Dans une lettre a Michael Tolkien du 9 Juin 1941:
(...) I have spent most of my life, since I was your age, studying Germanic matters (in the general sense that includes England and Scandinavia). There is a great deal more force (and truth) than ignorant people imagine in the 'Germanic' ideal. I was much attracted by it as an undergraduate (when Hitle was, I suppose, dabbling in paint, and had not heard of it), in reaction against the 'Classics'. You have to understand the good in things, to detect the real evil. But no one ever calls on me to 'broadcast', or do a postcript! Yer, I suppose I know better than most what is the truth about this 'Nordic' nonsense. Anyway, I have in this War a burning private grudge - which would probably make me a better soldier a 49 than I was at 22 - against taht ruddy little ignoramus Adolf Hitler (for the odd thing about demonic inspiration and impetus is that it in no way enhances the purely intellectual stature: it chiefly affects the mere will). Ruining, perverting, misapplying, and making for ever accursed, that noble nothern spirit, a supreme contribution to Europe, which I have ever loved, and tried to present in its true light. Nowhere, incidentally, was it nobler than in England, nor more early sanctified and Christianized...
Pray for me. Michael Tolkien etait un religieux. I need it, sorely. I love you.
Your own Father.
Personnellement, ce n'est pas ce que j'appelle un raciste, mais un patriote et un croyant convaincu. Maintenant, passons a une autre citation ou il faut savoir reconnaitre l'ironie et la colere:
Lettre a Christopher Tolkien du 23-25 Septembre 1944:
(...) We knew Hitler was a vulgar and ignorant little cad, in addition to any other defects (or the source of them); but there seem to be many v. and i. l. cads who don't speak German, and who given the same chance would show most of the other Hitlerian characteristics. There was a solemn article in the local paper seriously advocating systematic exterminating of the entire German nation as the only proper course after military victory: because, if you please, they are rattlesnakes, and don't know the difference between good and evil! (What of the writer?) The Germans have just as much right to declare the Poles and Jews exterminable vermin, subhuman, as we have to select the Germans: in other words, NO RIGHT, whatever they have done.
Ce n'est pas non plus ce que j'appelle un raciste ici.