Will the Germans be happy under Hitler? Today millions of Germans are more than happy, they are ecstatic. They feel that they have had a moral and spiritual awaking.
Watch them as the Nazis match down the Berlin streets, with the military band playing a stirring march. In the eyes of the Brownshirts and of the spectators there shines an almost religious joy. Note the excitement of the children as they see the bright banners and admire their brothers in arms. See how the old folk smile, and say: “Germany is saved. We have hope again. Youth has been awakened.”
Go to a Hitler meeting and you will see more than happiness. You will feel the electric tenseness of a religious revival. You will see thousands of people swept by a primitive passion.
I stood upon the platform, a few feet from Hitler, as he addressed 25,000 people in Frankfurt-on-Main. Never have I known such ecstasy, such emotion as pervaded that vast hall. He seemed to hypnotise the crowd and they went mad with nationalism, mad with love of their leader, mad with hatred of all those who disagreed with him, mad with the beating of the drums and with the blaring of the trumpets.
They fixed their eyes upon Hitler, and whenever he finished a sentence, they would roar for minutes without stopping. When the speech came to an end, 25,000 people leapt to their feet, 25,000 hands were outstretched, and 25,000 voices shouted again and again: “Heil Hitler!”
Crowds are notorious for being carried away by oratory. What of private individuals? The families with which I stay in Germany are all happy over the advent of Hitler.
God this sounds so familar these days. – SK