miracle man of peace and eternal prosperity is dissolving.” People were beginning to wonder whether it was true that Hitler was always right, A good many people reluctantly confessed that the Fuehrer had given his word to leave Czechoslovakia alone, and that he had broken his word. The impression that Chamberlain and Daladier made when they went to Germany could not be completely erased; it was an impression of decent and reasonable, sincerely peace-loving men. Gestapo’s Efficiency Nevertheless, Himmler’s Gestapo worked so ellicientiy that there was little chance for underground organizations to make much headway. Another reason why discontent was unlikely to break out openly for some time to come was the lack of private courage among Germans and the loyalty and soldierly discipline so deeply inbred in the German nation. The full weight of the Prussian-German traditions came to Hitler’s aid and the Nazis believed that this side of the German character would make them win the war. Summary Of Events August 15: Greek cruiser torpedoed. Greek Prime Minister reported to have refused second German request to renounce British guarantee. Nazi parachutes found in Britain, thought to constitute propaganda hoax. August 16: Thousand enemy machines take part in raids on Britain— German losses 180, British 27. Italians reported concentrating on Albanian front ter with Greece, where tension increases as Italians bomb two Greek destroyers, for which Italy apologises.

August 17; Plane loss tally Germans 75, British 22, in lighting round English coasts. R.A.F. attacks important new objectives in Germany. British warships drive Italians from Fort Capuzzo and also bombard Bardin, in Libya.

August 18: Canada and United States agree to set up permanent joint defence board. R.A.F. raids seaplanes and shipping in Boulogne harbour. British forces In Somaliland retiring toward Berbora.

August 19: Germans lose 1-10 out of some <‘>oo machines sent over Britain, largest percentage yet. Sixteen British fighters down in same series of battles. British evacuate Somaliland. President, of Egyptian Chamber of Deputies urges entry into war on Britain’s side.