TRAGIC GERMANY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 103, 4 May 1933, Page 11

TRAGIC GERMANY

THE NAZIS' METHODS

LIKENESS TO RUSSIA

ARTISTS AEEESTED

A block of buildings in the southWest of Berlin which is known as tho VArtists' Colony," and which is roughly tho Berlin -equivalent of Bloomsbury, has been raided by 350 policemen and Storm Troop "auxiliaries." All the houses were searched, and a large number of their occupiers, mostly writers, painters, and.architects of "Left-wing" tendencies, as well as other "drawing-room Bolsheviks," as the Nazi "Angriff" calls them, were packed into lorries and taken off to prison,, says tho "Manchester Guardian." * According to the Nazi Pressj there was a close connection, between this • German Bloomsbury and' the "programme of murder and terrorism" which, it says, was discovered in tho Karl Liebknecht House, the Communist headquarters in the Bulowplatz. The "Angriffi" alleges that revolvers and other dangerous weapons ■were- found in the flats and studios, and describes' in tho following terms the search p-ade in thoj/hpuse of Dr. Schafer, a well-known educational authority of Left-wing tendencies:— ,;" "At: 11.45 the auxiliary polico finally penetrated into tho 'flat of Dr., Schafer, that 'famous' pedagogue of the Koerner High School. As the flat was locked up, they had to smash tho door, and then carried put a systematic search*.'- It is amazing to think what stuff this pedagogue used to read in bis spare moments., . Numerous illegal pamphlets'were found there and a lot of Communist literature, as well as drawings by Gross., and other 'artists,' all of which betrayed a ■ Communist tendency. ■ , *.•'■' CULTURAL REVOLUTION. Gross is admittedly one.-of the most ■brilliant German artists, and the fact that the Nazi Press should describe Gross and other artists of the same school, as artists in quotation marks is highly significant of the cultural revolution which the Nazis propose to undertake. The Nazi rebellion against the modern German school of painting, which may bo described., as cosmopolitan and which is related to the great art movements of "Western Europe, and particularly to that of France, is perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the "cultural" side of Nazism. Some indication of what "Art for Germany's sake" means is given by Herr Goebbels, tho new "Minister of Public Enlightenment," .in,- an interview iv tho "Angriff." *■ The purpose of the newly formed department, he said, was to form public opinion. The National Govornnient could'not be satisfied with only 52 per fcent. of the. German voters; it needed the whole nation. The new Ministry would consist of five departments: — (1) Propaganda, (2) Wireless, (3) the Press, (4) Cinema, (5) the Theatre and Popular Education. ■'.■'.■. •■ Dr. Goebbels denied that the empha ; sis on propaganda -would make the wirelrts programme boring. "I am a sworn enemy of dullness," ho said, '' but nowadays. tho , German people must no longer bo left to themselves. There must be a constant contact between the Government and the people, and wireless will establish this' contact.. It will greatly help in our work of., national, reconstruction.''.,,,,,.-, ~; o FUNCTION OF THE PRESS. The function of,the Press, Dr. G.oeb;bels continued, will not only be information "but also instruction. It will also act as a middleman between the G6yemmont and the people. "We shall creato a Press which will be gladly conscious of its responsibility towards the German people and the future of Germany. The Press may criticise the Government^ but it must not bo allowed to steal the people from it." . Dr. Goeobels had no time to go .'into the question of tho theatre, thecinema, and art in general, but it may be taken that all these fields will nnw be placed in the service of the national revolution. The process which German cultural life will undergo will probably be similar to that which Russian art, literature, and drama underwent at different periods of the Soviet Revolution, when 'everything had to become "Kevolu.tipnaiy." In Germany: everything will h'avo to become "National." . ■ ■ • The, results of the work winch will now. be undertaken by Dr. Goebbels and by the other cultural and educational departments -will be watched .with much interest. Will German painters now concentrate on Nazi professions, just as foi-a. long time Kussian painters were made to concentrate ,on Bed Flag professions? ' ' An order prohibiting Herr Bruno .Walter, the world-famous conductor, from' conducting a concert ,at the Gewandhaus at Leipzig has been issued by the Saxon Minister of the Interior, a Nazi: of 'well-known antiJewish persuasion. No reason has been given for the order. ■ The British'periodicals, tho "New Statesman and Nation" and tho "Weekend Review," " .have-. _ Veen banned throughout Germany until September 4. It was explained in official quarters in Berlin that the" step had been taken because of articles published about tho Boiehstng fire. EBERT STAMPS. Because they are "tainted : With Marxism," German postage stamps bearing tho head of tho late' President' Ebert, a Socialist, are to bo withdrawn from circulation as soon as possible. They, are to be replaced by a new series of stamps Bearing tho heads of famous men in German history, such as Frederick the Great and other Prussian kings, poets of the >var of liberty, and leaders' in tho Great War, including President yon Hindenburg. Now that Socialist and Republican Government ' officials, burgomasters, magistrates, and 'municipal councillors have been dismissed to mako way for Nazis, the work of "cleansing" boards of directors of companies controlled by tho city of Berlin is to be taken in hand. , ■ Meanwhile Communists iv many parts of Prussia are- giving up the fight. At Landsberg, the leaders t>f the Communist Party have .surrendered their flags, posters, photographs, and even musical instruments. Nazis ceremoniously burned the flags and smashed the musical instruments in the market square in tho presence of "rcpenant" Communists. At Cracow, Mecklenberg, the local Communist I>nfty has disarmed itself and sent Jill its documents to the police, with tlio remark. "Wo have had enough." Police'in Elbing, East Prussia, liowcver, report that Communists are active and many arrests have been - made. Two Communists, it is added, were shot while trying to escape. It is alleged that plans were found m thenhouses for setting villages on firo and putting certain of the inhabitants to (loath. In Konigsbcrg s'overal Socialists and Communists havo been released. * . * . '