Paths of Violence: 1939– 1945
In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. During the dark months of 1939, 1940, and 1941, Europe exploded with tanks, bombs, and guns. The violent side of Hitler’s new German policies proved worse than Leopold had imagined possible. A letter arrived from Leopold’s host in Germany, Alfred Schottlaender. Schottlaender’s wife had turned him in to the secret police for making antiHitler comments. He had been interned both at Dachau and Buchenwald but had managed to escape to Kenya. He was writing to ask Aldo to help his brother, who was still in Germany. Leopold contacted those he knew, and a place was found in South Africa for Alfred’s brother. “My dear friend Leopold,” responded Alfred, “[You] have given me back the faith of faithfulness, truth, and friendship still existing on earth, which I nearly had lost after having lived to see such terrible disappointments in my own country which I loved so much and served all my life.” Violence seemed to be the common link between the many ways humans acted toward the land and toward each other. Leopold began to refer to conservation as a movement toward “nonviolent land use,” where changes are made gradually and carefully, keeping the land community stable. Then the exploding violence hit the States: the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The next day, Carl enlisted in the marines. On the edge of twenty-two, he had just begun graduate studies in wildlife ecology in Missouri. He hurried to marry Keena Rogers before leaving for combat. Luna enlisted in the army and was sent to California as an army engineer. Starker, who had married and was expecting a child, kept working, but dreaded the mail, which could carry a draft notice any day. Many of the Professor’s graduate and undergraduate students quit school to enlist. Vivian Horn resigned to do her part for the war effort. Sometime in 1942, a round robin of letters was begun between the department and those who had left. Each recipient added comments and sent the letter on to someone else.
