New Britain herald., 1922-06-09
MARKED CHANCE IN
 GERMAN LIFE TODAY
Officers of Army Forced to Begin
 Life Anew


 the thousands of German officers wht survived the war. They numbered some 300.000 at the time of the armis. Gce- While the majority held only wartime commissions. there were g large number of veterans for whom the lifting smoke of the conflict re- vealed that they had suddenly beer uprooted from their chosen careers and were forced to begin afresh in new fields. It was especially difficult for the aged officers. who were no lcnger vigorous and adaptable enough to battle effectively in an economic maelstrom already burdened with keen competition.
 peace time included an active of fcers' corps of 55,7so. Of whom 5o,- 960 were in the military forces. When the war broke out. this list was aug mented by 27o,ooo Of those who were retired or on reserve. Tn addition there was the commissioned staff of the medical franches numbering 33,- 40s. The total loss in the corps amounted to about 55,0o0 killed and 96,214 wounded.
 Officers Must Work.
 Since the Treaty of Versailles per ritted the retention of but 4on0 Of fcers in the Reichswehr, vast ma Jority of the war survivors because factors for absorption in civilian pur- suits. Today they are to be found in nearly every walk of life, some hay ing even resorted to the positions of waiter and porter in order to gain a livelihood. Some were connected with trade, labor, or industry through family ties and thus found situations comparatively easily. 9th CTS returned to official positions, and a part enlisted in the newly organized Security Police.
 A considerable section of the ex- officers turned to university callings: particularly could they be seen at ju- dtcial and medical lectures and in polytechnic schools. In the first per iod of transition, some worked in sub ordinate executive positions as assist ants and some at manual labor, even as miners.
 There are none of the larger bank ing and industrial concerns today in which former officers are not active In some banks one runs across an oc- casional general Former staff officers were in position to receive tempting industrial offers because of their un- usual preparation and their knowledge of languages. Already before the war, officers were in demand in the insur- ance field as inspectors and agents, $I,i hn hoe lyr increased. The automobile industry. too, has attracted many. Detective agencies and warehouses have en- ployed them in divers capacities.
 In short, the huge network of Ger many's trade, commerce. and indus try is fairly dotted with these former heads of companies, battalions and other units in the old wartime armies. They are in the mines. metal works. machine factories, electrical plants, technical offices, quarries and export houses some have drifted to the film industry.
 The former surgeon major in the army have condescended to be mere medical men or have become special ists in their profession, Many went
  places in hospitals Officers blinded in the war were mostly instructed at the School for Blind at Marburg where they studied political economy and simultaneously learned typewrit- ing and stenography.
 Begin New Life.
 Certain of the officers who, after the close of the war, resolved to be- gin life anew as settlers in some for eign land are reported to have really experiences. Some died after sore privation; while some few others succeeded in getting back to the Fatherland. Only small made real progress abroad. Very few left the country, however, it is said, and the charge that German ex-officers since the war have joined foreign armies and navies is regarded here as unfounded.
 The marked transformation in mode ,f living has variousy affected the family life of ex-officers, not all of whom can maintain their former so- ,ial status. For example, there is the case of the well known First Lieuten- ant Berg, who in the world war was the commander of the 'Appam," talk m as prize ship by the "Moewe." He obtained situation in Hamburg, leaving his wife and children in the Danish town of Apenrade, formerly German. With his slender income Berg was unable to meet the cost of lis family's upkeep, which become in- creasingly high due to the Danish of valuation. He finally filled himself when the family had ,een reduced to want.
 Individual instances of resourceful- less were of everyday occurrence. One lieutenant used his last resources to buy a taxicab which he and his for ner orderly drove alternately. Now he taxi belongs to the orderly and the lieutenant can devote to study the tumble receipts of his enterprise.
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