Nazi Propaganda for the Arab World (23 page)

When the Australian killed the female camel, Dschocha tied a rock on the tail of the dead dog and threw him into a well. There the Australians died like the mare. Sleep, English, sleep. Dschocha comes in the night. Dschocha comes like a fox. He takes your weapons, that you stole from the Egyptian army. Oh, English. Make a phone call. In the night Dschocha came with a scissors and cut your line. You telephone and no one hears you. Oh, English, write your letter. Dschocha threw glowing coals into the mail box. You write your letter but no one will receive it. Oh, English, drive, Dschocha reversed the signs. You will drive the whole night and not come to your goal. Oh, English, give orders. You made yourself the master in Egypt. With your army, you want to take the last piece of bread from the Egyptians. Orders are only orders. Dschocha has hidden the wheat and mutton very well. Command, Oh English, give orders. You forced Dschocha to obey your orders. Dschocha obeys, but his car had a breakdown, his donkey has collapsed, his boat has a leak. Command, Oh English, command. Dschocha obeys but he delays all of your plans.'oo

One text combined an appeal to the Arabs to "awaken, sleeping ones" with anti-English and anti-Jewish themes and a not-so-subtle reference to Hitler. The English, it asserted, had allied with the Jews. Both prayed to God, but money was closest to their hearts. They used their hands to shackle other nations. It continued: "Mohammed, God's prophet, God bless him and praise him, was an enemy of the Jews. He grasped their cunning and evil. Have you forgotten that the Jews persecuted God's prophets, that they attacked him and wanted to kill him? Have you forgotten that the Jews cursed the prophet Mohammed?" The text then alluded to Hitler: "Look, a man has arrived to purify the world. The chains that shackle the nations, both the chains that are felt and those that are not felt, will be broken. A sword has been sent into the world with the command: Destroy evil, the hypocrites, the selfish, so that the world can again breathe freely and be pure. Awaken, oh Arabs. Evil has also placed your people in shackles of both mind and body. Free yourself when the strength shatters the chains of this world."lol

In Germany, the Nazis had presented Hitler as a prophet who had broken the chains" of the "Versailles Diktat." This text presented Germany and Hitler as harbingers of freedom from a world enslaved by the English and the Jews. As we will see, Himmler and the SS also became interested in evoking Islamic traditions and myths to present Hitler as an avenging prophet sent by Allah to fight the evil Jews.

In the pages of "The Oasis: Field Newspaper for German Troops in Africa" (Die Oase: Feldzeitung der Deutschen Truppen in Afrika), the German military in North Africa sought to convince its soldiers that Arabs and Muslims were likely allies.102 Its pages were filled with descriptions of the course of the war, as well as the geography, politics, and economics of the Middle East.103 Occasionally, as on July 6,1941, in "The Moslems and Their Doctrine: Today 200 Million Men Are Believers in Islam;" the paper gave the troops a lesson in this foreign culture. This article began by asserting that the conventional view of Islam in Germany-which saw Islam, in contrast to Christianity, as a "culture-destroying force" because Mohammed and his successors had sought to spread their doctrine "with fire and sword"-needed to be corrected. A deeper understanding of the Orient's history indicated that "the foundations of Islam are the same as those of European civilization of the Middle Ages," although they were "created by peoples of other nations and races." Hence "the old doctrine of the Church of Rome that Mohammed was the anti-Christ and enemy of culture is no longer tenable." Die Oase presented an idyllic historical interpretation of Islam, evoking themes drawn from German nationalism and its Protestant, antiJewish, and anti-Catholic currents:

The Arabs' triumphant advance in the Middle Ages was nothing other than the last great migration of Semitic peoples. As was the case with the wanderings of the Germanic peoples, raw necessity, the need for land and hunger, forced the Arabs to seize the richer, fertile land of their neighbors. The Prophet's conquering successors did not at all think of taking the religion of the conquered peoples away from them and force them to adopt Islam. The criticism along these lines of the Muslims made by Rome [the Roman Catholic Church] applies far more to Rome itself. One need only to think of the violent conversion of the Nordic peoples, the tortures of the Middle Ages, as well as of the Spaniards' didactic rage [Belehrungswut], first in Spain itself and then in Central and South America, as a result of which old and high cultures were destroyed to be replaced by ossified cultures.... With the Arabs [by contrast], the subordinated people only had to pay tribute, which ceased if the people voluntarily converted to Islam.' 04

