Letter to the Daily Telegraph.

2 page typed letter with extensive manuscript additions and corrections, signed by Williamson. Henry Williamson saw in Germany only what he wanted to see, soaking up the propaganda that he had witnessed at first hand when invited to visit the country in 1935. Here he takes issue with a letter to the Telegraph from Beverley Baxter M.P. that Germany’s resources had been directed towards the preparation for war. His view was that “The Germans want peace; they know what war is. And their Leader is one of the few pacifists in Europe today.” “Herr Hitler has stopped sensationalism and news-stunts and ill-mannered mis-truths in the German press, declaring that such things are part of war-mentality. (Soldiers don’t make war; it is irritable civilians who do that).” “I would like to see Mr. Beverley Baxter, who has plenty of talent and humour, turn himself into a pacificiast (sic); and stop ‘picking on’ German, and any other country; and thus truly serve England and her people.” Williamson remained unapologetic about his views. Talking to Roy Plumley on Desert Island Discs in 1969 he merely said “that he had not then been wise enough to know that “a man of tremendous artistic feeling should never be in charge of a nation.” The nearest he came to acknowledging a Nazi crime was when he remarked that Hitler had been a perfectionist “and once you begin to force perfectionism on other people you become the devil.””

Product Info

Publisher: c. 1938.

Type: Used

Binding: Softcover

Seller Info

MichaelKempBookseller

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Country: United Kingdom