NAZI PENETRATION IN SWITZERLAND

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 6

NAZI PENETRATION IN SWITZERLAND

Students As Agents

SUBTLE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN

Nazi penetration of Switzerland by propaganda in the universities is described by an Oxford graduate, writing in the “Manchester Guardian.” Tile Nazis are now endeavouring to obtain control of the youth of Switzerland, and more specially of the students in the Swiss universities, he states. Their tactics are the same as in 1933, but they have been perfected in Austria aud elsewhere. I’he Swiss, however, are not Austrians. I'hey fought their Austrian masters and obtained their liberty six centuries ago. Details concerning the Nazi organganization of propaganda among the Swiss students have recently appeared in “La Semaine,” a weekly paper published in Geneva. Students Subsidized as Nazi Agents. Notices are posted in German universities offering subsidies to students who wish to study in Switzerland. From those who send in-their names a certain number are selected and trained for the work as agents of the Nazi Government. They spend some time in preparation camps. First of all the students are inoculated'against the virus of democratic ideas. Next begins their instruction in the way to win over Swiss students io the idei’il of Hitler uud Rosenberg. They are methodically ami minutely drilled in the principles of “Gcopolitik,” a new name for espionage disguised as science, directed not. only against the' .Swiss students but against some of the professors whose lectures the Nazi students attend. They make a caieful study of the personality of each ptofessor, and, under scientific pretexts, collect information which will enable them to win the students over to Nazi principles. Each university group is divided into sections. At the head of each section are placed students ready for service, “the best Hitlerist militants,” the advance guard in the war of liberation destined to free the world from antiquated beliefs. Disguised Espionage. Iu each section there are also students, unknown even to the leader of the group, who are in direct communication with the central command of the Nazi students’ organization in Germany. Their work, like that of the other members of the group, is “espionage disguised as science,” but in addition they act as spies on their fellowstudents. It is not surprising that an atmosphere of general distrust prevails among the Nazi students, each one of whom is afraid of finding an. agent of the Gestapo in his best friend.

All German students are ordered to wear the Nazi badge within the precincts of each Swiss university. They are told why they are to do so. It is instructive to hear what reasons are given them: “First, in order to accustom the eyes of the Swiss to the Swastika,” “secondly, to frighten the numerous enemies with whom we still have to reckon in foreign countries.”

Essential Part of Nazi Propaganda.

It has been pointed out very justly that this “psychological preparation” for the extension of Nazi rule is of the highest importance. It forms an essential part of Nazi propaganda, an'd its value has been proved in Austria, Spain and elsewhere.

During the last year or two the German law students in Geneva have formed what might perhaps be called a private seminary of their own. But the Nazi students posted a notice on the boards of the university inviting all students interested to attend these meetings of what had been a “study group.” It had now become an “Academy of German Law.” It is certainly no longer what it was, a harmless “study group.” It is directed by a young jurist appointed in Germany. The subjects to be treated are chosen by him; one of them this term is to be “A comparison of the National Socialist and the Swiss criminal law.” The Nazis have now got into a Swiss university one of their own lecturers, who Is quite free to set forth without any interference in one of the university classrooms all the benefits of law as understood by Hitler.