The Arabs, the article continued, had not attacked Christianity in North Africa but rather incorporated it into "Arabic spirit" and traditions. Islamic culture was not only Arabic but "from the beginning was a fusion culture [Mis- chkultur] " that now included 200 million believers in North Africa, the Near East, India, and the Balkans. As part of these labors of cultural fusion, Mohammed had taken from the Jews "what was useful for him while rejecting the Jews' repulsive doctrine about God (Jehovah)." He incorporated the prophets -Abraham, Moses, and Noah-"but placed Christ above them all." Mohammed's "paradise, like that of the Germans, was only for the brave. He knew hell and the purifying fire of purgatory." The core Islamic formula-"there is no God except God and Mohammed is God's messenger"-was "the paradigm of simplicity." Yet in Islamic doctrine, man was not master of his own destiny because everything had been foreordained by God. This was "certainly a great contrast to the Faustian striving of Nordic men and to the Greek legend of Prometheus!" 105 Despite this difference, so evident in the fact that the Germans were fighting in North Africa, the Oase essay stressed the commonalities between the Germans and Muslims, which, it seemed, exceeded those of the Germans with the fellow Europeans, including Spanish, French, and Italian Catholics. Many troops may have been uninterested or cynical about such arcane reflections. Yet the fact that the military leadership allowed such arguments to appear in the newspaper read by its troops indicates that at least part of it looked favorably on this effort to connect National Socialism and the history of the Germans to that of the Arabs and Islam.

With Rommel's advance into Egypt, the Germans and Italians agreed that the right time had finally come to issue the Joint Declaration in support of Arab independence, and to do so on the Axis Arabic-language radio stations and with leaflets dropped by the Luftwaffe over Egyptian cities.106 From the end of May through mid-June a force of Italian but mostly German forces commanded by Rommel laid siege to the British base at Tobruk, then succeeded in penetrating its defenses and defeating the British Eighth Army. On June 21, the Africa Corps recaptured Tobruk, in the process seizing 28,ooo mostly Australian and British soldiers as well as large quantities of supplies that could be used for an advance into Egypt. By the end of June, Axis forces had invaded Egypt and reached a point sixty miles west of Alexandria with the way now open to Cairo.' 07 On July i, 1942, VFA announced that "the Middle East is preparing for revolution." 108 On July 3,1942, at 7:30 p.m., Radio Berlin (what the Americans called "Berlin in Arabic") broadcast the following "Joint German-Italian Declaration in Respect of Egypt."

The government of the German Reich, and the Government of H.M. the King of Italy, declare the following: At this moment, when the troops of the Axis powers are victoriously advancing into Egyptian territory, the two said Governments emphasize their resolve to guarantee Egypt's independence and sovereignty. The Axis forces are entering Egypt, not as an enemy country, but to dismiss the British from Egyptian territory, and to continue war operations against Britain in order to liberate the whole of the Near East from the British yoke. The policy of the Axis powers is inspired by the principle "Egypt for the Egyptians." The emancipation of Egypt from the chains which have linked her with Britain, and her security from the risks of war, will enable her to assume her position among the independent sovereign states.'°9

Berlin in Arabic then broadcast a"second declaration" by Husseini, now described as the Grand Mufti of Palestine (no longer only of Jerusalem), read by "one of our valiant Arab strugglers":

The Glorious victory secured by the Axis troops in North Africa, has encouraged the Arabs and the whole East, and filled their hearts with admiration for Marshall Rommel's genius, and the bravery of the Axis soldiers. This is because the Arabs believe that the Axis Powers are fighting against the common enemy, namely the British and the Jews, and in order to remove the danger of communism spreading, following the aggression on Iran. These victories, generally speaking, will have far-reaching repercussions on Egypt, because the loss of the Nile Valley and of the Suez Canal, and the collapse of the British mastery over the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, will bring nearer the defeat of Britain and the end of the British Empire."°

