Page 12 - C.A.L.L. #33 - Winter 2010/2011

KALEIDOSCOPE
The Communitarian Scene from all Over and Under
Compiled (and partly translated) by Joel Dorkam

Witnessing the next, imminent global conflict looming ominously
over the Near and Far Eastern political horizon, I felt bound to ask
myself – and not just as a purely rhetorical question, but rather a
very realistic, rational one – where do we stand and what should I
do as an Israeli Jew, a kibbutznik and incidentally also as a human
being - if I happen to find myself caught in the middle of a fight which is not mine and I
would be obliged to take a stand on either side?

For some people this is mainly a question of theology or at best of faith, any faith, be it
religious or secular or philosophical or whatever, provided only that you belong to that very
rare species who practice what they believe, even under extreme circumstances. This brings
to my mind a discussion between some Jewish Israeli Kibbutz members of the Urfeld Circle
and a few of our German Catholic partners from the Integrierte Gemeinde, whom we
consider as the liberal wing of Christianity. One of their priests, who are a special breed by
themselves, a smart, well educated, open minded person frankly admitted that his father had
been a ranking commander in the notorious SS-troops. "I once asked my father, whether he
had taken any part in the horrendous persecutions of German Jews. He denied it, but I didn't
believe him. By the way, at wars end he became a teacher in our local school. I tried to have
him dismissed, but that was hopeless. There wasn't much choice: after the end of WW2, when
Germany laid in ruins (a fact which is hardly ever mentioned in German school-books or in
class…) and the municipalities had to reconstitute some kind of half-normal life, there were
few teachers, judges and physicians, not to mention civil servants and policemen - available,
who hadn't been actively involved, or at least had collaborated, with the Nazi authorities. I
frequently had to ask myself, how would I have reacted under similar circumstances, when
just a few words of dissent could have constituted a death warrant?"
This unexpected statement left me somewhat dismayed, until I happened to get hold of the
latest "Plough", (no. 53 of Autumn 2010) from what used to be the Bruderhof, recently
renamed "Church Communities International". There it was, right under my eyes - part of
the answer to my musings, in several variations: from the life story of the late Siegfried
Ellwanger, beginning with his enrollment into the "Hitler Youth", through his draft into the
army, his assignment first to the eastern and later to the western front where he was captured
and held as a POW. But let us go back to the beginning:

Like millions of Germans of his generation, Siegfried joined the junior branch of the Hitler Youth at
ten, and thrived in the atmosphere of camaraderie and community he found there.

We would march in uniform, sporting banners, fanfares, and drums; there were camping
holidays, solstice celebrations, torchlight processions, and tests of courage. Our slogans – one
for all, and all for one, and service before self – filled us with enthusiasm. We learned about
our Fuhrer and his plans for a wonderful new Germany. Patriotic films shook us to the depths
of our young souls. We were taught to be utterly devoted to the Fatherland; ready to die for
it, proud and laughing. Could there possibly be anything greater?

Nazism’s sinister aspects lurked in the shadows. Jewish classmates disappeared, as did the family’s
Jewish doctor. But the official explanations satisfied him, as they did most young people: “We were
told they had moved abroad, or gone to work in labor camps”. In any case, such uncomfortable issues
were sidelined by more pressing ones: inflation, mass unemployment, and political instability – and
Hitler’s promises to solve them decisively.

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