I am continuing to document the newspaper coverage of a high-profile world tour by a Nazi German newspaper delegation which visited Korea (Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Seoul) on May 11-12, 1939 after visiting mainland Japan for about two weeks. There were about 13 members led by Richard Foerster (1879-1952), who served as a leader in German-Japanese diplomacy after retiring from active naval service. Accompanying him was Peter Winkelnkemper (1902-1944), a prominent Nazi journalist who was editor-in-chief of Cologne Nazi newspaper Westdeutscher Beobachter.
This article covers the afternoon of their first day in Korea, May 11. After paying their respects at Changdeok Palace, the delegation met General Nakamura, commander of the Imperial Army in Korea. Nakamura thanked them for their “accurate and rapid” reporting on the Battle of Lake Khasan and for presenting Japan’s position to the world.
Later that evening at the Chōsen Hotel, they held a press conference denying any possibility of Soviet-German cooperation. That is especially striking in retrospect, since the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact would be signed only a few months later, in August 1939.
Taken together, this material suggests that the delegation was more than a purely cultural mission. Whatever the official description, the visit clearly had a substantial political and ideological dimension.
[Translation]
Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 12, 1939
Meeting with Army General Nakamura
Firm Handshakes Exchanged
German Newspaper Delegation Visits Army Headquarters
After leaving the Government-General Building, the German newspaper delegation from allied Germany paid a formal call and signed the register at Changdeok Palace at 2:50 p.m. on May 11th. Then, under the guidance of Shinoda, head of the Office of the Yi Royal Household, they viewed Injeongjeon Hall. Showing no sign of fatigue from the journey, they then went on, at 3:25 p.m., to visit General Nakamura, commander of the Japanese-Korean Army, whose command was described as placing the Korean peninsula’s national defense and anti-Communist line — the logistics base of the war effort — on an immovable footing.
On this day, General Nakamura, accompanied by Chief of Staff Kitano, Director of the Press Department Katsuo, and other staff officers, had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this newspaper delegation from the allied nation in the reception room of his official residence, set amid greenery washed fresh by the rain. Welcoming the party into the reception room with the words, “Welcome,” the general shook hands with each member in turn, unable to conceal the joy that showed across his stern face.
“The visit of friends from our allied nation is a great honor to me. And today, despite the rain and despite your fatigue from such a long journey, I thank you sincerely for coming.”
To these words from the general, delegation head Richard Foerster replied:
“On behalf of the entire party, I pray for Your Excellency’s good health.”
With that, he raised his right hand sharply in greeting, and the group then sat around a table and entered into cordial conversation.
When General Nakamura looked back on the recent anti-Communist holy war and said,
“I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the German journalists’ accurate and rapid reporting on the Changkufeng Incident. I thank you deeply for having conveyed Japan’s rightful position to the world.”
Delegation head Foerster answered, his expression showing his pledge to the anti-Communist cause: “Our respect and friendship for your country are not material things. They come from the heart… from the heart.”
After further praise for the bravery of Imperial soldiers in the holy war, the conversation ended after only a little more than ten minutes. Yet the members of the party felt that something binding them together had been firmly strengthened. Regretfully taking their leave, and escorted out by the general, who stood at the entrance with his staff officers, they departed the residence — the rain having just stopped, the surrounding greenery now fresh and clear — and headed for the Chōsen Hotel.
Questions and Answers with the Delegation Representative
The German newspaper delegation, having arrived in the capital, met with reporters at their lodgings, the Chōsen Hotel, at 6:00 p.m. on May 11th. Peter Winkelnkemper, effectively the vice head of the delegation and editor-in-chief of the Westdeutscher Beobachter, responded as follows regarding Germany’s firm posture toward the tense political situation in Europe.
Question: What is the political spirit of Germany today?
Answer: Germany’s political spirit today may be summed up entirely in National Socialism, that is, the Nazi spirit, and in the complete unity of the whole people. Prior to Nazi governance, differences of religion, political party, and federal structure had divided the national spirit, but now complete national unity has been realized. The institution that carries the greatest weight in maintaining this unity is the Nazi Party. The Party is the center of political spirit.
Question: What is the resolve of the German people in the face of the present tense situation?
Answer: The unshakable resolve of the German people in dealing with the strained situation in Europe is simply this: to follow the leadership of the Führer. That is all. The Führer does not issue commands; he leads. Britain and France preserve an internal order that is already corrupted and incapable of responding to this present age. If Germany must inevitably come into conflict with them, then that too is a fate that cannot be avoided. But Germany does not seek conflict. Germany, Italy, and Spain are firmly united, and the Balkans are by no means as the democratic countries imagine. The criticism by Britain and France over the settlement of the Czech problem is unfounded. Germany fears no one. But it does not desire disturbance of the peace.
