Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 2, 31 August 1945, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

NIEMOLLER TODAY By Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam. ] met Martin Niemoller at the Parco hotel in Naples on May 15 ? and had a two-hour conversation with him in company with Chaplain M.ilton O. Beebe chief of chaplains in the Mediterranean theatre of operations, Chaplain A. Stanley Trickett deputy chief and my son, Chaplain Philip IL Oxnam. • Pastor Niemoller is not the tall man I had somehow imagined but a person of medium height, very thin —no doubt because of terrible experience. I judge bis suffering has been as much mental as- physical. His. skin is tanned, the face somewhat angular, eyes dark brown and penetrating his hair carefully trimmed. He wore a gray suit of good material a gray bow tie and tan shoes. He clasped my hand with the grip of an athlete, "There is no man in Europe 1 would rather meet " I said "You have been an inspiration to us." "Thank you very much " he answered "you are very gracious.'^ Niemoller seemed very nervous, moving from one petition to another as he talked. I later learned the reason for this tens-ion. Said he: "1 Avas the personal prisoner of Hitler. It has. been announced that I was liberated, but I am not sure of my present status. I was ordered to remain here for this conference. Am I a prisoner of the Americans?" I explained that word had reached me in Leghorn that he Avas in Naples and I had expressed the hope that I might have the pri/ilege of seeing him on my return; Apparently in conveying the the request had been misunderstood.

Anxieties Assuaged

In a moment the real reason for

his concern became clear. He had requested the authorities to notify

his wife that he. was safe. "That was four days ago, and no word has reached me. Such a simple thing ;

just a telegram would do it. My wife is twenty-eight kilometers out of Munich. Her residence, is wellknown. Why should they refuse this?

r cannot understand it. You see I fear for my wife. How long can her mind stand this terrible strain? My oldest daughter who is; married to a German naval officer and the

mother of a child, is somewhere in Germany, but we tlo not know where. My oldest son was killed in Pomerania. No official word reached my wile. The first she knew of it was when his keepsakes arrived in a box with a label, 'The relics of Hans Jochen Niemoller'—a watch a New 1 e.stament ? some books. My daughter Brigitte where is she? My oldest •son is dead. My next son Heinz Hermann, was wounded and listed "missed." That was in Russia. And Jan, he is "missed," also in Russia. [Hertba 'is with her mother. My youngest- daughter died December 1944.. And my little son, is with his mother. I must know about them. Why can this not be? Chaplain Tricketa telephoned headquarters at once ior me, and learnjed that the request was lying upon some desk awaiting formal action.

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE (Supplied by the Whakatoat Ministers' Association}.

cans. They came two days later. The papers say they liberated us 7? A Strong Man It Avas at this point that control left him. He became someAvhat excited in speech, and told of his f e.ars concerning his Avife related at the beginning of this article. VVben assured by my telephone conversation Avith the general he Avas soon at ease, affable and brotherly. He autographed my New Testament, signed "short snorter" bills for the chaplains, and Avrote a few lines; in a little notebook for my son. We left bim in a happier mood; a strong man made stronger by suffering, a warrior Avho had moved from the Avar of nations, to the battles of the spirit, a symbol of Christian resistance to pagan tyranny a man AA r ho may yet become a power in Germany. —The Christian Century.

I telephoned General Spofford immediately, and explained Pastor Niemollcr's concern. He was most considerate and promised action. Within two hours a telegram from General Alexander was sent, requesting that information concerning Pastor Niemoller he taken to Mrs Niemoller at once and the next day word reached the pastor much to hi.s relief and very great gratitude. I began the interview by stating there were certain questions in which we were all. interested., "What do you think the Christian forces of the United States can or ought to do as far as Germany is concerned,?" I asked. His answer was typically Germany thorough lengthy, somewhat involved but comprehensive and moving .steadily in

one general direction. He speaks good English, but hesitates at times as he struggles to, find the precise English term ? stating it in German and choosing the proper Avords from several English Avords that he had suggested Avhile seeking the right one. Possibilities* of Church Co-operation "Yes yes, ja } " he said. "I will try to answer } but you must remem* ber I haA r e been a prisoner for ?iglit years. 1 haA'e therefore not been in touch Avith our life, our Church life, as intimately as is necessary for a clear ansAver to the question. , My Avife Avas allowed to see me tAvice each month for thirty minutes ■ with a Gestapo (he pronounced is 'Jest-arpo') guard present. She told me some of the neAvs but not all. "We are most interested in you personally. Is there any thin 4 we can do to be helpful?" Like a man Avho has memorised a table of figures, perhaps repeating out aloud the recollections of the long black years of solitary confinement he recounted his trial, re-ar-rest "before I could sec my wife or children,and then the story of one prison, a caihp another another and on and on until finally "Ave Avere moved by the Gestapo. We could haA T e escaped. It Avould have been simple to take the i istol to the guard. But Ave talked it over decided it would be better not to smudge our hands Avith their blood. We Avere rescued from the Gestapo by the Welirmacht not the Ameri-