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This remarkable monograph is an absolute 'must' for everyone with any interest in the psychological aspects of social phenomena in general, and the present national and world scene in particular. It is a most impressive survey of the German literature since the last war which deals with the psychological implications of and applications to the development of present day Germany. Most impressive are (1) the tremendous variety of problems to which psychological knowledge has been applied and (2) the amazing thoroughness of organization through which these applications have been made.
All psychological and psychiatric research in Germany is on problems of war and state. The Germans recognize clearly that the total personality must be studied in evaluating an individual's potentialities and qualifications and not, for example, his skills alone. Hence, testing is given its place, but the major emphasis is on the evaluation of the entire emotional and intellectual life. This is utilized directly in the selection of personnel which begins with the careful observation of children of six years of age of whom from then on careful records are kept. Psychology is also applied to education which includes training for leadership, thorough grounding in German military history, and a broad variety of other subjects to produce a well-rounded individual, capable of initiative, action, leadership and self-education.
Hygiene is very carefully studied. For example, it is recognized that prolonged periods of work without vacation impair efficiency. Vacations however are not begun suddenly, but arranged so that there is a transition period from work to play. In addition to problems of selection of personnel of education and training, psychology is applied to clearly related problems of morale on the home front. The instillation of a conviction of Nazi invincibility is part of this, but the whole problem has been given such thorough study that if these reports are accurate, there i