Question: How do you foresee the course of the European situation?
Answer: Germany’s future position lies in strengthening cooperation among Germany, Italy, and Spain, and in saving Europe from the calamity of Bolshevism. These three countries are the guardians of world culture, and they are defending Europe from the violence of communism, which destroys everything for the sake of ideology. Countries that seek to use Bolshevism for their own advantage speak ill of Germany, Italy, and Spain, but we pay them no mind. The democratic countries are attempting to unite with communist states to oppose us. Germany, as the defender of culture, must first become strong. Germany will yield to no one.
Question: Recently there have been reports of a German-Soviet rapprochement. Is there any basis for this?
Answer: For Germany to join hands with the Soviet Union would be more difficult than mixing water and fire. Such a thing will absolutely not happen. The Soviet Union, which would kill tens of thousands for the sake of ideology, and Nazi Germany are fundamentally as incompatible as fire and water.
Question: What is the relationship between the Nazi spirit and the newspaper press?
Answer: The German press today is completely different in its structure from what it was before Nazism. Newspapers are not controlled by political parties or interest groups; their highest duty is service to the people. Becoming the puppet of any one faction is forbidden by the Editors’ Law. Editors (Schriftleiter) bear heavy responsibilities. Newspapers are not controlled from the outside, but internally they are structured so as to accord with the Nazi spirit. They are permeated throughout by the Nazi spirit.
Finally, when asked about expectations for the upcoming visit to Manchukuo, he said:
“Germany’s attitude toward Manchukuo is exactly as shown in the Anti-Comintern Pact, and it is necessary that cooperation be strengthened still further from here on. As journalists in particular, we are eager to inspect the true political and economic conditions in Manchukuo, and we greatly look forward to going there.”
Photo: The German newspaper delegation meeting with Army General Nakamura
Enchanted by Court Music and Ancient Korean Art
Vice Head Winkelnkemper Speaks
Mr. Peter Winkelnkemper, vice head of the German delegation, is editor-in-chief of the Westdeutscher Beobachter and appears to be a fine young man of about thirty-five or thirty-six. Since the members of the delegation are not only newspaper journalists but also members of the German Storm Troopers, it is only natural, one might say, that they should be unmatched in elite quality. Smiling, Winkelnkemper said:
“The appearance of Korea in the rain-mist is beautiful. I have long had a great longing to hear court music and to see ancient Korean art. I have not yet encountered either directly, but through reading I have long been very familiar with both. So far as time permits, I hope to turn these long-held dreams into reality.”
