Evening star., 1946-11-28
Germans Increasing
Passive Resistance
To American Rule
ny The Assoriatsd Press

MUNICH, Nov. 28.--The Germans,
expecting long, cold winter. are
voicing criticism and showing more
"passiye resistance. toward Ameri- |
can occupation authorities than at
any time since the end of the wal,
official American reports said today
Growth of a discontented attitude
toward American management byl
the German man In the street was
reported by, both United States
Army and military government
agencies in dozens Of towns and
cities.
American officers asserted, how
ever, that the German frame of
mind was a natural outcome of re-
vived democratic self-goyernment inl
American held territory and that
the so-called unrest" was not be-
lieved to be q forerunner OF open
organized resistance.
Criticism is Frequent.
American agencies during the last
three weeks have been turning inl
from cities like Stuttgart, Munich
and Wiesbaderi. reports like these:
General dissatisfaction, leadingl
to frequent criticism OF Americanl
authorities and German government
officials"
General unrest among the popu-
lation and an increase in petty
crimes"
Growth OF an arrogant. con-
temptuous attitude, along with crit
icism of those Germans working
with Americans"
THE public discomfort with food,
housing and fuel. General unrest
changing into specific criticism.
Dissatisfaction, officials said, man.
ifested itself in general criticism,
anti-A1lied rumors. giving Amer
leans wrong street directions, and
surly, disrespectful attitudes toward
American military personnel.
Good Democratic Sign.y
One high military Government
officer in Stuttgart commented: We
are giving back to the Germans
many governmental functions, and
yet at the same time we expect
them to be servile. Actually thel
criticism appears to be good dem
ocratic sign. Sooner or later the
criticism may be channeled along |
constructive lines as the Germans
take advantage of their new hber-
ties and recover from the numbing
effect OF Nazism and war.
American observers found these
factors contributing toward the gen.
eral discomfort.
Clothing Shortages, manifesting
themselves in increased petty crime
and highway robberies in which
victims are disrobed.
Finances - Resentment againStl
those who still have bank accounts
and can still deal on the black mar
ket to ease discomfort American
authorities" one official said. "are
criticized because many Of the peo-
pie still with funds made their
money during the Nazi regime"
Resentment Over Housing.
Food -Money-shor workers COM
planning because they cannot afford
essential foods or that large quanti-
ties of food are, going to the black
market.
Housing-R es mt m e nj against
American authorities for: Seeing to
ii. that refugees from East Europe
find rooms and for requisitioning
property for American dependents.
Denazificat tion-Increased dissatis-
faction with the denazif1cation pro-
grom, which some Germans esti-
mate will take seven to nine years
to complete
Dozens of military government I
officials forecast rough winter
but Maj. Gen. Ernest N. Harmon,
American constabulary chief, !
summed up the situation with:
1T may be tough and there may
be minor incidents, but we see moth
ing organized in the wind"