LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
" CONSCRIPTS IN GERMANY "
SIR,—With a feeling of astonishment and deep regret I have read in The Spectator of September 12th, 1947, an article by the Very Rev. C. Bardsley entitled Conscripts in Germany which is bound to cause confusion and trouble in the minds of those English people whose relatives are in Germany. This article must arouse the impression that morally we are the most perverted people under God's sun, a people who have sold their souls to the devil. Moreover, that all those who come into touch with tis will become so perverted that they will be a danger to society and a hindrance to the future greatness of England. Such a statement is so one-sided and misrepresenting that I feel it imperative to reply to it.
The young Englishman who spends his army career in Germany is not exposed to greater danger than any other young man in any country, who is afar from the influence of his parents' home and who has to prove his moral maturity. He does not need, as quoted by Mr. Bardsley, " to break all the rules . . . and to become . . . a bit of a swine." And to quote the other case cited by Mr. Bardsley, where a married man falls in love with another woman, this is not typical of Germany but happens everywhere where men exist. Therefore we should see. matters from another point of view. The young conscript who must spend his time of training in Germany has a wonderful opportunity to enlarge his mental horizon and to gather experiences which are not offered to him in his native country. And if he pays no attention to those circles of vice, which by the way exist in every country, he can observe many fine and encouraging examples of courage and good citizenship among the German people. He can observe, too, that the'number of decadent and morally inferior is very small in com- parison with those brave people who, in spite of all the difficulties and distress under which no people has to suffer so deeply as the Geripan people, are endeavouring to maintain a certain spiritual level and cultural standard. He should go into our overcrowded concert halls, and in the streets he should observe the cleanly and decently clothed people. He should realise the negligible quantity of washing material and the little clothing people possess due to losing all their property in air raids, and what it costs them in labour and trouble to keep up this self-respect and good appearance. He should talk with our students who, in spite of hunger, cold and lack of books, etc.,"are exerting every effort to reach their goal. He should go to our sports grounds and see our enthusiastic youth, and he should go to those circles who, far-sighted and with faithful hope, are working for a federation of nations and for a permanent peace. Then, if he. is wise, he will come to a truer under- standing, which will benefit, not only the young man, but also the world. For this tragic time needs men of all nations to contribute towards understanding and good will between the different nations. Without good will separatism will disrupt our lives and our countries, and condemn the world to anarchy. With good will a new age of unity and brotherhood can come into being.—Yours, &c., K. OPPERMANN.
Am Waldessaum r (22a) Duisburg, North Rhine, Westphalia, British Zone, Germany.
Previous page