[Transcription]
京城日報 1939年5月12日
中村軍司令官と会見
固き握手を交わす
獨新聞使節団軍司令部訪問
総督府を辞した盟邦ドイツ新聞使節団一行は十一日午後二時五十分昌徳宮に伺候署名ののち篠田李王職長官の案内にて仁政殿を拝観し旅の疲れもみせず愈々兵站基地半島の国防防共陣を泰山の安きに置く中村朝鮮軍司令官を同三時二十五分官邸に訪問した。この日中村大将は北野参謀長、勝尾報道部長以下幕僚を随え雨に洗われた緑に囲まるる官邸応接間でこの盟邦の新聞使節団一行を心からお待ち兼ねであった。『ようこそ』一行を応接間に招じた大将は一々握手を交わしつつさすがに包み切れぬ喜びが謹厳な顔にあふれた。
『盟邦の友の御訪問は私の最も光栄とするところであります。今日はまた雨の中を長途の旅のお疲れにも拘わらず有難うございました』
との大将の言葉にフェルスター団長は、
『一行を代表して閣下の御健康を祈ります』とさっと右手を挙げて挨拶をなしたのち卓を囲んでなごやかな歓談に入った。
『張鼓峰事件のドイツ記者団の正確にして且つ迅速な報道について感謝の言葉もありません。日本の正しき立場を世界に伝えて下さったことを厚く御礼致します』と中村大将は過ぐる日の防共聖戦を回顧して感謝の辞を述ぶれば、
『われわれの御国に対する尊敬と友情は物質的なものではありません。心から．．．、心からのものです』とフェルスター団長は防共の誓を眉宇に示して答えた。聖戦におけるわが勇士の果敢さを称えること一しきり、歓談僅に十数分であったが一行は固く結ばれるものを感じつつ玄関に幕僚を随えて立つ大将の見送りのうちに名残を惜しみ折から雨も止んで緑も清らかな官邸を辞して朝鮮ホテルに向った。
使節団代表と問答
入城の独逸新聞使節一行は十一日午後六時宿舎朝鮮ホテルにおいて記者団と会見したが、副団長格のヴェストドイチュルベオバター紙の主筆ペーター・ウィンケルケンパーは刻下の欧州情勢に対処する独逸の確乎たる態度につき左の如く答えた。
問：現下独逸の政治的精神如何？
答：独逸の政治的精神はすべて国民社会主義即ちナチス精神に則って全国民の挙国一致と云うことにつきる。ナチス政権以前は宗教、政党の差異や聯邦制のため国民精神に分離があったが今では完全な挙国一致が実現している。この挙国一致の機関として重きをなしているのがナチス党である。党が政治精神の中枢である。
問：緊迫せる情勢に対して独逸国民の覚悟如何？
答：逼迫した欧州の現状に処する独逸国民の動かざる覚悟はただ総統の指導する処に従う、ただそれだけである。総統は命令せず指導するのだ。英仏は内部的に既に腐敗した時代に即応し得ない秩序を保っているが、これと独逸が衝突せざるを得ないとすれば、それも運命として避け難いところだ。然し独逸は衝突を求むるものではない。獨、伊、西は固く相結んで居りバルカンも民主主義諸国の考えている如きものでは決してない。チェッコ問題の解決も英仏の非難は当らない。独逸は何者をも恐れない。しかし平和の攪乱は好まない。
問：欧州情勢の見透如何？
答：独逸今後の立場は獨、伊、西の提携を強化、欧州をボルセヴィズムの災禍から救うに在る。この三国は世界の文化を守護するもので主義のために凡ゆるものを破壊する共産主義に対抗其暴威から欧州を防衛するものだ。ボルセヴィズムを利用して自国の利益を図らんとする国々は獨、伊、西の悪口を云うが我々はそれを意にとめない。民主主義国は共産主義国家と合体して我等に対立しようとしている。文化の擁護者たる独逸は先ず強くならなければならぬ。独逸は何者にも負けない。
問：最近獨ソ接近説が行われているが果して根拠ありや？
答：独逸がソ聯と提携するなどと云うことは水と火を一緒にするより困難なことだ。左様なことは絶対に無い。主義のためには幾万の人を殺しても顧ぬソ聯とナチス独逸とは徹底的に水炭相容れぬ。
問：ナチス精神と新聞の関係如何？
答：現在の独逸の新聞はナチス以前とは完全にその構成を変えた。新聞は政党や利害団体に支配されることは無く国民への奉仕を第一としている。一部の傀儡となることは編輯者法で禁ぜられている。編輯者シュリットライターは重い責任を課せられている。新聞は外部からの統制を受けないが内部的にナチス精神に則るように出来ている。ナチス精神を以て貫かれている。
最後に満州訪問に対する期待を尋ねると、
『満州に対する独逸の態度は防共協定に示された通りで、今後一層提携を強化して行くことが必要だが、我々は特に新聞人として満州の政治、経済の実相を視察したいと大いに満州行きを期待している』と語った。
写真：獨新聞使節団中村軍司令官と会見
雅楽と朝鮮古代美術に憧れ
ヴ副団長語る
ドイツ使節団副団長のペーター・ウィンケルケムパー氏はヴェストドイツチヱル・ベオパハターの主筆だが、三十五・六と思われる好青年だ。使節団員は新聞記者であると同時にドイツ突撃隊員だからその精鋭無比なのは当然だろう。ヴィンケルケムパー氏は微笑のうちに語る。
『雨に煙っている朝鮮の姿は美しい。私は雅楽を聞くのと朝鮮古代美術に非常な憧れを抱いて来た。両方とも未だ直接に接した事はないが、かねがね読書で大いに親しんでいる訳だ。暇のある限り日頃の夢を実行に移したいと思っている』
Source: Digital Newspaper Archive, National Library of Korea
See also:
- In May 1939, a Nazi German newspaper delegation toured colonial Korea and was welcomed in Seoul with swastika flags, shrine visits, and official receptions (link)
- ‘Hitler’s right-hand man’ Richard Foerster and Nazi editor Peter Winkelnkemper enjoy Korean cuisine and kisaeng entertainment at a Seoul press banquet, May 11, 1939 (link)
- Nazi leader Richard Foerster passionately preached Hitler’s teachings to Korean schoolchildren and gifted them signed photos of Hitler as they gave him a “Heil Hitler” salute on a train to Seoul (May 11, 1939) (link)
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