Volk und Fuhrer

Abstract

Volk (people) and Gemeinschaft (communion) and their many compounds occur with increasing frequency in language of Third Reich. We read not only familiar words, Volkslied, and Volkstum, but many neologisms like volkhaft, vlkisch, and so on, that are to be found only in very latest German dictionaries, or not at all.' Volk no longer means only common people, or even humanity at large, but above all political community. Das Deutsche Volk is supreme Nordic nation. The term Gemeinschaft in Nazi sense means fellowship, co6peration, and solidarity of German community; Volksgemeinschaft, or community of people, is felt to be more vital than Gemeinschaft der Heiligen, the communion of saints of Apostles' Creed. Stress on Volk is not original, of course, with Nazi. Since 1900, Regional Art (Heimatkunst) and Youth Movement have made much of comradeship, folk-life, and love of nature. Herder in eighteenth century first stressed importance of common people in literature of a nation as opposed to conventional writers. He invented term Volkslied, which has been anglicized as folksong. Under his inspiration Goethe grew interested in German folksongs, dropped his imitating of French forms and became Germany's most original lyric poet. But Volk of Herder is not Volk of Nazi. The Fiihrer and his satellites use word insidiously in a political double sense, now as common people, now as unique German race and nation. For Hitler is not merely Reichsfilhrer. He is Filhrer des Volkes. The average German, accustomed by tradition to a paternalistic government, is doubtless heartened by Hitler's intimate greeting to him and his fellows as Mein Volk; he is expected to feel that he is an integral part of Volksstaat. The old aristocracy and pedantry are thought to be banished forever. Hitler himself, a man of people, without university training, is doubtless sincere in his effort to make a People's government. He looks on specialized study with suspicion and requires that all prospective university students