ASPECTS OF GERMAN RACIAL POLICY
By N. P. MACDONALD
ANATURAL consequence of the anti-semitic policy of the National Socialists is the antipathy felt in the Third Reich for the coloured peoples. This aspect of Nazi racial theory in practice would be of little importance were it not for the colonial demands now being put forward with increasing vehemence by Germany's rulers. If her former colonies were to be returned to Germany, the methods by which she would propose to control such native populations as came under her rule would be of interest, not only to the world in general, but to other colonial Powers in particular.
In the Germany of today, where a sharp distinction is drawn between " Aryan " and " Nordic " peoples, it is not to be expected that the non-white races are regarded as approximating even to the racial standards laid down by National Socialism regarding the Jews. As in the Jewish question, the whole subject of the coloured peoples is regarded in Germany as being one of political rather than of biological importance. In a recent address to German Youth, Dr. Walter Gross, the Head of the Nazi Office for Racial Policy, confirmed this fact, when he said : " . . . for us the doctrine of blood and race does not primarily represent an important element in the science of biology, but it is above all a political and ethical and philosophical system of ideas, which funda- mentally determines our attitude towards many problems of life."
But in spite of this official view of race, and although the merits of Nazi policy are expounded regularly in all German schools, there is still, in Berlin if not elsewhere, a curious public disregard for the finer points of racialism. The writer found a negro doorkeeper in one night-club in the capital, while in another some Far Eastern visitors were enjoying themselves in the company of German girls. In the neigh- bourhood a young Arab was staying at a Hitler Youth camp.
It is in the Rhineland that National Socialist racial principles find most eager acceptance. This part of Germany has yet to recover from the effects of the occupation by French African troops after the War. Stories of the happenings of those days are still told to any visitor who may care to listen, and they have been extensively embroidered with the passage of time. The Rhinelanders say that there were 25,000 black troops in Germany at that time, and they delight to enlarge upon the indignities which they were obliged to suffer as a result of France's inexcusable action.
Today the Germans are full of fury at the presence of black troops in France. A Nazi official pointed out to the writer that the French used 240,000 coloured troops on the Western Front in the Great War ; he seemed surprised that Britain had called upon the services of Indian troops. Now, he went on, there are no less than six divisions of black troops, numbering 6o,000, garrisoned within marching distance of the German frontier. These consist mostly of Moroccan or Madagascan detachments, which are to serve as "cannon fodder" in case of war. According to this source the only white troops anywhere near the Franco-German frontier are specialists in charge of the Maginot forts. By recruiting coloured troops the Germans contend that France has contra- vened Article 22 of the Statute of the League of Nations.
Nor is it only the presence of black troops in France which causes the Nazis anxiety. They point out that between the years 1921 and 1926 the number of negroes in France increased from 3,000 to over 72,000, and they calculate that there must now be more than 100,000 of these " racially undesirable" people resident in France. As these interlopers are allowed to marry Frenchwomen, and are treated as French subjects, the Nazis assert that the very racial integrity of France is threatened, and that the South of France is already becoming an African colony. They recall that Marshal Lyautey warned the French Government that these Africans would be very susceptible to Communism, and for this reason also they frown at the presence in France of roo,000 Algerian workmen. The Nazi Press has announced that "Germany will keep this danger in mind."
So far as colonies are concerned, the policy Germany might adopt in Africa would be to leave the negroes under their sovereignty strictly alone. "We think that each race represents an idea in the mind of the Creator," said an official to the writer, "and therefore when we get our colonies we shall not attempt to educate the natives to German ideas and ways of living ; we shall do our best to persuade them to retain their own customs ; we do not wish to ' civilise ' them in any way."
"We Germans do not regard the negroes as our equals, racially," asserted a young German on another occasion ; "that is one reason why National Socialism is at variance with that form of Christianity which holds that all men are equal in the sight of God. As a German, if I met a negro needing clothing, as St. Martin met the beggar, I would gladly give him half my coat ; but if I met a German and a negro together I would naturally give half my coat to the white man, and leave the black man alone."
Notwithstanding this attitude, some Nazis exhibit an inferiority-complex in connexion with negroes. It is well known that Herr Hitler refused to receive the negro members of competing teams at the Olympic Games last year. It is not so well known that Bavarian Nazis are continually attacking Cardinal Faulhaber because a crowned Moor's head is a prominent feature of his personal arms. In Ministerial circles in Berlin the great danger threatening Europe from the black races, owing to the decreasing birth- rates in Continental countries, was repeatedly emphasised to the writer. One Minister said that there was a possi- bility of negroes being introduced as mine-workers in some districts, thereafter intermarrying with, and becoming part of, the nation concerned. Such developments were regarded by the Nazis as prejudicial to the racial integrity of Europe, and they would adopt all possible measures to combat them. The colonial issue was represented as being of especial importance in connexion with a negro threat to Europe. Britain was accused of working with America and Russia against what Germany considered to be a purely hypothetical menace from Japan. In the German view it is not possible for Britain and France to maintain the prestige of the white race in Africa, a prestige threatened by the black races, without German assistance. Unless she possessed colonies Germany would be unable to aid in the maintenance of white civilisation in the Dark Continent.
Such are some aspects of the present German attitude to the coloured peoples. They show that Nazi racial policy is in fact political rather than biological in its outlook.
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