GERMAN LABOUR CAMPS [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—With
reference to the article " Are the German Labour Camps Militaristic?" which appeared in The Spectator on November 2nd, I would like to draw the attention of your readers to the following points. Although I do not doubt that the writer of the article tried to give a true picture of his own experiences, I would like to say that his conclusions do not represent the idea of the German Labour Service. His statement of " grave accusation of militarism on the ideological side " concerning the instructions in the German Labour Camps is like all generalizations bound to lead to misinterpretation. It should be realized that, while it has to be considered that the way in which instructions are given always depends on the personality of the instructor, the underlying ideas which led to the introduction of the Labour Service and thereby to the educational instructions (which play a much greater part during winter than summer) are of quite a different nature than it appears from this article. It is a new conception of a social responsibility which makes the German youth join the Labour Service, a new con- ception of Labour as an honour, and therefore a readiness to do practical work not for private profit but for the benefit of the whole community.
With regard to the position of the officers I would like to state that whereas a formal discipline is exercised when on parade the spirit of " Arbeitskameradschaft " prevails gener- ally. The familiar form of " Du " (thou) is always used instead of " you," the officers up to the " Truppenfuehrer live in the same room as the men and all officers and trainees have the same food. In addressing an officer the form of " Herr " otherwise so familiar in Germany is never used, one would simply say Truppfuehrer," &c.
In the official curriculum, which is intended to advise, the instructors of the subject of their instructions the chief attention is drawn to the education of the young industrial workers to a new love to the soil and the value of the agri- cultural life in order to encourage land settlement ; further' more to the cultural and political history of Germany and of the particular part in which they live to awaken their knowledge and affection to their home county. This is fostered by excursions and visits to museums and places of culturUl interest:—Yours faithfully, H. SCHIRMER.
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