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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 14, No. 6. June 7, 1951

Two Roads

Two Roads

And how fare the German people through all this?

Burchett draws an excellent contrast between the economics of Eastern and Western zones in his chapters on land reform.

In conversation with Baron Siegfried von Cramm in his schloss outside Hanover, Burchett asked about his people.

"Baron Siegfried went to the window and pointed out with his whip. What we have to teach these peasants,' he said with a sweep of his whip, 'is democracy. Real democracy. Cleanliness, discipline, hard work, Christianity and loyalty. Our villagers are good, loyal and hardworking, but even they are being infected by this loathsome poison which comes from the other side of the frontier. Demanding land for themselves! As if they would know how to work it even if they did get it! It would go to waste and ruin just as it does in the Soviet Zone." (p. 65.)

At Potsdam in 1915, the USSR and the Western Powers framed a joint policy for the peace of Europe. It has not worked out in practice, for, Davidson tells us, "The Western allies .... desired a different kind of Germany from the Germany foreseen at Yalta and Potsdam." (p. 45). Although "the Russians threw their energies into securing the unification of Germany on the lines of Potsdam." (p. 59). He lists the Nazis who have resumed high office in Western Germany. "Denazification rapidly degenerated into a farce and a scandal." (p. 188).