Evening star., 1938-10-09
'Volksgemeinschaft' Bolsters
Hitler as Force in Germany
Spirit of One Community Is Dinned Into Ears
of All, Helping Nation Lift Itself
by Bootstraps.
By Louis p. LOcher.

BERLIN.-One Of the principal aims of
Nazi-ism is the abolition of classes and the
substitution therefor of the "volksgemein-
echaft'-the spirit of all Germans feeling
welded together by ties of Aryan, Nordic
blood common to them all.
Five years of NaZ rule have driven the
"volksgemeinschaft idea into the heads of
the Germans
The German of today is proud of his ma
tionality Deutschland ueber allies" is not
q mere phrase. He loves Germany ''ueber
alles"-over and beyond anything else.
In NaZi Germany, the individual is Moth
ing, the nation or the "volksgemeinschaft"
everything.
|. Expressed in terms Of living symbol,
every German belongs to Adolf Hitler.
Hitler is Germany and Germany is Hit
Ter" thousands of orators pour into the
ears of 100000 Teutons day in, day
out.
Lives Belong to Hitler.
Or, as Htlers former confidential secre-
tary and now deputy in party matters, Ru-
dolf Hess, put it only few days ago at
Fuehrer."
, Wherever the German of today looks, the
"volksgemeinschaft" idea hits him.
The housewife in her kitchen has various
containers-for metal tubes, for potato
peels for ordinary garbage-into which she
is asked to put the refuse properly sorted,
all for the sake of the "volksgemeinchaft. I"
The metal can be used again, thereby re-
ducing the amount Germany must import
from abroad
The garbage goes to the city hog farm,
which means that Germany can save thou
sands on importing hams and pork from
abroad
Hitler Youths tramp up and down stairs
OF apartment houses once week, all for
the sake OF the 'volksgemeinschaft." They
gather In metal tubes and other things
saved by the housewife in the course of \
week.
"One Pot Meals" Aid Relief.
Throughout the winter months, the
"volksgemeinschaft' idea is recalled once a
. month by the institution, now permanent
feature, known as lone pot meal" On the
second Sunday of the month every house,
hold serves but one course, and the differ
ence between the cost of this simple meal
and the ordinary Sunday dinner is turned
into the winter relief fund.
Similarly, every restaurant serves but a
one-course dinner to every guest at the
price of rm. 100 40 cents), of which it
must turn 30 pfennigs 02 cents) into the
winter relief funds.
But that is not all. The winter relief
organization also sends its volunteer work.
ers around to ask each household to con-
tribute say pound of rice or of suga, or
the support of the needy. Again in the
same of the "volksgemeinschaft"
There isn't ball or an evening party
but some one in uniform enters for a con-
eribution to the winter relief fund.
There are tag days" with the "Sa" the
Anti-Aircraft League, civic service officials,
stars of the stage and screen, the NaA
Motor Corps or the Hitler Youth as volun-
tary collectors.
Once year even top leaders like Field
Marshal Hermann Goering, propaganda
Minister Joseph Goebbels, Labor Leader
Robert Ley and dignifed high-collared gen.
telmen like DR.. Hjalmar Schacht stand
at street corners with collection tin cars
and solicit for the winter relief fund
Host Becomes Collector.
The writer one night attended private
party at the home of a wealthy industrial
tst. Everybody wore tails. About IL pm
the host suddenly disappeared. After Is
minutes he reappeared resplendent in his
"Sa" brown uniform.
Gentlemen" he said, "the fact that we
are having good time tonight should not
make us forget our duties toward the
'volksgemeinschaft! May ask you all to
contribute to the winter relief fund.-"
He produced coin box and passed from
quest to guest.
jolly, round-faced DR.. Robert Ley, leader
Of the German labor front, one day told the
foreign press, in explaining how essential it
Is that every German be taught the COM
uunity spirit that goes with "volksgemein-
Bchaft."
Its something that must be drilled
So there are drills in comradeship and
community spirit aplenty.
From time to time every factory "prac-
hces the community spirit" by picnic or
so-csled "comradeship evening"" which
unites everybody, from factory owner to
eharwoman. from chairman of the board to
once boy in day or evening Of merry
making
On May Day, the traditional holiday Of
German labor, boss and night watchman,
rhite-collar bookkeeper and big listed
ianitor, factory hand and laboratory expert
mafch side by side behind the Nan flag
and the banner of the Arm, and all stand
at attention in one nationwide manifesto
tion of the "volksgemeinschaft" spirit as
Adolf Hitler's voice comes over the radio
from the main celebration at Berlin
Workers availing themselves of the cheap
ocean cruises arranged by the power
through Joy" suborganizations Of the Ger