Evening star., 1943-08-30

henfy AcLsm0fe. tAiCy WUukQ ilkG
in this war just In order to keep
the Americans from the gates
My own contribution to the
softening up Of Berlin was an
attempt to scale the wall of the
Chancellery and sing, rs 1t true
what they say about Hitler" from
the little balcony that extends
from what I later learned to be
Hitler's private sleeping quarters.
AL OF this took place at 4
In the morning, and I was assisted
in my effort to shinny up to the
balcony by a prominent Midwest
ern banker. Naturally, I didn't
get very far before members of
Hitler's elite guard had me by the
seat of the pants, hauled me down,
and took me OF to jail.
I spent some fine hours In that
calaboose, being as no one In 1t
spoke English and my German was
(and is) limited to hun, heinie and
conner uno blitzen.
Drive on Swastikas,
Every American seemed at one
time or another sto decide that he
should have q swastika to take home
with him. The shops sold them for
. reasonable sum, but that wasn't
the kind the Americans wanted.
They craved the big one that new
from the fiagpoles along Unter Den
Linden. Don't think they didn't get
them, either. It was not an un-
common sight to see as many as
three Americans at once ignoring
policemen and valiantly climbing
the pole to yank down the Nazi flag.
But as good as the Americans
were at removing swastikas we did
not have 8 man who could touch q
wiry little Canadian who spent every
waking moment removing swastikas
from wherever they were. Ap-
parently he didn't go to Berlin with
any intention Of seeing the Olympic
games. He worked like a little
beaver from morning until night
destroying swastfkas.
The American Olympic athletes
themselves didn't do anything to
encourage the Germans In their
belief that they are supermen. Not
only did they beat the daylights out
OF the huns in feats Of strength and
stamina, but they gave their Ger
man pride an awful shellacking on
that fine morning when the games
opened with the impressive parade
of the nations.
Americans Don't Bow.
The American athletes were the
last of the visiting Nations to swing
through the giant portals of the
stadium. Before them the athletes
Of England, France. Belgium, Hol-
land, Norway, Poland, and all the
other countries had passed in
snappy formation before Hitler's
box. Colors were lowered, and COM
mand "eyes right" was obeyed, and
In many instances the Nal salute
was given to Der Fuehrer.
Then came the Americans. They
were the largest contingent, they
were the best contingent. Everyone
In the stadium wanted to know
how the Americans would react
when they passed before Hitler.
You could almost hear breaths be-
ing held as our boys and girls came
closer and closer with the Stars and
Stripes leading the way.
They took Hitler In complete
stride. He was still q housepsintsy
In their books. They didn't straighes
en- ranks as they approached and
when they passed the box not "a
much rs one head turned to tns
right.
There was no saluting. No dip
ping Of colors. No nothing. They
just ambled on. You didn't get the
feeling that our boys and girls were
being disrespectful. You got the
feeling. and don't think the Ger
mans didn't get it. too, that being
Americans the athletes felt they
didn't have to go through the little
rituals that the others felt they had
to observe.
I say again that the Germans had
a little taste Of Americans In 1895.
Man, do want to be there when
we go in there with real strength.
If am lucky enough to be there 7
am going straight for that Jail and
take swing at the police lieutenant
who fined me more marks than II
was allowed to put on my expense
account at the time. -
Distributed by, McNausht Syndicate. Ins.)
Rubber may be synthetic, but the
will to victory must be genuine.