THE HORROR CAMPS
§nt,—The horrible facts found in Buchenwald Concentration Camp provoke the following suggestions:
As vast a number of Germans as possible should be made witnesses now and in later days of these facts. The majority of the dull and stupefied German crowds under Hitler are unacquainted—thanks to Nazi hiding technique—with facts, while there have been awkward rumours about them amongst minorities. It is therefore essential that the places and implements of these horrors should be preserved (under lock of the Allied authorities) and not demolished. May be that one -•of the martyr veterans might be prepared to take residence in a neighbour-
ing village in order to act as a warden and guide to show chosen groups of Germans over the place, relating from his memories. To prevent such guided tours from becoming a sensation, and in order to allow relatives and sympathisers to mourn the victims, a modest dignified memorial hall to be visited should be erected in the neighbouring countryside from voluntary contributions containing, as far as traceable, the names and origin of each of the victims who died in the camp. This should be a sanctuary, in which Protestant, Catholic and Jewish religious services for the dead might be held as a regular custom.
It goes by itself that the best possible medical and reconvalescence care should be provided for each of the survivors. The Allied authorities may order the use of German sanatoriums. Each of these men is an outstanding fighter in the common struggle. Quite a number of them may still become most valuable in the reconstruction of their country of origin, whether we think of Allied (and co-belligerent) peoples or
whether we think of Germany.—Yours sincerely, RUTH GAEVERNITZ. 103 Gower Street, W.C. 1.
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