534
PARTISAN REVIEW
such documents appeared immediately after Hitler's coming to
power, it has been believed by many Germans that they are all pure
sensation-mongering. Also it must be supposed that the majority of
German soldiers who could contribute factual proof against the war
criminals are either dead or prisoners of war; again, that a not in–
considerable number of them dare not speak.
The question arises as to how far the exposure of war crimes is
to remain solely the business of Germany's conquerors or to what extent
it can be made a basis for the enlightenment of all men. It is Ger–
many's task too and she must today take her stand and demand for
herself and other nations a clarification of the facts of the case,
taking into account the past events of German history and all that
lies behind us. The roots of the crimes which are now the subject of
summary judgment lie in those ideas of power that appeared in the
nineteenth century, .and then not, to be sure, in Germany alone.
These we cannot discuss here. The question which seems far more
serious is whether by discussion of this theme we become guilty of
a breach of solidarity, a solidarity that just now has become a most
urgent necessity among the German people; a feeling of common
unity and a common front are surely a pressing national need. Upon
this point people are divided, for it is indeed not an easy one to grasp;
but is it really necessary to show that a nation does not renew itself
by means of a false feeling of solidarity, but only through a humanist
and Christian consciousness of duty?
It
ought to be clear enough
to everyone, that Germany today possesses no other weapons than
those of the spirit and the mind. All her material possessions, including
a fantastically great war machine, are lost. Above all, Germany can
only go on existing and develop in herself the power to make history
through self-renewal.
Thus if a German should be called on to bear witness, he will
not be fouling
his
nest but cleaning it. His testimony will become a
profession of responsibility toward .all. Only in this way can a man
permit himself to probe the wound. Thus, simply to prevent a false
historical legend from arising and to pave the way for future co–
operation with all nations, it is nece...c;sary to break the silence and allow
the facts to become known.
II
After these fundamental inquiries another question arises which
must be clarified before we can approach our theme: namely, how
