THE DETRO IT JEWIS H NEWS — Friday, October 26, 1962

N

Purely Commentary

Germany's Democratic Aims: Handicaps and Aspirations

West Germany's serious effort to advance democratic ideas
and to create a better feeling between Germans and the peoples
of free countries. especially the United States, is reflected in a
serious study made in a volume, "Education for Democracy in
West Germany," published by Frederick A. Praeger (64 Univer-
sity Pl., NY 3).
Edited by Walter Stahl, executive director of Atlantik-
Breucke, (Atlantic Bridge), an organization of private German
citizens that is striving for better understanding between Ger-
many and the United States, with an introduction by Norbert
. Muhlin, author of "Germany in American Eyes," this volume
contains a series of articles on a variety of subjects related to
German educational processes.
It is evident throughout the collective study that Germans
who are enrolled in the movement that sponsored the publica-
tion of this volume, which originally appeared in Hamburg, are
anxious to assure the desired end—that of the most ideal friend-
ship between Germans and Americans. In the process, this
movement's adherents are exerting all their efforts towards the
improvement of German's democratic curricula and to reach the
German youth with the facts relating to the Nazi regime and
the horrors that were perpetrated by the Hitlerites.
But it is equally evident that they are not having an easy
time of teaching Germany's youth or of converting those who
still believe in the evil works of the fuehrer or those who have
been and remain misled by the menace that afflicted Jewry
and all mankind.
Stahl's preface to the book suggests that foreign criticism
of Germany "is based on the misrepresentation of facts which
originate from the efficient and dangerous Communist propa-
ganda campaign directed against the German Federal Republic."
But immediately the preface qualifies this statement by asserting:
"While the falseness of the Commimists allegations is refuted by
the contents of this book, it is by no means an apology for post
or prewar Germany. On the contrary, all the shortcomings of
contemporary German democracy are frankly stated and ad-
mitted. But they are placed in the right perspective."
The latter is true: shortcomings are admitted; but whether
"the right perspective" offers sufficient assurance that the warn-
ings of an emergence of neo-Nazism are exaggerated remains
in doubt. Too many Nazi sentiments have been inherited — as
much of the material in this book proves — not to cause concern
over what is transpiring in Germany.
Muhlen's introduction realistically states, in answer to the
question, "Have the Germans really changed?" that: "The free
world is ready to rejoice at the transformation of its new ally,
but it cannot quite suppress the deep and dread memories of
only yesterday. What is more, it cannot quite suppress the mis-
givings that come with these memories, and this uneasiness is
shared also by a great many Germans themselves."
There is an evidence of fairness in this book in the evalua-
tion of Germany's position. The inclusion of an article by Oscar
Cohen, who headed an ADL delegation to Germany, is proof of
it. While recognizing West German sincerity in developing demo-
cratic policies, Cohen pointed out to shortcomings in attaining
them. The book points to the effect of the "Anne Frank Diary"
and the Anne Frank film upon Germans, and it evaluates the
impressions of other pro-Jewish and anti-Nazi works.
Yet, there is much that must be overcome to assure that
young Germans will realize what had happened in the years
when their parents were parties to mass murders. For example,
there is this quotation from a radio transcript: "The younger
generation simply cannot comprehend what happened then as
they do not believe that their own parents could have sponsored
such a regime or even only have tolerated it."
Down the line, such admissions are reiterated throughout
the book.
Discussing students and political education, Dietrich Wetzel,
a student association leader, states: "While the press takes up
Jewish issues and anti-Semitism with great interest and engages
in careful journalistic studies on the subject, academic research
and teaching, on the other hand, is strikingly reserved when it
comes to these problems." Declaring that "we can no longer
allow ourselves to neglect the problems of Jewry and anti-
Semitism, because of our duty towards historic truth," Wetzel
makes recommendaions for the presentation of the problem in
textbooks and for the establishment of a university institute for
Jewish studies which should engage in research and develop
courses on Jewry.
Other essays in the book indicate that the great crime
against Jewry and mankind is minimized in German textbooks.
This shortcoming is recognized, and it admittedly needs speedy
correction.
Some of the other studies, in efforts to be very objective, do
not serve the proper purpose within the milieu undertaken by
this book. For example, by quoting Rathenau's criticisms of
Jews, no purpose, is served. All peoples are subject to criticisms,
but such views have no place in a diagnosis of a disease—and
Nazism was the deadliest of diseases in history.
It is often admitted that people still are infected by Nazism.
and in one instance it is qualified with the statement that such
people' "show a lack of knowledge and judgment." Hitler still
is a hero in some quarters, and while statistics show that it is
a minority, it nevertheless exists.
"Pupils are reluctant to acknowledge guilt" and "it will take
a long time to arrive at an unencumbered relationship," one
author concurs.
It is clear that there remains cause for concern, and it is
equally reassuring, in this volume, that a sincere and dedicated
group of Germans is striving to correct the shortcomings and
to atone for the crimes of the Nazi era. These accompanying
double factors give "Education for Democracy in West Ger-
many" a meritorious rating as a volume that strives realistically
to evaluate a serious situation.
In London, last week, Dr. Hasso von Etzdorf, the German
Ambassador at the Court of St. James, A. L. Easterman, London
director of the international affairs department of the World
Jewish Congress, that the German Federal Government regards
the prevention of any recurrence of National-Socialism or any
extreme nationalism as one of his government's foremost re-
sponsibilities. Commenting on a resolution adopted by the
WJCongress expressing concern over the continuing publication
of Nazi journals and publications, in West Germany, thereby

