MORE SOLDIERS' THOUGHTS
By CAPTAIN, B.L.A.
In Germany.
SOLDIERS, back from leave in England, speak enthusiastically of their experiences. It appears that the switching-on of the lights was as satisfactory as they had hoped ; that more and more cars are taking to the roads ; that the cessation of rockets is allowing taut nerves to relax ; that the people as a whole are standing poised ready for the word that will enable them to start on the great adventure of turning over from war to peace. This is good, and most of us here in Germany would dearly prize the opportunity of being with you as you write " finis " to the long chapter that was started nearly six years ago.
But out here things are different. It would be difficult, in fact, for a visitor living with us for a day or two to realise from word or action that the British Army had climbed at last to the pinnacle of victory. He would, it is true, hear an occasional discussion on the immediate future. Some are concerned about being sent to Burma ; some are looking to early demobilisation ; others are wonder- ing how best to employ the extra time that will be theirs during the long days of the occupation. He would, in certain busy offices, see plans for the future administration of Germany being worked out methodically and in great detail. Be might even eavesdrop on a discussion between friends as to what they hoped of the future when they had exchanged the Service cap for the bowler hat. But in general he would notice little change in the scene, from a year ago. The war is barely over, men have only just stopped dying, and, • anyhow, the soldier's training, which has enabled him to accept black defeat as philosophically as heady victory, does not permit of much emotional expression in this hour of ultimate triumph. If he intends to celebrate Victory in Europe day there is little sign of it so far.
None of this is astonishing—particularly to those who have travelled the long road from Alamein or Algiers. Some know that srhortly they may expect to start on the long journey to Burma— theirs not to celebrate. The rest of us know that there will be many long difficult months of occupation before we can take up our " lives " again where we left them six years ago when we started " existence "—ours not to celebrate. Indeed this time celebration will be a piecemeal affair—by demobilisation groups on demobilisa- tion.
Naturally demobilisation is the one matter about which there it little talk, but which is never far from any thoughts of the future, Most soldiers think the system fair. Most are prepared for many months to elapse before it can affect the great majority. But all are anxious that there shall be no delay in training up replacements from those who have for one reason or another escaped service and are now eligible. The decision to call up no one over thirty years of age has already caused certain misgivings. There are a great number over that age in the Army now who have not had the chance of living at home during the past years. It is hoped that the Govern- ment will seriously comb the country for those eligible for service. Nearly everyone in the Army is convinced he could find at least one able-bodied citizen of the right age, who has had an easy war this far, to replace him.
These immediate post-war months will be difficult ones for the Army of Occupation. Inevitably there will be anti-climax, inevitably the mainspring that has kept the machine ticking over will lose much of its tension. This is only to be expected, but none the less the problems facing the Army of Occupation will be equally urgent with those facing them on the battlefield. They certainly cannot be solved unless we face them with the same drive and enthusiasm that has inspired the Army this far. To create this enthusiasm, to occupy the hours of leisure, to maintain discipline, to prevent the staleness inherent in a static military establishment—these are problems of vital importance to the authorities.
They do not end there. Few soldiers show any leaning to fraternisation at the moment—the reverse in fact is the case ; the wish to make the Germans atone for some of the tragedy of the war is general. But the Englishman cannot long harbour hatred—even for the mute acquiescents of Buchenwald and Belsen-and his hungers are as urgent as any. Do the authorities imagine that a proportionate infiltration of A.T.S. will satisfy the urge for the opposite sex denied the soldier for many weary months or years, and thus far partially sublimated by the needs of battle? Do the authorities expect that the labours of NAAFI, ENSA and Welfare will give the soldier the comfort, amusement and happiness that he can obtain by even a few hours' association with civilians? Do the authorities imagine that the schemes of Army education will adequately fill the empty hours of a man waiting on the day when he can doff his -battle-dress ; that Army discipline will not suffer if the necessary military training is persisted in—as it must be—long after, in the opinion of the soldier, the need for it has vanished? I do not know the answers, though I suspect a negative would not be much out of place. Certainly these are questions which need an answer if the Army of Occupation is not to fail before it has accom- plished its task. I am equally certain that failure is certain if the suggestion of one of your correspondents, that fraternisation be allowed, is adopted.
What, then, is the alternative? First and most important, every man must be certain that the utmost effort is being employed by the authorities to replace him as soon as possible. Not only must the young be called up as soon as they reach conscription-age, but the war industries must be thoroughly combed for recruits. A rider to this is that it would be highly desirable for the authorities to announce as far in advance as possible the probable dates of de- mobilisation of the various classes. Almost any man can endure imprisonment if he knows the length of the term.
One of the most important factors is the success or failure of the schemes germinating in the brains of the Army Education Officers. Can they succeed in making education a goal to be pursued for its own_ rewards, or will it become—as so often it became with ABCA- a period on the Army time-table taking its place on a similar footing with arms drill? Can they succeed in taking the enormous oppor- tunities offered by vocational training? So much will depend on the individual C.O. and instructor, at whose door so many oppor- tunities have been lost—and seized—in the past.
These are a few of the more important problems that lie before us at the present time. It is only fair to say that they are receiving— so far as one can judge—intelligent and progressive consideration by the authorities. On the success of their efforts will depend much of the success of the Army of occupation.
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