Evening star., 1939-03-19

ways the conversation demonstrated
this conflict in his personality.
Though Hermann is not yet in the
army he can already drill as smart
ly as any soldier on dress parade.
On the other hand, he is outspoken
in his hate for the martial spirit.
Blames Italian Demands.
"War!" he exclaimed once. "Who
wants war? It's Mussolini that will
get us all into trouble. He and mis-
country's demands for Tunis and
Corsica and Nice What do they
want more lands for? Aren't they
having enough trouble with Ethio-
pia and Spain?'
We'll, but what about GERMANY
and her colonial demands?" we
asked. How about Czecho- o-Slovakla
and Austrian"
That's different"
We had opened the flood gates,
and had to listen to the standard
dissertation on the natural rights of
Germany. We heard how she had
been starved and suppressed after
the war, how she is surrounded by
avaricious enemies, all armed to the
teeth, how she must learn to live
on herself and get by herself what
she needs. The discussion finally
turned back on war.
He's Ready to Go.
And SO if our leader asked it I
would go to the front tomorrow,
Hermann concluded defiantly.
"Even,' we pressed him. whether
1t was for Germany's benefit or
Mussolini's?"
Adolf Hitler is German and he
does what is best for Germany. So
as German I would naturally obey
his demand"
We could understand something
OF the patriotic fervor which led
Hermann to sacrifice his individual
ism to the military demands of the
new Germany. But we were astound-
ed to learn how easily he was able
TO condone the cruel treatment of
old nelghbors and acquaintances.
HIS mother had told us about his
early schoolmate Joachim, a half
Jewish boy whose father, now in a
concentration camp, had always been
interested in Hermann's artistic tal-
ent. Hermann had stood silently in
the street during the November DO
groms while a mob had badly beaten
Joachim and ransacked his home.
DisapprOves Jewish Prosecutions.
Tell us. Hermann we asked. how
can you possibly approve of such
treatment of people you have known
and grown up with, no matter what
their race?"
Hermann bit his lip and we were
sorry for our question.
None of us thinks it right to treat
the Jews as we have DONE" he said.
Things have gone much too far"
why do you put up with it, then,
If you feel that way?"
Il do not believe our leader knew
what was happening. I think they
have kept these horrible things from
him."
We laughed and asked the boy
how he could possibly have faith in
leader who, he had admitted, didn't
know what was going on around
him.
Hitler Is a German.
How could you obey such a mans
command and sacrifice your life in a
War?'
The look of doubt on Hermann,s
face disappeared as rapidly as it
had come.
Il don't approve of everything he
has done, but cannot judge him.
Adolf Hitler is a German and he is
our leader. He does always the best
Tor Germany. The Jews have been
our enemies-worse enemies than
Frenchmen or Englishmen because
they were within our country con-
trolling our business, debating our
politics and undermining our morals
and culture. They grew like a can
Ger. 1t always hurts to cut out q
cancer. My friend Joachim was un-
lucky enough to be born a Jew. But
l am a German, and as a German
I hate all Jews"
(COIyFight 103Ql