HITLER FEARS THE WORKERS

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 16

HITLER FEARS THE WORKERS

WHAT AN AMERICAN TRAVELLER HEARD GERMANS WHO THINK—AND WHISPER “ To-morrow they send me away. They only tell me ’ Somewhere on the SiegfriedLine.’ While lam away who will look after my family? Hitler? ” The speaker, a crane-driver from a Hamburg shipyard, spoke in the low tones used by practically everyone in Nazi Germany. Indeed, to one used to the cheerful buzz of conversation, this subdued conversation, is one of the most striking things about modern Germany, lor it is such a direct contrast to the hearty, noisy Germany of other days. “ SOBER LITTLE PARTY.” There were seven of us round the table of the little waterfront restaurant. A crane-driver, two stevedores, a taxi driver, a young man in Storm Trooper’s uniform, a foreman from a builder’s yard, and myself. Outwardly just a sober little party of German workers entertaining a friend. What if voices were subdued and the table set in an alcove? Did not the presence of the Storm Trooper lend an air of Nazi respectability to the company and raise it above suspicion ? So I thought when my friend the taxi driver introduced me to his pals as a discreet commercial traveller, and I resolved to say little and indulge in no criticisms of the Nazi Party, of which I judged them to be firm adherents. . , . After the slight restraint caused by my arrival had worn off they plunged once more into their discussion and it was not long before I realised that they were not the firm followers of Hitler that the presence of the Storm Trooper had led me to believe. PAY DEDUCTIONS. Yesterday I received the order telling me to report for duty to-morrow, went on the crane driver sullenly, ‘ and while I work on the Rhine my pay is to be 25 marks a week .... less Party fund deductions. The good God knows that with the price of things as they are in our happy Germany it is hard to support my family on the 45 marks I earn as a crane driver. We thank our Fuhrer,” he concluded sarcastically. “ .7a, that is so.” nodded Karl the elderly, sickly-looking factory foreman, then glanced over his shoulder before he spoke again. That quick, suspicious glance with which one soon becomes familiar and which is so common in this spv-ridden Nazi naradise. '•< TiTv pay is 05 marks a week, and of that f pay 25 to the Partr.” be continued, addressing himself to me. “ Tbev say that it is a ‘ voluntary contribution in order tjmt we may have extra nay, luxury, food, doctors, and medical comforts when we are sick. But listen to this, I am an old man. and my hoots, mv only pair, tbev are not. so’good, eh?”—and he lifted one foot that T might inspect his patched, worn footwear. , Last winter was wet and cold, and for two whole weeks I was in mv bed with chills and influenza. But the doctor would not me a certificate saying that I was ill.' MANY PRIVATIONS. For those weeks my wife and 1 lived on 30 marks that I had taken over a year to save. To exist on 30 marks for two weeks is not easy in Germany.” •< If what yon have been telling me is correct,” I argued, “ how is it that Hitler is so popular with many millions? Everywhere in Germany one witnesses this adoration of the Fubrer.” Karl nodded. “ Yes, that is so,” he admitted. “ And even we who have no love for him know that be has done much good for Germany. He lifted us from the depths and made us a great country again ... a country with self-respect. Blit whv could he not stop then? Why not hold out the hand of friendship and co-operation to the rest of the world? Why must we for ever arm ? OLD SOLDIER’S STORY. “ I fought in the last war and I do not wish to fight again. Ido not believe that the workers of Germany will fight. Many young men are now aware oP the emptiness of golden Nazi promises, and realise that we are heading for disaster. Johann here,” and he indicated the sullen-faced young Storm Trooper, “is one of many who is a party member only because he thinks it is prudent to be so. Johann looked at me. “ But what can I do?” he asked shamefacedly. “ I have a wife and young baby, and what would they do if I was in trouble? My two young brothers are keen party members, and I must not appear less keen than they . . “ Ah, these Gestapo fellows, they are everywhere,” broke in ouo of the stevedores. lt Last year my brother speaks to a sailor on an English ship that is unloading in this port. Some little criticism of Hitler he makes, and it is overheard by another stevedore who is a party member. CONCENTRATION CAMP; “ As my brother leaves the docks that evening a Black Guard trooper taps him on the shoulder. The next three months he spends in a concentration camp, and we of his family have to contribute two marks a day for his “ I have heard it said,” I remarked diffidentlv, “ that the S.S. (Black Guard) is being trained to take over the duties of the police in the event of the Storm Trooper looked round before replying. “ That is correct. During the Sudeten crisis of September of last year 50,000 S.S. men, fully armed, stood readv to dash into Hamburg should war be declared. Of course. Hamburg is held to be full of sedition and Communists, because of its old traditions as a Free City. But they were ready everywhere.” “ But why?” I asked. “ What need for ...” , It was Hans, the foreman, who answered me. OUR " AFFECTION.” “ Hitler, whom we love so much that he has to shelter behind armed guards nnd bullet-proof screens to escape our 1 affection,’ fears that the workers may try to rise should the army and Storm Troopers be engaged against a foreign Power. Therefore the S.S. is being trained —just in case. ...” Later that night as I walked through the streets, I felt that, in spite of the flaunting swastikas and strutting, brown-siiirted “ heroes,” the heart of the German worker is still unconquered and that there are many who. in spite of threats and terrorism, stiil keep alight the flame of democracy.—Condensed from the ‘ N j\y York Evening E.ont.l