PRUSSIANISIM IN ACTION: GENERAL GOERING'S BOOK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20298, 7 May 1934, Page 6

PRUSSIANISIM IN ACTION: GENERAL GOERING'S BOOK.

To-day’s Special Article

A Curious Interpretation of History: Frank About Nazi Ideals in Action.

By

E.V.D.

The modern dictator, luhether Fascist, Nazi ““ • or Communist, has nothing to learn of the business of window-dressing. Whatever mag be going on inside his political edifice, he does his best to ensure that it presents a glittering facade. In the case of Germany, the exterior decorations have been entrusted to the " Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenmentbut the task is no light one, and no doubt the eminent Dr Goebbels will be thankful to his senior colleague, General Hermann Goering, for the help he has given by writing “Germany Reborn.’’ Yet it is doubtful if he or the Nazi Government has cause to be thankful, for General Goering has said a great deal too much.

JT'OR THE English-speaking peoples to whom it is addressed this book is important, for General Goering stands second only to Hitler. As Prime Minister of Prussia he is the sole dictator of the paramount State of Germany, and he also directs the campaign against all whom the Nazi State considers its enemies, and he is chief of the new Air Ministry. He is Hitler's “Iron” Minister. It appears plain from his literary style, as from his political record, that he personifies vigour, enthusiasm and ruthlessness. His book may be fairly described as a manual of Prussianism brought up to date. Curious History. Several chapters of it are naturally devoted to an account of the Nazis' rise to power, but these for the foreign reader are less interesting than the main thesis, which is as simple as it is audacious. Prussia has a great mission in world history. to fight for the unity of the German Reich: that mission was fulfilled in the three great wars won by Prussia in the 19th century; the German Empire then flourished, but it was encircled by hostile Powers; in 1914 “Germany had the sword thrust into her hands ” and her army, in order that it should not be overthrown and destroyed, marched through Belgium”; for four vears* Germany stood against the world, but in the end “ a party consisting of traitors to their own country succeeded in confusing the people at home and in poisoning its soul ”; there followed “.The Period of German Shame and Tribulation, when the Social Democrats ruled, “ destroying every idea of honour and national pride.” But finally—“ When the need was greatest God gave the German people a champion," Adolf Hitler (henceforth to be referred to as the Leader, with a capital “ L”), who, “took German destiny into his strong, clean hands,” so that now the German people has arisen, and Germany will again be healthy.” “ Drivel About Humanity.” Such—General Goering makes it clear—is the only possible reading of German history. Does anyone disagree with him? In there were some who did. There were the Social Democrats, but they were “ traitors,” ” cowards,” “ human scum,” “ poisonous fungi.” There were the middleclass parties, but these were “ empty,” “spineless,” “cowardly,” and the Communists, “ the scum of the population.’ These (except the Communists) were the people who supported “ uncontrolled parliamentarianism some of them had a slogan, “ For the freedom of the individual,” and they voiced the “ drivel about humanity.” These were the people who stood for the Republic, whose outward signs were “ corruption, immorality and indecency,” the same people who thought, or pretended, that the Germans wanted to govern themselves, whereas their real desire always has been to be led and governed, and to be inspired by the “ austere philosophy ” of the Nazis. And now (thanks to Hitler, and God, Whose services in bringing about the victory of the Swastika are several times cordially acknowledged

by the author) the Germans have their wish. It appears that some Germans did not Immediately and adequately appreciate their good fortune, so that it was necessary for General Goering to reorganise the police and set up the “ State Secret Police Department,” whose achievements ” will always remain one of the glories of the first year of German recovery.” He was obliged to insist upon the “ ruthless extermination of subversive elements ” and to assure the police that every bullet fired from the barrel of a police pistol was his bullet. (“ If you call that murder, then I am the murderer.”) The results of this earnest effort to inform the Germans of the nature of their own wishes have been exceedingly gratifying; nearly all of them are now convinced. International Relations. The account here given of Nazi ideas and actions has, purposely, been compiled with the aid of many quotations from General Goering’s own account, and it needs no further comment. But some comment is needed upon the last chapter of his book, a chapter headed “ For Equal Rights, Honour and Peace.” From this we may learn that the Nazi Government, which in its national aspect appears as an eagle with very sharp talons, is in its international aspect simply a dove. Those people who have not hitherto observed it in this second aspect are the victims of an “ unparalleled campaign of hatred, supported by lying Press reports.” Now it is possible that the Nazis are for the present desirous of preserving peace, for they have much to do in Germany. It is certainly true that they have cause for bitter resentment at the treatment accorded Germany' by those Powers which, while professing to readmit her to a status of equality, have refused either to reduce their own armaments or to allow her the right to rearm. If the other Powers sav they never wish to attack, if they have no evil designs on Germany', why should they not permit Germany to defend herself? Why may Germany not possess anti-air-craft guns?” These questions General Goering is entitled to ask, and as certainly as they are in the minds of all Germans to-day, do they call for an answer. Meanwhile, Germany is rearming; her foreign policy is dictated by one man, or at most by a few men, and those men fanatically confident that in them all wisdom resides; there is in Germany' no alternative party', no public opinion except that which they' allow, no one to say them nay'. General Goering tells us (a) that “ human history is the history of wars”; (b) that the Germans have never fought wars to conquer foreign countries, but only to defend their honour, freedom and security; and (c) that Adolf Hitler is the protector of Germany’s honour, freedom and security. Can it be expected, when the day arrives upon which the Nazi Government, for any reason, decides that honour, freedom and security (as it conceives them) are menaced, that it will hesitate a moment before plunging into •“Germany Reborn/’ by General Hermann Goering, Prime Minister of Prussia. (Elkin Mathews and Marrot.)