A SPECTATOR
'S NOTEBOOK
EVEN before 1914 the " honour " of the German army had been brought to a low level by the officer corps ; in great affairs the General Staff had accepted a plan of campaign which committed their country to the violation of an international engagement, and, in day-to-day behaviour, the Zabern incidents showed the type of officer-bully who was countenanced and, indeed, encouraged in the highest quarters. Since 1914 this so-called " honour " has existed only in German eyes. The leaders of the W elamocht and the officer corps in general scented the usefulness of National Socialism as quicklyand as unerringly as a pack of vultures scenting corrup- tion. They knew well enough what National Socialism was doing in Germany. They never attempted to stop the cruelty of the National Socialists to their political opponents. They were prepared to connive at every kind of beastliness while they could use Hitler as their tool. When Hitler—from their point of view—overshot the mark, and became their master rather than their servant, their " honour " still allowed them to accept every breach of faith, every one of the monstrous acts of the party.
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