Evening star., 1944-10-13
Nazism, Communism
More or Less AIike,'
Sedition Jury Told
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

National Socialism and Commu-
nism were more or less alike" ir
their approach to alien countries
until Hitler attacked Russia, DR.
Hermann Rauschning, German,
refugee scholar and author, told the
jury in the sedition case as the trial
ended its sixth month today.
The Government witness, once q
member of Hitler's inner circle, at
tributed the fall of France to the
influence of Nazis and Communists
together.
Cross-examined all yesterday aft
ernoon by Lawrence Dennis, Har-
educated defendant, formerly of
the State Department staff, who is
defending himself, the witness went
into more detail sconcerning the
secret aims of National Socialism
But there was a stalemate as Mr..
Dennis tried to get DR.. Rauschning
to say how one could tell a Nazi
from his propaganda, how one could
distinguish him from a Communist
or from some one who believed in
neither cause. The answer was, you
couldn't always, though certain be-
liefs and tricks of propaganda were
highly suggestive.
Cites sFrance and Austria.
DR.. Rauschning gave France and
Austria as examples of countries in
which the governments and armed
forces were so weakened by propa-
canda that they had little or no
resistance left.
Asked how one could spot a Ma
tional Socialist in America, the wit
ness said such person would be
against the Negroes, anti-Semitic, in
favor Of white supremacy and for a
strong national Government.
Would any one who believed in
any of those things be Nazi?" Mr..
Dennis demanded.
ANY one who -"nws a majority
of them is potentially National
Socialist" the witness replied.
If man is a true Nazi, he ex-
planned at another point, he con-
ceals many of his aims.
Quizzed on Hitler Talks.
Mr.. Dennis questioned the witness
closely on his direct testimony the
previous day concerning Hitler's
plans, expressed at private confer
ences, to set up national socialism
in the United States by using racial
.ninorities and other groups.
Did he want to arouse Negroes,
Mexicans and Jews, whom you men
toned, as solid bloc in favor of his
principles or did Hitler plan to set
them to fighting each other"
He wanted" said DR.. Rauschning
Ito arouse animosity against these
minorities."
The witness said Hitler told him
he wanted persons of German stock
to be the real leaders in this coun-
try, but he realized this would be
difficult because they were only a
small minority, and so he was will
ing to work through all sorts Of
groups, any which would espouse
the aims of national socialism.
Source of Power.
DR.. Rauschning had said Hitler
came into power because, among
other measures, he won over the
armed forces of Germany, under
mining the faith of the common
soldiers in the Weimar republic and
at the same time promising the high
officers a state that would give
them stronger discipline from their
troops and better chance for ad-
vancement.
do you mean to say that he in
cited the army to ipsurrection and
at the same time strengthened its
discipline?" Mr.. Dennis asked.
That's exactly what I mean.
They were techniques that were
carried on at the same time"
The rs defendants on trial are
charged with conspiring to cause
disloyalty in the American armed
forces and the Government is trying
to prove that this was carried out
through Hitler's propaganda ma
chine.
Undermined State.
In broader sense, according to
DR.. Rauschning, Hitler brought
about his totalitarian state by dis
integrating the existing government
and. at the same time, promoting a
hew and all-powerful state.
Hitler, the witness said, didn't
overthrow the Weimar constitution,
but undermined it, finally paralyzed
it, seizing power by legal means,
but, once installed as chancellor
tossing aside the whole government
and setting up his own 'by a system
Of terrorism"
. The trial was recessed last night
until pm. Monday. Chief Justice
Edward c. Eicher has not yet ruled
on defense motions for a mistrial
or a months postponement because
OF President Roosevelt's public ref
erence to the Silver Shirts, q key
organization in the alleged con-
spiracy charged to the defendants.
~fHs