Evening star., 1953-05-03

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When British authorities rounded
up a ring of former Nazi leaders
last winter, charging them with
conspiring to seize power, the
action drew more official criti-
ciSm than praise. But it con-
vinced a number of Germans
that the danger was a real one.
It is not so much the danger
of dramatic plot to take over
the country by cloak-and-dagger
methods. Such a conspiracy
would have little chance of sue
cess. even if it should escape the
attention of occupying authori-
ties. What worries the Germans
more is a growing tendency to
let former Nazis share in politi-
cal activities. The justification
is that these men, most of them
former members of the Hitler
Youth, must be given a chance
to work within democratic or
ganization. But the effect, in
the opinion of some German OBJ
servers, has been the opposite
of what was intended.
Instead of the former Nazis
becoming more democratic, the
political organizations into which
they have been accepted have
become increasingly nationals
tic. And the tendency Is ex-
pected to gather strength with
the rebirth of German power.
The political effect of reviv-
ing the German Army also Is
causing some nail-chewing in
these parts.
The project is not a popular
one. The memory and the visi-
BILE evidence of what war can
do is too fresh to permit much
in the way of militaristic en-
thusiasm. The Germans are
frank to say that they feel re-
armament is being forced upon
them as the price they must pay
for acceptance in the West Eu-
ropean club. Neither the eco
nomic burden of an army nor
the political implications of mil
itary strength make much ap-
peal to the average German to-
day.
No MOribund Ego.
How long this feeling will
last, however, is another ques-
ton. The earnest propaganda
of the Western nations. aimed
at convincing each other of
Germany's indispensibility to
Western defense, has not been
wholly lost on the Germans.
The German ego and the Ger
man pride cannot be expected
to keep its present humble pro-
portions for long on this kind
of a diet. The bitter lessons
learned in the last war must
give way in time to a revival
of Germany'S faith in herself
and her mission as the defend
er of Western civilization.
The problem is whether this
wholly desirable result can be
achieved without placing a crit
ical strain on the new demo-
cratic government by the open
encouragement of nationalism
and militariSm. In Germany,
the military has never been as
sociated with popular govern
ment. England, France and the
United States have had their
revolutionary peoples armies. In
this country, the army has al
ways been the symbol and the
instrument of despotic rule.
In such commonly expressed
fears, there is undoubtedly a
good deal of speculation and per-
haps a tendency to look on the
dim side of things. There is
another angle to the picture,
however, which no amount of
optimism can dismiss.
AS long as Germany remains
divided, the hope of any relaxa-
ton in the EaSt-WeSt conflict
seems visionary. And the seeds
of conflict will grow with the rise
of German strength. No German.
apparently, iswilling to accept
the idea of a permanent division
of this country. He may not be
: able to discuss logically the
means of re-uniting Germany,
but any alternative is unthink-
able.
Europeans who remember the
strength of pan-GermaniSm
under Hitler are quick to point
out the danger. In the past,
there has been fear that Ger
many might be tempted to make
a deal with Russia to reunite
the country. For the future. the
fear is that Germany may try