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‘Deutschland uberAlles’ German anthem opens old wounds by Joseph Polakoff TSI's Washington correspondent WASHINGTON—The teaching of school children ages 6 to 10 in the West German state of Baden- Wurttemberg of the full text of the national anthem “Deutschland uber Alles” written almost a century and a half ago has evoked deep concern among those who remem ber that its first verse was sung by the Nazis in quest for German world domination. Religious groups and the West German Society for Christian-Jew-" ish Cooperation have protested to the Baden-Wurttemberg govern ment. In an open letter, the society said that “for people who were per secuted during the Third Reich, it is unbearable, in fact degrading, to hear the first verse of the anthem.” It said, “Auschwitz has its conse quences for education, and among these is the necessity that, ‘Deutsch land uber alles’ should never be heard again.” The full text of the anthem be gins “Germany, Germany above all else, above all else in the world; if it were forever fraternally united for protection and defiance; from the Maas to the Memel, from the Etsch to the Belt; Germany, Ger many, above all else; above all else in the world.” Of the four rivers named, the Maas is in the Netherlands, the Memel in the Soviet Union, the Etsch in Italy and the Belt in Den mark. Mendes Michael Schmunk, the West German Embassy’s press counselor said to this reporter that the author’s reference to the rivers was not about boundaries but to settlements of German-speaking peoples. “The Federal government sticks to its decision to sing only the third verse” that cherishes unity, justice and freedom,” Schmunk said. Joachim Goebel, a correspond ent in Washington for the Deutsche Presse Agentur (German Press A- gency) said, “1 can’t make any sense of that at all” in commenting about the Baden-Wurttemberg de cision. “All this stuff and nonsense was settled forever. When I went to school we never heard the first and second verses. The third verse only was used.” The song’s verses were written in 1841 by August Henrich Hoffman, a penniless poet, to express hope that Germany’s 31 separate states /-French, PLO hold meetings—s would be united, a Reuter dispatch from Bonn in The Washington Post reported. The words were adapted to an 18th century tune by composer Joseph Haydn. The Weimar Republic adopted it as an anthem after World War I. It was banned by the West German Bun destag and Chancellor Conrad Adenauer in 1945 following Hit ler’s defeat. However, demands for its revival brought a compromise that allowed singing of only the third verse. A survey by the national daily Bild found 70 percent of its readers want “Deutschlandlied” sung in its entirety in schools, Reuter reported. It said that the Baden-Wurttemberg decision to allow children to learn all three verses breaks the long standing consensus that the first verse should be repressed as an odious reminder of Naziism. Baden- Wurttemberg is one of West Ger many’s 11 states. Local Social Democrats and the Greens Party have demanded a reversal of the decision but the rul ing Christian Democrats have re fused. “Why should children who were born long after the war be burdened with the guilt of their ancestors,” said spokesman Wolf gang Kraft of the Christian Demo crats in language reminiscent of that heard during the Bitburg epi sode. “They have a right to be proud of their country and a right to national symbols like the flag and the anthem. A Greens Party spokesman, Winifred Hermann, was quoted as saying, “It is irresponsible to teach small children words which were sung daily under the swastika and which precisely evoke fascist ideol ogy” Spokesman Michael Rux of the teachers union said, “For millions of people the first verse means only one thing—Hitler’s aggressive chauvinism and the inhuman way he went about to satisfy it.” Low Prices Eye Glasses Contacts [We have a large selection] of quality eyewear. Q£}ptical oervices 2441 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 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