LIFE IN A TOTALITARIAN SOCIETY

The following is a personal description of events in Germany after the Nazis came to power:

Democracy in Germany did not immediately vanish after Hitler was made chancellor in 1933. It disappeared at first slowly, and then at an increasingly faster pace. By 1934 it had completely disappeared. "What happened was like a cancer," a German newspaper editor said. "The onset of the Nazi era was painless since there were so few symptoms that our freedoms were being eroded. Only those immediately affected by seemingly arbitrary orders noticed what was happening. The rest of us refused to acknowledge what was actually happening."

At first newspapers closed, magazines ceased publication, and modern art galleries were padlocked. These closings were attributed to so-called "spontaneous" demonstrations of outraged citizens against "un-German" ideas. A little later all means of mass communication were simply controlled by orders of the state. Newspapers were denied publication rights, books were confiscated, certain commentators were no longer heard on radio, and political humor was banned. Most Germans accepted the official explanation that books had to be censored and "cleansed of pornography' to uplift the morals of German youth, that newspapers had to be stopped from printing "slanderous untruths about their government."

All of us who went to school began to notice that the contents of the textbooks we read were changing. Certain authors were banned entirely while some teachers lost their jobs because they were Jewish or were critical of the changes. If a student asked questions, it was made clear that such an "unreasonable" attitude might affect the kind of recommendation the student would get to a university or for a job.

While all this was happening the constitution under which we lived was never officially changed. Hitler used it to justify decrees that ran counter to both the spirit and the letter of basic German laws. When he was accused of violating the constitution (while such accusations were still possible), he simply said that he understood the constitution better than anyone else.

A few Germans became increasingly unhappy and critical of the government. The Nazis classified these people as "troublemakers." At first these individuals were harassed by the police who would warn them they were "under suspicion by the government." If they persisted with their criticisms they eventually disappeared. At first the disappearances were quite official. For instance, the chief editorial writer for a newspaper in my hometown of Essen was sent to jail for "false and malicious attacks on the government and party." There were a number of such arrests with jail sentences becoming longer and longer. Eventually such public criticism led to a concentration camp or even to the execution of the accused individual. While it might have been possible to protest these arrests in the beginning, it became impossible later as Hitler and his secret police took increasing control over all aspects of German life.

By 1934 people started to disappear with no official explanation being given. Friends and relatives who sought a reason for the arrest were usually given vague answers, "Mr. X has been arrested for his own protection. No, we do not know when he will be allowed to come back." The people who disappeared were usually newspapermen, former government officials, leaders of the old opposition parties, and other prominent civic and religious leaders who might be expected to lead protests against the increasingly repressive measures of the government. The Nazi party was extremely efficient at eliminating those people who might organize others. The bravest and most visible were frequently arrested first. Those with less courage and determination were then likely to heed the warning signals and remain quiet.

The Nazis also used spies to find potential troublemakers. Sometimes an employer, fellow employee, or even a close relative or friend could be a spy. Everyone soon suspected that he or she was being spied on which undermined trust in one's fellow citizens. Speaking out to anyone anywhere, could be dangerous.

By the time Germans realized that government officials had arbitrary power to control life and death, it was too late. Who has the courage to lift his or her voice when doing so meant certain death? A few did and paid with their lives. Most of us remained silent and democracy slipped away.