Swing (Jan-Dec 1945)

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^1 The J4uman l^ature of the Enemy "Our Hitler is a simple man of the people" said a German farmer, typical of many who made up the National Socialist Party. Chicago University's "Human Adventure" analyzes the enemy as individuals, and tells the human story that lies hack of many inhumanities. W HAT is the nature of the enemy? Faced with the job of analyzing the profound historical, economical and sociological forces involved in this question, "The Human Adventure" came through with two outstanding dramatic programs. The first was "The Hitler Story," dealing with the Nazi foe, and the second was an equally interesting program about the Nipponese enemy titled "Suye Mura." "The Hitler Story," revealing how Der Fuehrer came into power, was based on the study of a Columbia University professor, Theodore Abel, who collected the original life stories of 600 Nazis. Professor Abel gathered his facts by advertising for them in German newspapers in 1934; and his device was a prize of 400 marks for the best personal stories of adherents of the Hitler movement. On "The Human Adventure" Professor Abel's findings became a series of dramatic sketches, starting in the year 1918 with a victory parade at the famous Brandenburg Gate, traditional setting for the celebration of German victories. The Armistice had been signed and the Alhes were claiming themselves the winners. But here, the dramatization revealed, the Germans — ^with weapons in hand, heels slamming down to a Prussian cadence, heads held high — they too were holding a victory parade. For in 1918, as unbelievable as it may seem, the Germans also considered themselves the victors. The program went on to illustrate how the idea that Germany was not defeated in the field of battle was nurtured and how the treason — or "stab-in-the-back" — theory was invented and became an effective propaganda slogan. Then in stirring dramatic passages a bank clerk, a soldier, a farmer, a party worker and others told their own human stories of why they joined the National Socialist Party. "As I hstened," a German worker revealed, commenting upon a Goebbel's speech, "I knew it was a hallowed act to give up one's life for Germany. I was politically reborn." "The scales fell from eyes," said a gardener's son after attending a meeting of the Anti-Semitic Schutz-undTrutsbund. "So this was the explanation," he continued. "This was the