Students of German
Affairs Evaluate
Position of Jewry

By Philip Soviets Sentence
Slomovitz to Death 6 Jews

"The German Federal Government has instructed me to say
that they greatly appreciated the concern expressed by the World
Jewish Congress at neo-Nazi publications in the Federal Republic.
It so happens that just before we received your communication
the Federal Ministry of the Interior had concluded a thorough
investigation of this subject . . . (Its report) constitutes clear
evidence of he close watch kept by Federal authorities over
these activities . . . The right-wing extremists have not even
managed to publish a single daily newspaper, while all their
periodicals taken together have a circulation of merely 160,300
copies as compared to 29 million (excluding illustrated papers)
of the democratic press."
The Ambassador also referred to "the decay of practically
all neo-Nazi, nationalist and right-wing groups resulting from the
shattering defeat inflicted upon them by the German public at
all elections. So much so that all these splinter groups have not
managed to send a single member into the German Federal
Parliament." In conclusion, the Ambassador wrote: "You may
rest assured that our government regards it as one of its fore-
most responsibilities to prevent any recurrence of National-
Socialism or extreme nationalism. I should appreciate it if you
would acquaint the European Executive of the World Jewish
Congress with these facts."
These have been the assertions officially of the Adenauer
administration. It is to be hoped that the West German govern-
ment will be in position to counteract the anti-Semitic propa-
ganda. Thus far, the youth especially seem to be responsive to
pro-Hitler propaganda—in the sense not so much of being pro-
Nazi as of yielding to an admiration of Hitler. A grave responsi-
bility rests upon the West German government to counteract
such statements.

'The Survivors': Muhien Encourages German Conciliation

Norbert Muhien, a native of Germany who fled from the
Hitler terror, now an American citizen, author of many books
and articles in leading magazines, has made a serious effort
to prove that the Jews in Germany are slowly becoming a part
of a reconciliation movement, that more Jews have settled—
some being returned in Germany—and that the German-Jewish
tensions have eased.
He presents his report on the current status of the Jews
in Germany in his new book, "The Survivors," published by
Thomas Y. Crowell Co. (201 Park Ave. S., NY3).
While Jews at the outset were inclined to stay out of
Germany, Muhien makes much of figures he has compiled to
show that there is a change of heart, that some 40,000 Jews
now live in Germany—although only about 28,000 are officially
registered as members of German Jewish communities.
He states that while in 1952 37 per cent of the Germans,
replying to a poll, asserted affirmatively that "it would be
better for Germany not to have any Jews in the country, this
group dropped to 26 Der cent in 1956 and to 22 per cent in 1959.
The changing pattern, as depicted by Muhlen, is confirmed
by prominent leaders of German Jewry, quoted by the author.
There is a feeling of confidence in "the policy of conciliation."
The trio referred to as the "troika" of German Jewish leader-
ship—Dr. Henrik George van Dam, secretary general of the
overall German Jewish community, Heinz Galinski, head of the
Berlin Jewish community, and Karl Marx, editor of the Allge-
meine Wochenzeitung—are referred to as being among the
confident.
Rabbi Zwi Azaria, formerly of Cologne, is among those
quoted, but to this reviewer Dr. Azaria spoke with bitterness
among German reactions to Jews. But Muhlen places emphasis
on the positive. Yet, it should be said to his credit, that he
does give the negative views, his conclusions, however, being in
behalf of a turn for better understanding between Germans and
Jews.
Muhler makes. it a point to show that Jews were among
the molders of genius in Germany and that they still are
needed there. Whether that will lead toward the "conciliation"
he encourages is difficult to foretell.
In his favorable introduction to this book, Dr. Hans Kohn
commends Muhlen's approach to the subject and he makes much
of Muhlen's assertion: "It is still too early to answer the question
of whether or not there will be a Jewish revival in Germany.
Only 15 years after Hitler's fall this return is one of the more
surprising events of our time. Perhaps it is also one of the more
hopeful events of our time."
Indeed, Muhler faces the issue with hope. He points to
incidents in which Germans expressed their sympathy for the
survivors and showed signs of atonement. Yet, it remains to be
proven that Jews would be welcomed in the smallest German
communities without being molested. It is yet to be shown that
very many Germans do not cherish in their hearts an admiration
for the Hitler genius. Also: in view of the fact that most of the
Jews now in Germany—except for the large influx of business-
making Israeli Jews—are older than 50, and in consideration of
the figures given of a large percentage of intermarriages, what
hope is there for a large Jewish community in Germany?
Muhler is sincere. He is factual. He has gathered valuable
facts. He does not convince completely. It may take more than
a single generation to effect "conciliation," and it is questionable
whether a large Jewish community will be re-established in
Germany in our time. On this point this reviewer must differ
with Muhlen whose book, "The Survivors," is such a courageous
effort to encourage good German-Jewish relations.

