Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, SEPT. 28, 1945. ERADICATING NAZISM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 257, 28 September 1945, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, SEPT. 28, 1945. ERADICATING NAZISM.

People who may incline to the view that, because the German military machine . has been smashed, the world has nothingto fear for the future should recall what happened in the years following the war Tdf• 1914-18. When the fighting ceased and the Allies occupied the Ruhr, members of the forces of occupation fraternised freely with the Germans and it was not long before reports were received that the erstwhile enemy was showing great friendship'towards the victors, especially towards the soldiers from Britain and the Empire. There was no suggestion that the Germans would in two decades challenge Democracy and precipitate a second world war. The initial defeat of Hitler's ''putsch" -in Munich was taken as evidence of the Germans' sincerity; but history has since recorded that Hitler was to rise to power and gain the confidence of the Germans in his plan for world domination. That plan came within an ace of success, but, though Europe and the world were saved, unprecedented ruin was wrought ou the Continent and in Britain. The triumph of the Allies did not bring with it a repentant Germany. Correspondents have written of the persistence of the Nazi spirit of sullen defiance, even though Berlin and all the great cities of the Third Reich have been reduced to heaps of rubble over extensive areas. Since V-Day the world_ has learned much more of the frightful deeds and methods of Nazism, arid the leaders of the United Nations have expressed their determination to prevent Germany from becoming a great military Power in the years to come. The country is now divided into four zones of occupation and Britain, the United States, Prance, and Russia have each a territory to administer. The Allied Control Commission, composed of representatives of each of the four Powers, has issued a series of edicts which are to give effect to the Potsdam decisions. These orders are properly stern and far-reach-ing. The "German army, navy, and air force are completely wiped out under the and no organisation giving the slightest sign, of perpetuating the German military tradition is permitted to exist. Other very important measures are also being taken to eradicate Nazism and its evil doctrines. While the initial instruction of General _ Eisenhower on non-fraternisation has been modified, General Montgomery has issued an order that members of the British _ Armed Forces will not be permitted to marry Germans and no members of his Forces are to be billeted with German families. There is a depth of meaning in the Gen-, eralV % words::, "I rely on all members of the Armed Forces to conduct themselves with dignity and use common sense when dealing with |the Germans, who have twice been our enemies' in war during the last thirty years. 7 ' The. Germans must be forced to realise the fact that they are guilty of plunging the worJd into those wars and of _ the unspeakable''crimes for which there is no parallel in recorded history, except the atrocities committed, by the Japanese. The regeneration of the German na-tion-is likely: to be a long and tedious task, but until it has

been accomplished the world caiinot be safe for Democracy. The cleansing of the Augean stables has begun; the time required for completing the, work cannot be estimated. *