Evening star., 1939-04-03

RECOMMENDATION OF thOught IN
Nasi Germany is described here
in the second OF a series OF three
articles by peteran foreign cor
respondent ,u1lo has Just returned
to the United States after stay
OF nine months in Germany. dur
ing 1uhich he motored hroug;,
many parts OF the Reich.
BY JUNIUS h. WOOD.
Hell Hitler!" a lusty voice echoes
from the doorway of the modest
hotel dining room In the Thuringia
Mountains. A man enters with
right arm appraised in the Nazi
party salute. 1t Is the proprietor,
and his greeting Is for me and
another droWsy guest who is max
ing an early morning start.
The other guest dutifully re-
spends with a Hell Hitler!" and
flip of his arm, somewhat mut11ed
by mouthful of coffee and break
fast rolls. Being a foreigner. am
released from the obligation and
finish the more serious business OF
eating, So it continues through
the day. He'll Hitler!" in restal-
rants and beer halls. on the streets
and on the bus, wherever strangers
or friends meet in Germany.
A stranger is amazed at these
continuous Hell Hitlers!' from the
moment the German rubs the sleep
1,ic until ho ri1V
chambers into bed at night. Signs
in letters large enough for the most
shorted sighted to read are in post
Offices and all public places advising
that Hell Hitler!" is the German
greeting and that it Is the duty Of
all loyal Germans to use it. That
let's the foreigner out and reduces
the risk Of getting clOut across
the ears, except from some en-
thusiaStic nationalist who may clout
first and inquire afterwards. In a
lot OF travelling, never did any
"heiling" or saluting. even when
Hitler was present in person. and
had no unpleasant experiences or
at least Oh that subject.
More Than Mere Greeting.
The Hell Hitler!" has a deeper
than mere greeting.
1t is the connecting link in the
Recommendation which is so essential
to all totalitarian States. The eX-
preston originates from the old
Austrian "Sieg heil!' and Hitler
still concludes every formal speech
with a Hail victory! Great Ger
Any explanation of how
the Germans get that way can
start with Hell Hitler!" With its
origin comes mixture OF religion
whose practices are not overlooked
by politicians who may not profess
the faith. In Bavaria, the Salu-
tation of the devout Catholics,
which includes almost everybody,
is "Greuss Gott!" The Il wish you
Gods greeting!' is not as much a
profession of faith as it is a re-
of the teachings of brotherly
love and upright conduct.
In the same way, the Hell Hitler"
is constant reminder not to forget
the great and militant Germany OF
today and the man who has restored
the national pride. Hitler is living
symbol and the greeting is symbolic.
He'll Hitler!" is password OF men,
berShip in united Germany. Also
it is demonstration of the regi-
and orderliness which,
through the years, has become sec
ond nature to the German. He does
not take his choice of good morn
ing" hello" or hey, there" but
everybody says, Hell Hitler!"
From greeting which is uniform
for everybody, RECOMMENDATION OF
thought on other lines steps along
quickly. What has been accom-
plished under six years Of Nazi
guidance and control of newspapers,
BOOKS. magazines. radio, public
speeches and even private express
sion OF opinion shows how quickly
and easily the mentality and habits
Of 65,000,O00 people-23 ,0O0, 600 more
have since been absorbed and now
are being digested-can be nodded
Into one pattern. Few OF them, en-
cept some recalcitrant oldsters. were
squeezed into this mold. The
great majority follow the pattern
enthusiastically and willingly.
Through Col0red Glasses.
Every changing day or incident
brings new illustrations Of the metic-
llous guidance of the smallest item
If information by the Reich's min
stry of peoples enlightenment and
The enlightenment
comes through colored glasses and
Joseph Goebbels selects the
tints. AS he explains, publicity is