From our Telegram post at “Beorn And The Shieldmaiden”.

During the Great Patriotic War, Soviet writer and war correspondent, Ilya Ehrenburg, wrote for newspapers and Red Army outlets. After the war some of his articles were published in the book “War”.

His words are among the strongest and most precise as to the description and exposure of the dehumanised mindset of the ‘Aryan master race’, and his articles bear testimony to the true nature of fascist versus socialist societies and people. In this article, the topic is Soul.

The article “The Soul of the People” was initially published in “Red Star” No. 92, April 19, 1942

The Soul of the People

– by Ilya Ehrenburg

The [Nazi German] newspaper “Angriff” (Attack) of April 2, [1942], published the thoughts of Oberleutnant Gotthagdt, entitled “A people without a soul”. The Oberleutnant spent several months in the captured regions of Russia, and he did not like our people. He writes:

“The fact that there is no laughter here can be explained by a disaster, but the absence of tears is terrifying. Everywhere and always we observe stubborn indifference even before death. People remain indifferent not only when their comrades die, but also when it comes to their own lives. One was sentenced to death. He indifferently smoked a cigarette..

Isn’t it terrible? Where do these people get the strength to stubbornly defend themselves, to constantly attack? It’s a mystery to me.”

With what pride we read the confessions of the German officer! Maybe he thought that our girls would smile at the Germans? They turn away. And the German looks for an explanation – why don’t the Russians laugh?

He answers himself: it is hard to laugh among the gallows. But here the girl is led to the gallows, and she does not cry, her eyes are dry and stern. The lieutenant thought that she would cry. He counted on the executioners enjoying her fear, her weakness, her tears.
Continue reading →