"SOUL-DESTROYERS"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23827, 30 November 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

"SOUL-DESTROYERS"

Nazis and Russians Torture Peasants

the Germans concentrate on killing the body, the Russians concentrate on killing the soul. Two examples of the different treatment are given in Bernard Newman's book, " The Story of Poland" (Hutchinson). Of the Germans he tells this story, told him by a young Pole after his escape: My father was the Mayor of his village. As soon as the Germans captured the village they demanded five hostages. My father, the priest, the schoolmaster, and two fanners volunteered. The Germans ran up the swastika flag in the village, and the sijdit so incensed' a,local youth that during the night he clirahed up the flagstaff and tore the swastika down. Immediately this was discovered the five hostages were paraded on the village. green in front of the church. Digging Graves There, we had to endure the indescribable agony of helping to dig the graves of my father and his friends. As the fatal- shots were flrecL my mother collapsed in my arms. As I tried

to support her a German soldier plunged his bayonet into my back— I. can show you the wound.

And of the Russians lie tells this story. , A ! Soviet teacher had been installed to take charge of a class of six-year-old Polish children who were desperately hungry. "Pray to your God—pray to your Jesus—pray to your Mary," the teacher suggested, "then they will send you bread!" So the little mites uent) on their knees and prayed. The teacher jeered. "God and Jesus and Mary do ot hear you, because they do not exist. Now pray to Stalin for bread, and see what happens." As they prayed "the door opened, and a Russian soldier entered bearing a basket full of loaves.