ISSUE 70 : May/Jun - 1988 - Australian Defence Force Journal

Book Review
LEST WE FORGET THE HISTORY OF THE
RETURNED SERVICES LEAGUE 1916-1986,
Peter Sekuless and Jacqueline Rees, published
by Rigby
Reviewed by Colonel John Buckley,
(RL)
HIS Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh,
has written the foreword to this
outstanding publication which is a credit to the
authors, the publisher and the Returned Services
League.
Extracts from the foreword include:
"It is a remarkable story of single-minded
dedication to two objectives. To perpetuate
the memory of those who lost their lives on
active service and to ensure the welfare of
the wounded and aged "mates" and the support
of dependants and orphans."
"The RSL has helped to shape modern Australia
and I commend this book to all Australians
who are interested in their history
and in the development of their national
identify."
His Royal Highness is President of the British
Commonwealth Ex-Services League and he had
been most interested in the magnificent achievements
and dedication of the Australian Returned
Services League.
This book tells the story of what the League
has done for veterans and their dependants;
whilst always remembering those who made the
supreme sacrifice. This is no idle comment from
the writer. I admire the unique service of the
RSL to Australia — no other organisation has
approached its contribution in so many diverse
and varied ways. It is a great Australian institution
and its destiny has been guided by so
many outstanding and gifted leaders at both
State and Federal levels.
I am proud and humble to be a member of
such an elite body of men and women, who
above all else, are determined to serve Australia
and particularly its handicapped veterans, war
widows and dependants.
Everything about this book is quality — its
authenticity, its narrative, its excellent photographs,
even the paper used. It examines the
influence of the League on Government policies,
defence, immigration, repatriation, employment,
social security — to mention only a
few. Anything detrimental to the well being and
safety of Australia gets an immediate reaction.
The 300,000 members can be proud of Lest
We Forget. It is a book which every member
should have and it will have great appear for
non members. The book is one of the most
treasured stories on my well stocked bookshelves.
Make sure you get a copy before it is
too late. Need I say more — except to repeat
my congratulations to the authors, the publisher
an the officers of the League, who have combined
to produce such a masterpiece. O
THE NAZI PARTY, by Michael Kater. Basil
Blackwell, Oxford, UK, 1983. 415 plus xiv
pages, paperback, with tables, graphs and notes.
Price $59.95 hardcover, $19.95 paperback.
Reviewed by Don Jender, Department of Defence
T
HE content of this book is well summarised
by its subtitle "A Social Profile of Members
and Leaders, 1919-1945". The book presents a
sociological study of the membership of the
Nazi Party in the years from its formation to
the end of World War II, based on extensive
statistical analysis of historical records. I found
it interesting because it dealt with two questions
about the Nazi Party which are of considerable
importance: who joined the Party, and why. In
the course of considering who joined the Party
at various times in its history, the author also
discusses why members of various social groups
found membership attractive. This latter issue
is the one which perhaps most perplexes those
who look back on the ruin which the Party was
to bring upon Germany.
The introduction in the book is essential reading,
as it explains the methodology used by the
author, and incidentally comments on a number
of other interesting aspects of the study of the
history of the Nazi Party. The book is based