THE THIRD REICH SAGS AT THE ELBOWS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 36, 11 August 1934, Page 25

THE THIRD REICH SAGS AT THE ELBOWS

Adolf Hitler's third Boieh may or may not be wobbling in its boots, as some European chancelleries believe, but any tourist can sec for himself that it is getting tired in the elbows, says a correspondent of the "New York Times."

Fourteen months ago, when this correspondent was travelling through South-western Germany, tho Nazi salute —right aj;m ostended stiffly; to form an obtuse angle with the body—was a public act of faith that every patriotic German delighted in making • at the slightest provocation." Now, despite propaganda, the salute seems to bo less general What is more striking is the way it is given when it is given at all. . : .

Today very few Germans, ovon Brown Shirts, seem to be able to manage much better than a feeble right anglo for ordinary purposes. Even then tho olbow sags visibly. That' refers to the official salute while, standing up. Naturally, if ono is sitting in front of a stein of beer, it is- not appropriate, bo a less formal short salute has been worked out.

While the elbow is flexible in this salute, the wrist should be stiff, and tho forearm' should be raised with a brisk snap, but tho civilian population has not. much snap in thel forearms theso days. The hand jangles and often tho salute, is only a languid slip of tho wrist, like some ono starting to catch .a fly ana then giving up. The authorities'are worried about these languid wrists. And tho question of tho saluto takes on importance in connection with a number of other soemingly. trivial changes, in the aspect of the" country. 'l-~;:.; ■■■;:■ , Whoro are the flags, for instanco? A year ago the streets of Frankfurt and the fields-ibf the Khineland wero ablaze with swrfs.tikas. ; Now ono scarcely notices them except: in front of local Nazi bureaux of one sort or another.^

Then there is . music—four days in Germany, wandering around all day aud all evening; and this writer has not heard the Horst Wessel anthem once.

Nor has his digestion been paralysed in tho iniddio of a meal by those propaganda speeches over tho radio that onoo gave him nightmares.

Iv cafes and beer halls, storm troopers or boys in Hitler Youth uniforms do not como around as often as the} once did selling tho .party's propaganda publications, and when they do come few seem to buy.

When oiu ft.lks to citizens of tho Third Beich—even some who wear uniforms —this surface impression of revolutionary backsliding and general lassitude becomes much stronger. There does not seem to be any general dissatisfaction, but there is a general weariness. A large section of tho population is so saturated vrith propaganda that it does not react any more and the revolutionary fever is slowly dying down.

As it dies down tho critical . spirit, which disappeared completely in the first mouths of. the: revolution, begins to revive. As in all countries where tho Press and speech are muzzled, the peoplo let off steam by'telling jokes on the leaders or on tho regime. These stories circulate by word of mouth across tho whole country.

General Hermann Wilholm Goering, Promier of Prussia and Eeich Air Minister, is a favourite target for jokesters. Ono story pokes fun at his love for theatrical effect. It relates how he failed to show up at a big ball in Berlin, and policemen, after a long search, found him seated in the bronze chariot of victory at the Brandenborg Gato on Unter den Linden. Another joke, referring to his weakness for uniforms and decorations, would have it that priests guarding the Holy. Church at Trier fled With precious , relics becauso thoy learned General Goering had asked tho Popo for permission to wear them.

All other Nazi chiefs also come iv for a joshing—except Herr Hitler. Nobody tells any stories about "Dor Fuehrer1," and if there is any weakening of devotion of the masses to their Chancellor, or of confidence,in him, it is not apparent to a stranger.