GERMANY: Say Yes to War

The newspaper of Hitler’s Elite Guard, Das Schwarze Korps, testified in a full-page editorial to a drastic change of heart among traditionally war-worshiping Germans. Pictures of somber, tight-lipped German soldiers illustrated Das Schwarze Korps’ exhortation:

“In War’s fifth year it will be difficult for many to say ‘yes.’ They will have a weak moment and will long for peace and haven. There is hardly anyone in Germany who does not hate war, and the time when men fled from misery and hunger to the better and more exciting soldiering life is past. Peace gave us bread and honest advancement. We have no reason to love war and we don’t fight with the dizzy enthusiasm shown in 1870 and 1914. We love our work and know that war is a roaring cataract between us and our future. We hate it because it steals precious years, banishes our life aims to an unknown future and upsets all our plans. But because of this hate we must say yes to it. … Our enemies can hardly even attempt to demand this ‘yes’ to war from their people. Yet the word embodies . . . Victory. . . .”