The Washington times., 1925-02-25
GERMAN OGRE
IS CALLED
HYSTER|C
Scientist Explains Psychology
cal Causes Which UnderIie
Vampire Crimes
By WALTER DTETZEL,

BERLIN, Feb. z6.-"G Germany IL
suffering from a mass hysteria.
She Is deadly sick. body and soul, .
says Professor r. Hervertz, Of
Berne University, in an article in the
Leioziger Neusste Nachrichten, de-
voted TO a psychoanalysis of the
attic OGRE" Fritz Haarmann and
the "Sllesian cannibal." Karl Kenke.
For years and years during the
war and after the Germans passed
through an unheard-of ordeal OF
privatlons, exposing their bodies 20
hunger, disease, and starvation.
Likewise, their souls have been
trampled upon and tortured by
hopes that were shattered, and by
promises that wefe never fulfilled.
This IL what caused q general hys-
terra. which, to my mind, ID the
only explanation that may be Of
fered for the unspeal1able crimes OF
vampires like Haarmann ana
Denke, which set Germany aghast
and made the civilized world shud-
der with disgust and adherence.
"All experts agree that crimes be-
ing psychological phenomena. can
be traced back to psychological mo-
tives or causes and explained, In
accordance with the casual prop
osition. just like any other ma.
terial happenings.
Two Motives.
There are two groups Of motives
that may serve to explain actions
one is based on the psychosis Of the
individual, the other on the psychosis
Of the individuals surroundings, Tor
IL hANSaep t. tho Y1S-A6RHnf NJ
both components.
Individually speaking, Hartmann
and Denke are typical cases of psyche.
neurosis, or hysteria. Not being armed
with normal weapons for the struggle
of life, they feel, unconsciously, in
adequate. to the demands of normal
life; or, in other words, they are
fully conscious Of their intellectual
and moral inferiority. Their de
fencelessness' results in introversion
and this lack Of touch with their
normal surroundings in it's turn, re-
suits in abnormal actions.
However, we cannot single out
these cases for scientific research
Whatever applies to these individuals
also applies to the Germans in general
It is a cruel thruth that Germany is
suffering from a sort Of mass hysterie
Hysteria grows whenever an indivi
dual or a community, being uncOn'
sciously aware of the inadequacy OF
their means, feels defenceless against
the demands of the surrounding
world.
Mass Hysteria.
This is the case with Germany
Her body is shattered by 'unheard
of physical tortures, and her psy'
Ghosts very much, resembles that
of a man who, on the point OF
being drowned, is offered a rope
but the moment he tries to catch
the rope his 'saviors' pull it away
If you put q whole nation under
constant pressure and never give
II q chance, 1t Ia only natural that
it should gradually get into a state
Of hysteria, or mental 'defenceless
ness and this state OF mass hys
terra, to my mind, Isl the soil from
which crime and abnOrmality
spring, like poisonous plants from
slough.
Put the German people in a
position where they no longer fee
mentally defenceless: restore their
confidence, and give them some
thing attainable to hope for, anc
you will remove the fundamental
causes of widespread moral neg
lect in Germany. Then. but only
then, will Germany be restored tC
norn1alcy, even as regards the
crimes committed on her territory.