A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
THE Rommel film is apparently to be shown in Germany in spite of the- American authorities there, who have no power to stop it, but wish they had. There would seem to be little reason for stopping it. The film glorifies Rommel less than Brigadier Desmond Young's book on him did. It brings Hitler and Hitlerism continuously into disrepute, and it can in no way be regarded as an incentive to militarism. Rommel, hero of the film though he be, is depicted in defeat in North Africa, a helpless patvn of Hitler's amateur strategy in Northern France and finally victim of Hitler's vengeance, committing suicide compulsorily to avoid the disgrace of the official murder, on false but unanswer- able charges, with which he was threatened as alternative. There is nothing to stimulate either nationalist or militarist passions here. Indeed, the prologue, from Brigadier Young's book, show- ing how an English officer, out of pure love of justice, set himself to vindicate Rommel's good name, should make a favourable impression on every thoughtful German.
Previous page
