THE TRUTH IN GERMANY [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]
SIR,—I have recently received the following unsigned letter from a German pastor whom I met some years ago. I am prepared to vouch for its authenticity, but I cannot disclose the writer's name. He describes it as "An open letter from a German citizen to Dr. Goebbels, Minister of State." It is dated November ith.
"Today we Germans are under the painfoll necessity of seeking the hospitality of the colomns of foreign newspapers because we are completely muzzled in our own country. Patriotism, not any inclination to 'high treason,' compels us to take this course ; love of our country makes us want to clear our Fatherland of the reproach that the German people is really supporting the revolting and barbarous methods now being used in the persecution of the Jews—methods which have justifiably roused the indignation of the whole civilised world. They rouse exactly similar indignation in the great majority of the German people, who, with feelings of shame and horror, are obliged to witness both the further steps now being taken against Jewish churches and businesses, and the new State ordinances which, in ' legal ' form, burden us with a fresh load of national guilt.
"You, Dr. Goebbels, assert that the whole German people is behind these measures and that you are merely carrying out the people's will, That is an appalling untruth and an insult to the German people. Wherever one goes one hears only expressions of regret and indignation at these measures. It is only a comparatively small clique, composed of those whom you have turned into fanatics, partly of hangers-on dependent on your favour, who applaud you.
"If, indeed, as you say, the whole German people were behind you, why do you suppress every free expression of opinion ? Why may the Press publish only what you prescribe ? Why is everyone who dares to utter a word of criticism taken off either to prison or to a concentration camp ? Why does every civil servant and every workman lose his job if he declines to take part in whatever activity is prescribed for him by National Socialism ? Why- do you organise such a reign of terror at election times and entirely muzzle the Opposition ? Why do you quite openly falsify the election results ? Is that the true democracy' of which you are for ever talking ? Is that how you 'carry out the people's will ' ? No, this is the truth of the matter : you seized power by lying- and trickery, and ultimately by appealing to the lowest human instincts—to the beast within us,' to use the apt expression of a member of the Reichstag. Now, by hitherto unheard of terrorism, by the suppression of every kind of freedom, by a refinement of lying propaganda which produces a mental atmosphere of clouded fanaticism—by these methods you exercise your power against the will of the people.
" This mendacity is shown in your statement that the excesses, the burning of synagogues and the wrecking of shops, were not organised.' What German does not laugh at that idea ? If it were true, why were the police idle spectators everywhere, only arresting Jews and not the incendiaries, the wreckers, and the plunderers ? Why were the fire brigades only concerned to save other buildings, not attempting anywhere to save the synagogues ? Why did local party leaders instruct and indeed compel factory staffs or members of the Storm Troops against their will, to go out and join in the wrecking ?
" You, Dr. Goebbels, may be able to rule a little longer by these methods. For the people are helpless. But depend upon it that one day justice will be done, for God is not
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