The White Paper which has just been published containing secret German documents seized during the daring British raid en Lofoten Island off the Norwegian coast, clearly shows that as in other occupied countries the Germans are by no means having Fappy time. It is stated that the principal gent in setting up Germany's "new order"
—the army,—was expected to ingratiate itself with the population, but if the latter should show resistance then the military must strike "ruthlessly and with the severest measures." It is the old story. If the oppressed people cannot find it in their hearts to love their oppressors. affection is to be induced by further exhibitions of brutality. But it simply does not work. With treachery, cruelty, and the sternest suppression the Germans are endeavouring to bend the peoples of the occupied countries to their will. They are not succeeding. There is throughout Norway the expression of active Norwegian opposition to be noted. General von Falkenhorst, Nazi Commander-in-chief in Norway. himself describes how the attitude of Norway has "stiffened against our endeavour."
The fact is that the Nazi at any time is a remarkably unlovable character. When he occupies the róle of a temporary conqueror he demonstrates his complete uncouthness, and the people of Norway hold him in the disdain he deserves. That. fortunately is getting through his remarkably pachydermat ous hide not only in Nor but in Holland, Belgium, France and other occupied countries: Quite one of the most joyous quotations from the White Book is to the effect that German instructions to the military for collaboration with the Gestapo in securing the reluctant affections of the Norwegian is to the effect that fortune-tellers and sectarians who "seriously insult" der Führer are to be arrested. What was to become of them after that is not made clear. Nor does it matter at the moment, for the real question is whether it is possible to insult Hitler whether seriously or not. The answer seems to be that it is not. He has done that for himself so completely that there no possible spot for another insult to stick.
From Holland it is reported that the German soldiers stationed there are dispirited and disillusioned. The Hollander's use of the weapons of ridicule and contempt, together with a very manifest faith in ultimate victory for the Allies, results in the German soldier writhing in the róle of outcast instead of basking as conqueror. In Belgium the same story is told, while it is known that even in occupied France the British are still receiving valuable a ce from the loyal French who loathe the Hun and all his works.
Goose-stepping before assembled thousands of enthusiastic fellow-countrymen is a sheer delight to the average German soldier, but when it comes to living in territories the populations of which regard him with the utmost scorn, the story is entirely a different one. It is reported that the Nazis captured in northern Africa regard their Italian brothers-in-arms with the greatest contempt. The Italians on the other hand look on them with complete dislike. But in the occupied countries the German inferiority complex is demonstrated by their endeavours to force the people to be friendly and attempts to ingratiate themselves into their affections.
There is betrayed the stupidity of the Nazi It is difficult to understand how they can possibly believe that, having wreaked all the slaughter and damage upon the occupied countries that the malevolence of their imaginations could devise, they can ever expect those they are oppressing to have in their hearts for them anything but contempt. Hitler in seeking to build a greater Reich with hideous brutality has brought down upon the heads of the German people the contemptuous hatred of millions of people, people who are merely awaiting the arrival of that moment when they may take revenge for all the evil that has been dealt out to them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.