The Arizona post., 1960-02-05

Semitism i'm Germany has been pro-
v;ded exclusively to the Jewish Tele'
graphic Agency by DIR. Ollenhauer, VINO
;s the head of West Germanys leading
Opposition party)
Rv DIR. ERICH OLLENHAUER
chairman of the Social Democratic
Party of the Federal Republic Oh
Germany
The recent anti-Semitic outbursts nave
once again focused attention on the feu-
eral Republic of Germany. The preseh.
ooo,,rrences are anti-Semitic in form, Out
directed against the democratic order as
s,,cb The Social Democratic Party OF
Germany has repeatedly in the past pollit
cd to such dangers 1t believes tnal lio
useful purpose is being served oy spredo-
inc the cloak of silence over tne pds' vi
nresent anti-democratic activities. Oh Ihe
contrary if believes that such matters
should be fully exposed whenever lilcS
arise. The conspiracy of silence nlus' oe
broken. and complacency would be oedoly
IN the weak roots of our democracy.
Anti.Semitism is, of course, no purely
German phenomenon. 1t is part Oh an anu
democratic and nationalist attltuoe' oo'ii
nolitical and social. Yet though non-der'
man hooligans, because of contamlnatloIl'
conviction or ignorance, commit such acts
outside Germany too, nobody can ldhe
aWay the responsibility from Ile oeiii
cratic elements in Germany. Inc pds'
history of our country must compel every
bodv to give special consideration to the
atrocities committed by the NaZl regime
and there can be therefore no escape lol
apologists in pointing to bad examples
or limitations of German examples IN 1or-
eign countries.
The outbursts which began with the
smearing of the Cologne synagogue may
have had several underlying motives. AS
vet there is no certainty as to whether
they were wholly or partly organized
and whether the initiators are to be found
in Germany alone or elsewhere. IL IS
even improbable that they were organized.
They should, however, be recognized as
extremely serious, whatever the result or
the examinations may be.
In our opinion there are number Oh
factors contributing to the present state
of affairs. The defeat of the NaZl regime
in 1915 was followed by quick economic
recovery which, in turn, was connected
with the cold war situation. The East
West conflict, finding expression IN
negative and cheap antiCommumsm, sup
erseded the need for dealing politically
and spiritually with the National-Socialist
past in Germany The building up of mill
tary forces in a divided country further
more fostered the feeling that past mis-
deeds. committed behind the wall OF the
German military machine and It's Nazl
rulers. have been condoned. Unfortu-
nately. the Allied governments, being IN
terested in such a German military con-
tribution for reasons of their own, ana
anxious not to embarraSs the German
Government contributed to this develop
ment.
Democratic forces were unfortunately
not strong enough in Germany to carry
the day. The democratic order came
about in Germany only after the defeat
in war. The fact however, that democ-
racv this time has been coupled with
prosperity has so far prevented a spread
of fascist sentiments Many people who
have served the Third Reich willingly
and are now again in safe economic posi-
tions will not easily risk their jobs and
thus their security as long as this state
,of affairs continues. For this reason, we
can only speak of potential danger
which as vet has not found a manifest
expression on big scale Inc oaflgef