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western Allied zones of occupation. I cannot speak
for conditions in the Russian Zone, as I have not had
the opportunity to visit there.
I remember a statement made by a very prominent
American shortly after the war in connection with
the exposure of conditions in the German
concentration camps. He said that the actions of which the
Germans had been guilty could not have occurred in
other civilized countries. I also remember that, even
at that time, I protested against his statement.
Unfortunately, it must be realized that in many people
of various nationalities, there are hidden forces
which, if given free outlet, express themselves in
cruel and sadistic acts. This is especially striking in
people who, for some reason or other, have come into
positions of power to which, under ordinary
circumstances, they are not accustomed. I am afraid that we
in Sweden, in that respect, have no reason to climb
on our high horses, nor can we definitely declare
that the actions which I have indicated occurred in
German concentration camps should be foreign to
Swedish mentality. War has a strong coarsening
effect on human nature, and when certain individuals
have the opportunity to exercise their power without
control, this leads to frightful consequences.
A great difference exists, however, between the
conditions I mentioned in the English and American
camps and those which, as the whole world knows,
existed in the German concentration camps. In the
first place, to my knowledge, there have been no
cases in the Allied camps of prisoners being tortured
to death. Secondly, and in my opinion this is extremely
important, cruelties inflicted by the representatives
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