Mein Kampf
ing some attitude toward certain things which affected the whole nation, but concerned us soldiers particularly.
At that time there were two things which annoyed me, and which I thought harmful.
After the very first report of victory a certain section of the press began slowly, and to many people at first perhaps unnoticeably, to sprinkle a few drops of gall into the general enthusiasm. This was done behind a false front of benevolence and good intentions, and of a certain solicitude, in fact. They had misgivings against too-great extravagance in celebrating victories. They feared that in its present form it was unworthy of a great nation, and thus out of place. The bravery and heroism of the German soldier were to be taken for granted, so they should not give rise to unconsidered outbursts of joy—if for no other reason, then on account of foreign countries, which would find quiet and dignified rejoicing more attractive than unrestrained exultation, etc. And finally we Germans even now should not forget that the war was not our intention, and that we need not be ashamed to admit openly and like men that we were ready at any time to do our share in the reconciliation of mankind. It was therefore not wise to besmirch the purity of the army’s deeds by too much shouting, because the rest of the world would have little sympathy for such behavior. Nothing was more admired than the modesty with which a true hero serenely and silently—forgot his deeds; for that was what it all amounted to. Instead of dragging such fellows by their long ears to a lamppost, and running them up on a rope, so that the rejoicing nation should no longer offend the æsthetic sense of the knights of the ink-well, people actually began to issue warnings against the “unsuitable” character of the victory jubilation.
They never dreamed that once the enthusiasm was broken off it could not be reawakened at need. It is a state of intoxication, and must be so maintained. Without this sort of enthusiasm, how was a struggle to be endured which in all human probability would make the most enormous demands upon the spiritual qualities of the nation?
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