Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-03-26

coro point of view not only Of
portion of Germany are handling
the situation differently. They
raped, pillaged and destroyed
everything in their path during
the war. Immediately after the
war was over they took over, in
spite of our mild opposition, rich
and important parts of Germany,
either for themselves-as was the
case with East Prussia-or for
their Polish satellites-as was the
case with Silesia and Pomerania.
Germans Switch
They sent to the mines, to
forced labor camps or executed
outright hundreds of thousands of
Germans. Millions were compelled
to emigrate into the Western zones
without any possessions After this
orgy of typically Asiatic vandalism
they turned another page. Moscow
realized that it must obtain the
cooperation of Germany if it's
plans for world domination were
to be fulfilled A peoples republic
was organized in Eastern Ger
many.
The warlike spirit of the Ger
mans was put to good use. After
the necessary" purges were car
ried out Germany army came
into being. 1t was recruited from
all elements in Eastern Germany
without regard to whether they
had been Nazis. pro-Nazis or SIS
and Gestapo men.
The loss of large parts of Ger
man territory five years ago was
just about forgotten. The idea Of
a strong, united Germany CO.
operating with Russia appeals to
many Germans, even in the West,
now that they are disillusioned
about Western handling of the
cold war in general and the Ger
man situation in particular.
There was a time when the
Germans had a great deal of faith
and confidence in America. They
were convinced that we were a
strong Nation and strength Is
about the only thing that counts
with them. They also believed in
our inherent fair play. They
realized soon after the war that
they had to pay the penalty for
Hitler's folly. But they also be-
lieved that as soon as new sit
uation developed in the world,
similar to that produced by Hitler
and his Italian and japanese as
sociates, we would take a realistic
position and make every effort to
meet that situation.
Our "hot and cold" policy in
Germany, our appeasement OF
Russia which lasted for more than
two years after We day, and
more recently our spectacular de-
feat in China have changed that
trust in America among many
Germans inside and outside OF
their government. They look to
Russia as the rising power" and
if Moscow were to extend to them
a friendly hand with a promise Of
Junior partnership in world DOM
nation, the Germans, in all like
lihood, would accept it.
Manpower Spurned
There are many people in West
ern Germany-former prisoners
of war and million "expellees"
whom the Russians forced to
evacuate their homes and prop
erties-Who would be willing to
join us in an effort to stop the
drive of the Kremlin westward.
They are receiving little encour-
agement, however, Their number
is thinning out rapidly as the
French and Benelux countries
still oppose giving even shotguns
to the people of Western Ger
many to rid themselves of tho
wild boars and rabbits which are
destroying their gardens and po-
tato crops.
To military specialists the OPP
position of Western politicians to
utilization of potential German
for common defense Of
Western civilization is UNDER
standable and ludicrous. The no.
which exists between
the Soviet zone of Germany and
the Rhine cannot be defended un-
less the United States makes a
real military effort to place be-
hind that area at least 10 Ameri-
can divisions. We do not possess
such a force now and are not like
ly to possess it in the near future.
The military stats of the At
lantic pact nations feel the hot
OreaLn OF the Russians on their
necks. Military preparations in
the United States and in the coun-
tries receiving our military assist
ance bother the Russians about
as much as flea bothers an ele-
plant.
Must Be Partners
Few professional soldiers be-
lieve that our Allies in continental
Surope-Who suffered far less
damage from air bombardment
han the Germans did in the war
will stand against the Russian
air force and the vast Soviet
ground army and oppose a Red
army offensive when Stain gives
he order to march.
The Germans, however, have
been thoroughly devastated by
our aerial bombardment and
lave little to lose physically from
assistance to Russia. They would
make an excellent defensive force
against penetration from the