POPULAR MOVE

Evening Star, Issue 22070, 2 July 1935, Page 7

POPULAR MOVE

GERMAN RE-ARMAMENT • GLAMOUR OF MILITARISM * I , BUT WAR HOT WANTED It is impossible for the thoughtful student of conditions in present-day National-Socialist Germany to avoid the conviction that the paramount thoughts of the people are of war and the preparations for war (writes Sir Pereival Phillips, in the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’). The euphemisms of public men and private conversations when analysed all show' the same trend —the danger of war, its inevitability, and the necessity of preparing for it without delay. The mobilisation of industry and agriculture, involving the employment of conscript labour on semi-military lines; the intensive production of war material as a first call on the services of the nation; the transfer of factories from outer Germany to the less vulnerable interior; the organisation of nursing units and the construction of hospitals; above all the constant reiteration by the orators of the day of the urgency of making ready for battle — all point in the same_ direction, and their significance is unmistakable. “ STAGGERING INTO WAR.” I am convinced that as a whole the people do not want war, although they are whole-heartedly for making Germany a first-class military Power regardless of the cost. The danger is that when this has been accomplished, and rearmament, now the principal industry of the country, comes to an end, they will, as my German friend expressed it, “ stagger into war.” Many of them sincerely believe that .they are surrounded by armed enemies likely to attack them at any moment. Such is the drift of the propaganda administered from above. At heart 'they want peace, but they are bewildered, not a little, exalted by inflammatory speeches, and misled by the official- pronouncements which have taken the place of a free Press. But for this mischievous - manipulation of , public opinion the business of rearming might wear a different aspect. Allowance must be made for the difference in mentality between Britons and Germans, v Let my German friend, himself a strong Anglophile and as strong an opponent of war, explain it in his own way. “ We like militarism,” ho said, “ you don’t. We like to wear uniforms and drill, to be desciplined. Our officers and men like barrack life, yours don’t. The British officer wears his uniform when he lias to, ours wear their uniforms at all times.

“ After the war the Allies did their best to give us an inferiority complex, and pretty well succeeded. _ _ They wrongly tried to keep us in civilian kit to the end of time, but we were not born that way, and they failed, “ Our young men who are now strutting about so proudly in their service tunics are saying that Germany has regained her honour. To them rearmament is a symbol of self-respect. - If properly guided they will develop no lust for making war. Talk to any of them, and you will find that they are afraid Germany will be attacked, and they are ready to fight. This is the mentality which can be shaped as the moulders desire.” “ HER OWN BACK.” But there are others. The idea that Germany must “ get her own back ” is nourished by certain militant elements of the population. It is embodied in the inscription on the Gunners’ Memorial at Hasenheide, near Berlin. This memorial is merely a stark figure lying on a ground sheet with a service helmet on its chest. Above are the words in Latin: “May there arise from our bones an avenger.” The memorial is a place of pilgrimage for Germans who still think of a war of revenge. Fanatics within the Nazi Party who look to conquest as the next step of their progress are thus trying to revive the spirit of hate. So far they have not had much success in the rank ahd file of tho_ new army, but the will to strengthen it does exist. Also there are the followers of the Fuhrer, who foresee the crisis which will come when the 'present artificial boota created by the preparations for defence dies out and other measures bavg to be devised to keep the nation busy and contented. The war machine having been got ready, what could be more natural than the desire to use it as tlie alternative to complete collapse of thg National-Socialist State? This possibility is realised by a large section of the people', who are genuinely worried because they fear that rearmament will drjig Germany into another war, although none will express his fear' openly except in terms of defence. POSTS FOR SONS.

Contentment with the new militarism is spread over all classes. It pleases the. old army because many jobs have been found for ex-officei’s and non-com-missioned officers. The middle class and the old aristocracy who disapprove of NationalSocialism are nevertheless pleased because posts have been found for their .sons, who were before unable to make

a livelihood owing to the few vacancies in civil life and the selection of the most competent applicants. The industrialists are happy because the famine caused by closed export markets has been relieved by a rich of orders for the war machine. The working classes show the same revival Qf confidence because they are assured of steady employment for a long time to come, and they believe that when this phase ends further prosperity will in some magical way be bestowed upon them. .

The lieichswehr is likewise content, although enigmatically silent. It holds the balance of power. Herr Hitler and his fantasies may be highly unpopular within the closely-held Keichswehr, but he is at last engaged on a task of which it has long approved and considers necessary. The business of rearming Germany has placed a check on the widespread, growing discontent evoked by Herr Hitler’s confusing and conflicting schemes for bringing about the millennium. Labour lias been increasingly critical of the projects for its social and economic betterment. Revolutionary extremists had too great a voice in the so-called “ Labour Front,” erected ostensibly for the closer co-operation of employers and workers, and its supersession by Dr Schacht’s new economic policy was hailed with relief by both. NOT APPRECIATED, The people have shown little appreciation of the “ cultural efforts ” of Nazi fanatics who want to revolutionise art and literature as well as religion. One of the strongest complaints made to me against their meddlesomeness was in the free city of Hamburg. The municipal galley noted for its fine collection of' pictures by Meister Pranke and Meister Bertam, two medieval painters of the North German school, has., been closed for some months to enable the Nazi censors ,to judge whether any paintings* should be eliminated.

The machinery of government has been badly dislocated by. the novices in administrative work. Dr Schacht has kept the Ministry of Finance ‘in fairly good order, but the other Ministries are obstructed by a constant deluge of new regulations, conflicting opinions, and the muddled routine of an overburdened bureaucracy* readapted to the peculiar ideas of the new regime. •

The old permanent under-officials perform their duties as efficiently as they can with closed mouths. It would be highly instructive to hear their opinions out of office hours and in private. The students are a!so_ less ardent in their support of National Socialism. They have to swallow masses of undigested information about race, and do compulsory service in the labour camps which interferes with their university careers. The young men are nervous about the provisions of tho new conscription law which will be issued shortly; the older men are afraid they will be compelled to serve from one to two years, which will mean the loss of their employment. Herr Hitler does not lose his, hold on the nation. He can ascend a.platform surrounded by a docile and in wardly lukewarm crowd, and instantly electrify it by merely opening his mouth. His hearers are thrilled, not so much by what he says as the way ho says it. and the effect is sheer-in-toxication. AN INCIDENT.

One typical incident related to mo was of. ms-meeting with, a young girl who went forward timidly to present him with some flowers. He took them, gazed steadily into her eyes, and said, m Ibw, impressive- accents: “This is the greatest day of yourlife.” 1 The girl murmured"* after him; . . the greatest day of my life.” “ You will never forget it,” said the Fuhrer slowly. “ I will never forget it,” repeated the girl, ■ and walked away dazed and in tears. 1 The Hitler way of saying a thing and so ending all argument has permeated his people. A British business man who has lived for years ih> Germany said to me:— “Formerly one could meet a German for discussion, and exchange views on a basis of equality. He would listen as well as talk. To-day, when I have to meet one, he waits until I have finished, then gets up, delivers a set speech, clicks his heels, and sits down again. That is that. The matter is finished. It is disquieting to think that this blunt ‘ take-it-or-leave it ’ attitude may become a tradition in high places.” The Fuhrer may be hampered by illadvised and dangerous advisers, hut in the eyes of the nation he is a sacred figure, capable of no wrong. An irreverent foreigner who appreciates his good qualities expressed it to me in another way: “Hitler is a mascot. Who, holds him holds Germany.”