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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JULY 20, 1984
In the Soviet occupation zone, later known as the German Democra
tic Republic, a completely different process took place. The
Germans there exchanged one totalitarianism for another, going
from National Socialism to International Socialism. While racism
was discredited in this part of Germany, nationalism was not....
Obedience, cooperation, patriotism, discipline--the Teutonic
virtues that had served the Nazis so well--were now writ large.
What about national reunion? The GDR has made its terms very
simple: It can take place any time. All the Federal Republic has
to do is submit to the GDR, which, after all, is the more "pro
gressive" of the two. And if the Poles continue to misbehave, a
good slice of their western gains from 1945 could be given either
to the "national" GDR or to a reunified Germany. The trump cards
are all in Moscow's hands.
In previous years, West Germans with strong national feelings-
there is nothing wrong with them intrinsically, is there?--might
have frowned on such an offer. The GDR, while cultivating cer
tain German traits that were of use to it, had neglected--indeed
rejected--German history.
But now things are changing and
changing quite rapidly. � year � the greatest surprise,
the rehabilitation of Martin Luther, who� in
_!}2
way�� of
the Left.... Today, even Bismarck is no longer regarded as a
monster in East Berlin (he is, after all, the father of the
modern welfare state). However, this does not mean the GDR is
being converted to anything like a free-market economy, or to the
ideals of personal liberty, freedom of speech, or a free press.
Germany (more correctly: the Germanies) has always suffered from
divisions, which were geographical, tribal, historical, and reli
gious in character. Only since 1949 have we had a country called
Germany (Deutschland), and only since 1871 had there been a
German Empire (Deutsches Reich). Between 1815 and 1866 there was
the German League and before 1806 the Holy Roman Empire. Prior
to the rise of the Nazis there was no German citizenship; there
were Bavarian ministers in Berlin and Saxon ministers in Munich,
and so forth. Up to 1920, Bavaria had its own postage stamps.
But for all this, there was--and still is--a German national
feeling. Whoever has seen the ghastly walls between the two Ger
manies will realize what reunification would mean to the Germans.
Herein lies the potency of the message the GDR is subtly sending
to the West. It suggests� east of the walls and� death
strips, German national feeling is vigorously alive. Could�
the GDR, the message goe � , 2rov-ide all those . nice Germans s � f
fering under the capitalist� government with the� t�ing
that Hitler proved unable to give them: genuine National Social
ism?
Next, another development has occurred to show that the process of "Euro
peanization" continues to grow. Five nations in Europe have agreed to
build a new fighter plane for the 1990s. American airplane companies will
not be involved in the project at all. Here is a report from the July 11
NEW YORK TIMES: