Planned ‘economy in Thinking’ Only Nazi Achievement-mann

That a planned “Economy in Thinking” is the only kind of achievement the Hitler regime has brought to Germany is the conclusion reached by Heinrich Mann in a symposium on the accomplishments of the Nazis, just published in the Revue des Vivants of Paris.

“As to their original purpose, the establishment of a planned economy in agriculture, industry, and commerce, that part of their program they have completely abandoned,” says the distinguished German exile. “In fact under Nazi rule Germany has reverted to the free trade and free exploitation of labor idea of 100 year ago.

“They have succeeded in regimenting people’s thoughts, so that no one in Germany can say, read, or write, or even think, except what the Nazis permit. But the Nazi economic program has been entirely abandoned. According to the German experience, it is easier to curb the powers of the intellect than the powers of money. Even Jews in high economic posts have not been disturbed. This is even true of the publishing field, where some of the larger publishing houses are still owned by Jews.”

Another accomplishement of the Hitler regime, according to Mann, is that the Germans have ceased to read books and even newspapers. They are too busy being drilled and paraded. And when they do read, the fact that the exiled Thomas Mann’s works are read more than those of the “Fuchrer” and his associates, does not reflect well on Nazi literary achievements and raises the question whether the Nazis have really won over German minds. The only German minds the Nazis have won over, he insists, are those of the “youth under twenty years of age, as the latter, being immature and lacking in critical judgment, are easily swayed by vain promises and colorful phrases.”