Arbeit Macht Frei

One Man's Freedom Is Another Man's Chain

by Roland Kriewaldt

"Arbeit Macht Frei" said the sign over the Nazi concentration camp. It's German for "Work Makes Free" — a psychological ploy to make prisoners believe that freedom can be attained through labour. But those people would be anything but free. Be they a Jew, a Pollock, a homosexual, or an ordinary citizen with contrary views, their freedom of will, movement and choice were being systematically robbed by one of the most sinister movements of human ignorance to ever befall our planet: Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party.

"Deutschland Über Alles" was the slogan of a social dictatorship which deified failed artist and WWI veteran, Adolf Hitler. "Germany over everything," yet most Germans were victims of Nazism, not beneficiaries. Adolf Schickelgrüber, the true name of this ill-spirited man from Austria with Jewish blood, was anything but the ultimate Arian. Yet his own failings flew beneath the radar as he demanded others conform to the characteristics he envisioned for a "master race." In short, besides a gifted speaker and salesman, Adolf Hitler was also a hypocrite and a con man in denial of his own reality.

The tool of his party's rise to power was brutal force and a well-crafted campaign of psychological terrorism to disempower the humanity in the German people. In true political fashion, he blamed an outside agitator as the reason for Germany's internal rot. Hence, the Jew.

Whatever problems Germany had, they were the fault of Jews. But what everyone failed to notice was that the problem was Adolf Hitler himself. Here was an isolated, angry man, a loud, arrogant and intimidating presence whose talent was warping reality to suit his purposes. As a promoter of family values, he was no family man, hating his parents, his past, and keeping his devoted sex slave and suicide companion, Eva Braun, as his mistress rather than marrying her. Neither was he anyone's friend for old film footage shows that even his pet German Shephard dog cowered from him. Hated by many of his peers, his exit began by losing his mind then killing himself to evade capture. All these are signs of a socially inferior being, yet somehow Hitler was the poster boy for a superior "master race" of pure Germans. And he still remains the symbolic hero to those whose passion is organized hatred. But then again, we don't all learn at the same pace...

Hitler drew up plans, but did not work himself; in fact it is said that he was a slacker. He did not build anything but manipulated others into doing his work for him. He did this by having them believe that it was in their best interest — as though the Pyramids were built for the benefit of Egyptian slaves. Yet this was the motivational skill of Hitler, a man who had others do for him what he would never do for himself, or for anyone else. Ironically, this remains a common theme in our world, whether in politics, the work force or within the family. Someone is always working circumstances in their favor through the use of fear and deception.

Ultimately, it was Hitler's own fear-driven ambition and selfish disregard that created the great embarrassment which many older Germans still hastily sweep under their emotional rugs. They act as though that historical monstrosity was a minor event of no real significance. Yet denial always leads us back to the same path, making old mistakes until we use our lessons as stepping stones to fuel our spiritual evolution. Only then will we move toward compassion, understanding, and a love for all things, especially ourselves. That is wisdom. Lashing out at others because we are unhappy within ourselves is the coward's way. We must stop trying to change the world to avoid changing ourselves.

On the opposite end of denial is self-promotion. Many Jews still over-emphasize their role in what was a human tragedy, rather than a strictly Jewish one. This keeps us from seeing the bigger picture: that victims are not necessarily of one race, ethnicity or religious belief but anyone who represents an obstacle to the forces of tyranny. Consider Cambodians, Rwandans and other victims of systematic genocide since Hitler's fall. Guilt and shame, though addictive, don't create understanding and compassion. For victims of tyranny, all share equal status. The tragedy of Nazi Fascism belongs to the world, not strictly to those Jews who suffered in the concentration camps.

Beneath the horror is an ugly truth about Nazi era Germany. People supposedly advanced in intelligence and superior in culture were duped into becoming accessories to mass murder by a con man who had no intention of doing well for anyone but himself. Today, many of us still follow the same cues from our political leaders. All they have to do is promise us the moon in bad times and point their finger at anyone they claim is keeping us from having it. Next thing you know, we're in Iraq. Where to next, mein Führer?

If Hitler had Germany in his heart, he would have stepped down in 1942 when the war was already lost. Instead, he put the people through three more years of terror and self destruction because he didn't want to change his views or his failing plan in order to salvage what remained of his "beloved" country. This was an ego problem, and pride knows no bounds in its desperation to win. At the end of the war, much of Germany was rubble (a contractor's dream).

Instead of results, the people got promises and platitudes. And far too many died or lost their loved ones because of one sad, bitter and hateful man had poisoned the minds of a nation demoralized by a previous attempt at world domination. No small irony there.

Freedom is within everyone's reach, but we won't gain it by stealing it from others, nor by becoming cellmates of those whose hearts and minds are imprisoned by hatred, ignorance, and self-delusion.

So whenever there's talk of freedom, pay close attention for who will have to wear the chains and carry the burden. It could be you.