Husseini continued by affirming that these Axis victories would "mean the liberation of Egypt and ... the Arab countries from the British yoke." Egypt had suffered under the British for sixty years. Now she had "received with utmost joy the news of the Axis victories, for she knows that the moment has come to get rid forever of the Imperialists, and secure the independence and freedom of the Nile Valley." The statement stressed Egypt's military, geographical, economical, cultural, and social position in the Arab world. Its future concerned "the Islamic countries in general, and the Arab countries in particular." Husseini was confident that the Axis would respect Egypt's independence and sovereignty. An Egypt in possession of the Suez Canal would have friendly relations with the Axis powers, would guarantee freedom of navigation in the Canal, and would "play an important part in the security of Arab countries which have suffered under the yoke of British Imperialism." The Egyptians were not scared of Britain or the Jews. They had "fought both of them bitterly and daringly, thus manifesting the Arab spirit of struggle, and thereby infuriating the British Imperialists, whose Empire is based on tyranny and violence." Husseini referred to "the Arab nation" which saw "in the Axis forces, now advancing on Egypt, allies who will cooperate in breaking the chains and ridding her of her enemies" and bringing "true sovereignty and true independence" to Egypt and Arab countries in general." By breaking the chains of British imperialism and "ridding her of her enemies," the Axis powers were Egypt's allies."'

Fifteen minutes later, the Americans in Cairo recorded a transmission from the Free Voice of Egypt pretending to be broadcast from within the country. It welcomed the Axis declaration "with the greatest joy.... Today we know who our friends are. The Axis Powers are our allies and we stretch out the hand of friendship. We are ready to give them all the support in our power.... We are joined together by one aim, the desire to destroy our common enemy, the British, and to secure the independence of Egypt. Long live our friends, the Axis, the friends of Egypt: Long live Egypt! Long live the King!"' 12 On July 5, Radio Bari announced that the Italians "are trying to liberate you and give you back the freedom you deserve. We undertake to free the Middle East, the Near East and all Mediterranean nations from British influence."113

On July 6, Rashid Ali Kilani, speaking on Berlin in Arabic, announced: "The hour of liberation has come and the sons of Egypt have the fate of the nation in their hands. They must not let the opportunity pass them by, but must do all in their power to restore the glory of the Arabs and of Islam. It was Egypt's misfortune to be the first of the Arab countries to know the bitterness of British imperialism and it will be their good fortune to be amongst the first to taste the sweetness of living free of that imperialism.... I am glad to be able to tell my Egyptian brothers that the Axis powers wish Egypt no harm. I trust their pledged words and their promises. Egypt will be for the Egyptians and her freedom will be to the advantage of other Arab countries."' 14 At 8:oo p.m. that evening, Bari in Arabic announced that "the hour of British doom has come. Woe to the British, to traitors and to puppets in Britain's pay." It falsely asserted that the British fleet in the Mediterranean had been "torn to pieces" and that British supremacy on the sea "has been lost everywhere." "Victorious Axis forces" had in fact captured British bases at Tobruk, and the defeated British army had been forced to retreat into the interior of Egypt. In one of many efforts at creating self-fulfilling prophecies, the broadcast asserted, "The Arab world is following the movements of the glorious Axis forces with great eagerness, and it sincerely prays that God will give his support to the Axis forces.... Valiant Arabs, the hour of your independence has come and now is the time for the realization of the unity of the Arab nations, so do not hesitate, but seize the opportunity accorded you. Put words aside and take action beside your leaders, who are expecting you to follow immediately the orders given you." In this "portentous hour" the Arabs should "unite and rise against the weakened British, proclaiming: `Long live the Grand Mufti, the leader of Arabism; Long live H.M., the beloved leader, Rashid Aly el-Kilani, and long live the valiant Iraqi Army, the liberator of the Arab Nation!"1 is

At 8:15 p.m. on July 7,1942, in these days of Axis euphoria following the capture of the British base at Tobruk, VFA sent a broadcast of unprecedented hatred and fanaticism. Behind the Eastern Front in Europe, the German Einsatzgruppen and police units were engaged in shooting operations. The death camps in Poland were in full operation. Deportation of Jews from Western Europe to Sobibor and Auschwitz-Birkenau were just beginning. Hitler and Goebbels assured their audiences in Germany and Europe that the Nazi regime was "annihilating" and "exterminating" the Jews. The broadcast on July 7 had the title "Kill the Jews before They KillYou." It repeated earlier pleas for audience participation that were every bit the equal of Hitler's and Goebbels's anti-Semitic radicalism. It began by reporting that "a large number of Jews residing in Egypt and a number of Poles, Greeks, Armenians and Free French, have been issued with revolvers and ammunition" to "help them against the Egyptians at the last moment, when Britain is forced to evacuate Egypt." It continued as follows: