THE RE-EDUCATION OF GERMANY
SIR,—Countess Bentinck's letter, proposing to . treat the post-war German danger by means of Christianity, overlooks the fact that the
Germans, whom she believes are likely to respond to such suggestions, form—where still alive—a small minority. And even these Germans, as well as the many who now will receive the incoming Allies as " liberators from the Nazis," will relegate their Christian conceptions to a secondary plan once they see again the possibility of creating a powerful Germany dominating the world. The urge, innate in every good German, to live for a greater Germany to whom the other nations would merely serve as tools, is no feature of Nazism. However cultuied and humane
a German may appear when individually in contact with non-Germans, this urge is, and remains, there. It asserts itself when Germans are gathered together, especially when stimulated by a suitable leader, be it Bismarck, Frederick the Great, Hitler, or others to follow, unless we can prevent it. This dual personality of the Germans is clearly explained in Rene Guenon's The Crisis of the Modern World (Luzac, 1942).
It is not by avoiding that Germany be humiliated that the Germans, overwhelmed by such rather undeserved generosity, will behave. On the contrary, this would merely enable them to proceed forthwith with secret preparations for another war. Germany will only behave if forced to do so, and under efficient supervision. Germans, acting together, do not respect or fear Christianity, but they do respect force. There is of course no harm in attempting their " re-education " provided one does not, either now or even in fifty years' time, make the world peace dependent on the hoped for, or even on the apparent, results of such well meant endeavours. Europe cannot afford it. And we owe it to those who gave, and those who are still giving, their life in this war, to prevent by every means a possible recurrence.
It is misleading to speak, as does Countess Bentinck, of " liberating the Germans from Nazi tyranny." For only now that things go wrong is the Nazi system resented by many Germans, while others, to win over the incoming Allies, will glibly describe it as a tyranny. Physically only, can Germany be prevented from starting again, for only force impresses the Germans as a whole. Spiritual views are for them most interesting, theoretical or metaphysical abstractions that have, however, nothing to do with their real aims, save perhaps serve as a useful camouflage of their plans.
Indeed, a peace settlement with Germany, resting solely on such noble and Christian views •as those outlined by Countess Bentinck, would be responsible, within a generation or so, for a third world war, a war which would leave Europe deprived for good, not only of liberty, but also of
civilisation and of Christianity.—Yours faithfully, A CONTINENTAL
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