“DID NOT WANT WAR”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20052, 26 September 1939, Page 7

“DID NOT WANT WAR”

THE AVERAGE GERMAN NAZI OPPRESSION NO INDIVIDUALITY .“The average man in the street in Germany definitely did not want war with Britain because he reasoned that we were too much alike," said Miss Naomi Martin, who has been on leave of absence for the past six months from the teaching staff of the Gisborne Central School. Miss Martin travelled extensively through England and on the Continent during her trip aboard and returned during the week-end to Gisborne. “Those in Germany with militaristic tendencies, though, said that we had no right to argue over Danzig, as it was iheirs by right,” she said. “We were warned that Hitler would start to march after the harvest, had been gathered, and people asked us if we were not frightened to be in Germany. Everywhere there was intense cultivation, but the people knew that in the event of war the food would be used for the purposes of the army and not the general populace. Miss Martin said that there were not as many military uniforms in evidence over there as she saw in England, but that was probably accounted for by the fact that most of the men were on the frontiers. In Innsbruck there was a lot of saluting and a great number of ardent Nazis. It was learned that there was a considerable amount of show in many cases because men • were afraid to show a lack of Nazi sympathy. “In Germany there was no individuality allowed at all and three or four school-teachers I met said that they had given up their jobs rather than teach from the narrow _ viewooints. Many of the younger people were boring to speak to because they were so fanatical. German Clothing Poor “The clothing of the Germans was poor, the fabric being synthetic, jTweeds were procurable, but the cost was prohibitive. When there were no officials about people would finger our clothes and say ‘English,’ and then finger theirs and say ‘Deutch.’ In Austria the clothing of the people was worse and the impression was gained that anything that could be was being taken from the Austrians by the Nazis. “The feeling was there also that the people were only awaiting their opportunity to regain their freedom and individuality. The Austrians were optimistic in as much as they believed that the Nazi oppression was but temporary and it would be only a matter of time if they were patient. “With the Hungarians, and the Austrians who wore unafraid to talk, there was evidence that all were greatly antagonistic towards Nazism. For the most part the people of Austria were nervy and poor, tout there did not seem to be any destitution among the populace. All beggars in Germany would be gaoled if found on the streets,” continued Miss Martin. The general attitude of Germans to the British tourist was friendly in matters of change, directions concerning streets, and in every possible way. Strict Rationing There was plenty of food in the restaurants for foreign visitors, and Miss Martin said that the Nazis would tell them that there was plenty for their own needs. However, other German people not so attached to the regime would venture to speak, when alone and sure of their audience, saying that rationing was very strict. It was difficult for Germans to get butter and other such commodities in shops. There was a sufficiency of lettuce, other greens, and fruit in season. During the off-season it would be impossible to buy such luxuries as they were not imported. Veal and pork were featured in butchers’ shops, tout the people did not mind a lack of variety in so far as their meat was concerned because they liked the fare that was available. There was always a keen demand for English newspapers, any that were not confiscated because they contained articles of an anti-Nazi flavour being eagerly bought up at the vendors’ stalls. Miss Martin said that one of her party had a pair of shoes wrapped up in an old copy of The Times, and a German woman in a railway carriage they occupied was so interested that she asked for the much-creased paper. The manner in which she devoured each item of news reminded one of the harsh way the attempt was made to keep the truth from the people in Germany. The Germans were extremely careful how they spoke even in the English-speaking clubs that were situated well away from the general public. When they did talk it was in the nature of a denial and politics were strictly avoided, except where the two parties knew that they weio very much alone. Eager to Learn Visitors’ Views

It was surprising to Miss Martin to find that in trains the people, after assuring themselves that there were none about with Nazi sympathies, would open out and talk. If a German knew a little English it appealed that they were keen to extend their acquaintance with the language and also to learn something of the visitors’ points of view. She said that on one occasion there were two Jews in a railway carriage and one, a school-teacher, was anxious to learn more of the English tongue and would have followed them to their hotel. However, the other Jew was afraid that it would not 'be safe and dissuaded his friend. As before, the wine gardens and beer halls were open for business and the people continued to sing their native songs. While travelling on the Rhine the Gisborne visitor asked for the song •"Lorelei,” but was told that that was forbidden as it had been written by a Jewish composer. The general tidiness of the cities in Germany was outstanding, because persons dropping bus tickets or other litter in the streets were liable to a fine. The new roads, or autobahns as they are called, were exceptionally good and yet the side roads were in a poor condition. All expenditure seemed to be going into the newarterial roads, to the neglect of the other highways.