(Continued from Page 1)
to human dignity and free-
dom."
An item on this year's General
Assembly agenda, calling for a
debate on "manifestations of ra-
cial prejudice and national and
religious intolerance" is sched-
uled to come up for discussion
this week before the Assembly's
Social, Cultural and Humanitari-
ar Committee. Israel is expected
to play a major role in that de-
bate. Israel, however, is not a
member of the Social Commis-
sion.
*
NEW YORK, (JTA) — For
the second time during the cur-
rent holiday season, a brick
was thrown Friday night
through a window of the Mos-
cow Central Synagogue, ac-
cording to a dispatch to the
New York Herald Tribune
from David Miller, one of the
newspaper's correspondents in
the Soviet capital. A similar
occurrence had taken place at
the synagogue on the eve of
Rosh Hashanah, but, at that
time, services had not yet
begun.
The latest desecration, which
endangered Israel's Ambassador
in Moscow, Yosef Tekoah, oc-
curred during the mass singing
and dancing in the house of
worship where Simchat Torah
was being observed, Miller re-

ported.

The newsman was standing
next to Tekoah, in a special en-
closure in the synagogue set
aside for the Israeli diplomatic
mission, when the brick flew
through the window, showering
a number of persons with glass
splinters. The synagogue, at the
time, was crowded with thou-
sands of Jews, Miller reported,
while thousands of other Jews
milled about in the street out-
side.
No one was injured in Friday
night's attack, according to Mil-
ler. After a brief, shocked si-
lence, he reported, the congre-
gation inside, as well as the
many Jews packed into the street
outside, continued singing and
dancing. The celebration was led
by Moscow's Chief Rabbi Yehuda
Leib Levin. Miller noted that it
was "significant" that many of
the celebrants were young
people.
The Synagogue is in the center
of Moscow, only about a half
mile from Red Square where
there are always heavy concen-
trations of militia. Police are
also usually massed in Moscow
wherever many people are con-
gregated. Miller reported no ar-
rests or any other police action.
* * *
WASHINGTON, (J T A) —
The Congress for Jewish Cul-
ture transmitted to Soviet Am-
bassador Anatoli Dobrynin
here this week an appeal urg-
ing the Soviet government to
"revoke the de facto prohibi-
tion of Jewish cultural and
communal life."
The Congress requested that
the USSR permit Soviet Jews to
re-establish cultural contacts with
Jews outside Russia; publicly re-
habilitate the Jewish intellectu-
als who were executed 10 years
ago and punish those responsible
for the deaths; and permit Soviet
Jews wishing to emigrate to do

SO.

Navy Probes Ban on Jewish Sailors

WASHINGTON, (JTA)—The
Department of the Navy made
known that it has initiated "a
full investigation" of reported
Sixth Fleet regulations barring
Jewish personnel from shore
liberty privileges in the Arab
port of Beirut, Lebanon.
This was revealed to Rep.
Seymour Halpern, New York
Republican, by Captain F. M.
Lloyd, Deputy Chief of Navy
Information.

congressman that "we have
asked the Commander-in-Chief,
U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, to
provide complete information
with regard to your recent com-
munication concerning shore
privileges for Jewish Naval per-
sonnel in Lebanon.
"We have been assured that
no regulation exists which re-
stricts the right of any group of
U.S. Naval personnel from shore
liberty in the Beirut area; how-
ever a full investigation of any

caused complaint has been re-

quested."

The congressman's protest to
the Navy followed persistent
reports that the Sixth Fleet pub-
lished orders for guidance of its
ships, pertaining to restriction
of Jewish personnel from shore
privileges in Arab ports.
A question existed whether
Washington had been officially
advised on the steps taken by
the Sixth Fleet to comply with
Arab anti-Jewish blockade re-

