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W. Earl Hall World War II stories, 1944

1944-08-28 Letter #15

slug-Londoners Not_4
W. EARL HALL
Globe-Gazette Managing Editor
Letter No. 15
London--(Air Mail)--A peace dictated by the rank and file Londoner today would be a peace based pretty much on the revenge motive. He's suffered under the blitz bomb of 1940 and under the even more devilish if not more destructive robot bomb of 1944. He's just in no mood to be merciful.
You gain this very difinite impression by stepping up to natives at random and putting the question: "What do you think should be done to Germany after the war?"
One typical answer, from a hotel maid:
"What would I do with the Germans?" she repeated in strong Cockney accent. "I'd exterminate them. I'd wipe them out. Yes, I mean exactly that. I would kill every bloody one of them--even the children for they'll grow up to be bloody nazis."
Her mother had been killed in the blitz, her home had been smashed and her husband had been badly wounded in France. The question wasn't academic with her. Her strong feeling was understandable.
From a policeman stationed near Charing Cross came this something more temperate viewpoint:
"I have lost 3 sons in this war and surely I don't want no more war. I don't know what we should do with the Germans. Exterminate them? No, that isn't the way. But we must see that they're never allowed to start another war, no matter what the effort or the cost."
Bitterness flared again in a young woman employed as a clerk:
"I hope the Russians reach Berlin first," she said. "They will be rough on the Germans and I'm afraid the British and the Americans would be too humane. It's just a case of the world having too many Germans."
To draw her out further, I suggested that this was a pretty extreme view.
"You say extreme," she replied. "You have been in America. You're a long way from the bombing. I don't think you can understand what we've gone through here without experiencing it..
"My father came back from the other war with gas in his lungs. I saw him die in our home in Scotland. And what I've seen since I came to London! Let me tell you.
"I saw a German flier, not more than 80 feet above ground, turn his machine gun on children playing in a school yard. He killed 50 of them. He knew they were children and he knew what he was doing. And you say I am extreme."
Then from a culture gentleman, a typical British business man:
"I have no softness in my heart for the Germans--not just their leaders but the Germans themselves. But common sense tells me we must work out a plan. Germany is just too important a nation to be exterminated. To do that we'd be following the Hitler pattern. That isn't the kind of world we want to live in."
Next an elderly woman, the wife of a clergyman:
"I was in a room on the 8th floor of this hotel when a bomb struck. Two others in the room with me were killed. I was hurt but not seriously. So you see, it isn't easy for me to practice the Christian virtues covering the treatment of those who 'despitefully use us.'
Last a medical doctor, born in Philadelphia but reared and educated here:
"My wife was killed by a buzz bomb in our garden. I'm won my way now to work on the wreckage of my home. I have a son in Normandy. I ought to hate the Germans. I have every good reason. But my hatred of the Germans is transcended by far by my hatred of war.
"My memorial to my wife, I have highly resolved, is to spend the remaining years of my life trying to do something about banishing the institution of war from the face of the earth. Bitterness and vengeance won't accomplish that. They aren't even in the right direction."
--30--

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slug-Londoners Not_4 W. EARL HALL Globe-Gazette Managing Editor Letter No. 15 London--(Air Mail)--A peace dictated by the rank and file Londoner today would be a peace based pretty much on the revenge motive. He's suffered under the blitz bomb of 1940 and under the even more devilish if not more destructive robot bomb of 1944. He's just in no mood to be merciful. You gain this very difinite impression by stepping up to natives at random and putting the question: "What do you think should be done to Germany after the war?" One typical answer, from a hotel maid: "What would I do with the Germans?" she repeated in strong Cockney accent. "I'd exterminate them. I'd wipe them out. Yes, I mean exactly that. I would kill every bloody one of them--even the children for they'll grow up to be bloody nazis." Her mother had been killed in the blitz, her home had been smashed and her husband had been badly wounded in France. The question wasn't academic with her. Her strong feeling was understandable. From a policeman stationed near Charing Cross came this something more temperate viewpoint: "I have lost 3 sons in this war and surely I don't want no more war. I don't know what we should do with the Germans. Exterminate them? No, that isn't the way. But we must see that they're never allowed to start another war, no matter what the effort or the cost." Bitterness flared again in a young woman employed as a clerk: "I hope the Russians reach Berlin first," she said. "They will be rough on the Germans and I'm afraid the British and the Americans would be too humane. It's just a case of the world having too many Germans." To draw her out further, I suggested that this was a pretty extreme view. "You say extreme," she replied. "You have been in America. You're a long way from the bombing. I don't think you can understand what we've gone through here without experiencing it.. "My father came back from the other war with gas in his lungs. I saw him die in our home in Scotland. And what I've seen since I came to London! Let me tell you. "I saw a German flier, not more than 80 feet above ground, turn his machine gun on children playing in a school yard. He killed 50 of them. He knew they were children and he knew what he was doing. And you say I am extreme." Then from a culture gentleman, a typical British business man: "I have no softness in my heart for the Germans--not just their leaders but the Germans themselves. But common sense tells me we must work out a plan. Germany is just too important a nation to be exterminated. To do that we'd be following the Hitler pattern. That isn't the kind of world we want to live in." Next an elderly woman, the wife of a clergyman: "I was in a room on the 8th floor of this hotel when a bomb struck. Two others in the room with me were killed. I was hurt but not seriously. So you see, it isn't easy for me to practice the Christian virtues covering the treatment of those who 'despitefully use us.' Last a medical doctor, born in Philadelphia but reared and educated here: "My wife was killed by a buzz bomb in our garden. I'm won my way now to work on the wreckage of my home. I have a son in Normandy. I ought to hate the Germans. I have every good reason. But my hatred of the Germans is transcended by far by my hatred of war. "My memorial to my wife, I have highly resolved, is to spend the remaining years of my life trying to do something about banishing the institution of war from the face of the earth. Bitterness and vengeance won't accomplish that. They aren't even in the right direction." --30--