Evening star., 1933-03-19

Il
/ ments parading under the
names of Fascism and National
Socialism are trying to destroy the best
there is In German culture. In the
land of Lessing and Goethe free scope
is being given to mans destructive
urge. School children are being taught
PRAYERS of hatred against other chill
dren. A concerted attack has been
made upon the arts. The German
Fascists are clamoring for the destruc-
ton of Weimar's famous Dessauer Haus,
I an international shrine OF architecture
The theater, radio and film are the
targets of their zeal.
The universities Of Germany have
been transformed into hotbeds OF ex-
treme nationalism. Prof Albert Elm
stein and another German Nobel prize
winnex Prof Richard Wllsatter'
chemist of international fame. are being
constantly vilified by the Natlonallst
press. Prof Emil Gumbel OF Heloel-
berg University one OF our pest maine.
maticians, has been expelled from tnat
school on account of Nationalist pres
sure because of his views on war. Prof.
Ernst Cohn, the national economist;
has been silenced by the National
Socialist youth of Breslau University.
The apostles of Fascism in Germany
have made mans worst instincts tnelr
| god and they have stirred Senseless
racial hatred to fever pitch. They de-
clare that the Jews are to blame LOT
everything 1t is not enough, Aooil
Hitler says, that the Jews have con-
ouered Europe and America, they are
now engaged in conspiracy against
Japan in order to conquer Asia. In one
of his speeches, made some years ago,
hot 20
| of America is in the hands OF Jews,
and that "99 per cent of the press OF
Great Britain is Jewish" To this
world rule of the Semites" he attributes
the World War and all the other calam-
tiles of humanity.
Jewish Race Is Amazed.
Everywhere in America have been
asked about the cultural collapse OF
Germany. How could Hitlerism bring
our national civilization to the verge
of ruin almost overnight? nave
heard the same question in other ccun-
tries as well. Greatest Is the amaze
ment of the 10000 900 Yiddish-speaking
Jews of the world, who have always
looked up to Germany as the spiritual
home of world culture.
A year before the Reich's so-called
national government came to power
under the chancellorship OF Adolf HIT
Ter German culture was considered the
highest of all. How many times did
I have to speak up for the civlllzation
of the countries Of my 1ntervleWers
against the charge that they were In
ferior to our own. Germany's science,
her educational system and universities,
her theaters, literatures music and
films were believed to be peerless. In
the eyes of the world the average edu-
Gated German was the incarnation OF
culture.
And meanwhile the Nazi attack on
German culture has taken place ana
it is being carried on with relentless
fury at the present moment. One would
have to go back to the history OF the
barbarian invasions and Of the Thirty
Years War to find an invasion OF equal
moment.
Will German culture Withstand this
attack, I am often asked. When l
reply that Hitler's rule cannot long en-
dure I am asked to recall that, all
prophecies to the contrary notwith-
standing, Signor Mussohni's rule has
lasted more than a decade. This link
ing of the two names reminds me OF the
question reporter put to me at the
railway station of a southern city OF
less than $4,000 inhabitants: Can you
see any difference between our city
and New York;" he asked.
Man Changed Inwardly.
It would be erroneous to think that
this lapse into barbarism has taken
place in one year. Nor is 1t correct
to speak Of the collapse of German
culture. It was inevitable that the
World War should transform man as
well as communities Of men in their
innermoSt beings. For more than four
years the nations worshiped force and
exalted might, and even youth was told
to PROSTATE itself in their presence.
These habits could not be eradicated
overnight. The barbaric instincts and
atavistic impulses which had been
stimulated through the concerted ac-
tion of all mankind have taken deep
roots and they resist the efforts of the
civilized man.
Dictatorship has made the most rapid
progress in countries whose cultural
level was not high. The larger the
number Of illiterates the faster the ma
tious succumbed to the apostles OF
force. Germany, on the other hand,
oosld oppose 10 HADcism q Meh degree