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But Russell did not write his book in order to draw attention to the plight of the Jews. His overriding concern was for the German people. In the three years since his arrival as a student in Germany, Russell’s liking for ordinary Germans had grown in direct proportion to his hatred of the regime under which they lived. He foresaw that Germany would lose the war and feared that retribution would not be confined to avowed Nazis, perhaps two million out of a population of 70 million. Most Germans, Russell found, were indifferent to National Socialism. They believed that, with one exception, the leadership ‘are in the Nazi racket for what they can get out of it’. The exception was Hitler himself, whom Russell often heard referred to as ‘the only real National Socialist’.
In stark contrast to the frenzied jubilation which erupted in Germany at the start of the first world war, the streets of Russell’s Berlin were eerily quiet when Hitler proclaimed war on Poland. There was a short moment of open rejoicing on the news (60-70 per cent of Berliners listened to foreign radio, mainly through headphones) of Chamberlain’s resignation, which was farcially mistaken as a precursor to peace. Draconian rationing had already been imposed on the cowed, sullen populace, many of whose anti-leadership jokes are recorded by Russell. A typical one asks, what is the difference between Germany and India? In India one man starves for everybody, in Germany everybody starves for one man.
Above all, Russell depicts a people who lived in fear. A single Nazi spy in his apartment block was enough to keep every other occupant in constant dread of a visit from the secret police. The situation in the countryside was different. People were more open and less afraid to speak out. Prosperous peasant farmers were the least affected by and least interested in National Socialism of all Germans, even if their sons, drafted into the Hitler Youth from the age of four, in the words of one farmer, ‘knew no better’.
Before arriving in Germany in 1937, Russell had read the reports in American newspapers of a militarily weak, bankrupt country on the verge of revolution. What he found was a well-housed population living in clean cities, working night and day to prepare for war. It was clear to Russell that there would be no general uprising — ‘They have nothing to revolt with and nothing to revolt for’ — and that the people would march behind their leaders into the abyss of total war, if not as good Nazis, then as good Germans.
Berlin Embassy bears testimony to our capacity for self-delusion. Its relevance remains undiminished.
Elliott & Thomson, 27 John Street, London WC 1N 2LL
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