More Kästner
I forget who called World War I the original catastrophe from which all the other catastrophes of the 20th century (and beyond) derived. Anyway, as the 100th anniversary year draws to its close, and I have a worrying suspicion that many a WWI contemporary would not believe us to be that much wiser if they could time travel and see how we were doing, I offer one more poem, this one by Erich Kästner, who is still on my mind. Kästner got drafted into the army at age 17 during the last year of the war, which made him a life long committed pacifist. He also had no patience for the Dolchstoßlegende (the claim of an undefeated army betrayed by those treacherous civilians back home). I just came across a translation that captures something of the sharpness and the wit one of Kästner's most famous poems dealing with the first world war has, which he published in 1930; three years later, he'd watch as his books were thrown into the fire for just such poetry.
The Other Possibility
(Die andre Möglichkeit)
If we had chanced to win the war
By dint of charging at the double,
Then Germany would be no more,
Would be a madhouse for its trouble.
They would attempt to make us tame
Like any other savage nation.
We'd jump aside if sergeants came
Our way and we'd spring to attention.
If we had chanced to win the war,
We'd be a proud and happy land.
In bed we'd soldier as before
While waiting for the next command.
Women would have to labour more.
One child per year. Or face arrest.
The state needs children for its store.
And human blood's what it likes best.
If we had chanced to win the war,
Then Heaven would be German national.
The parsons would be officers
And God would be a German general.
Then we'd have trenches for our borders.
No moon, insignia instead.
We'd have an Emperor issuing orders
And a helmet for a head.
If we had won, then everyone
Would be a soldier. An entire
Land would be run by goon and gun.
And round that lot would run barbed wire.
Then children would be born by number.
For men are easy to procure.
And cannon alone without fodder
Are not enough to win a war.
Then reason would be kept in fetters.
And facing trial each single minute.
And wars would run like operettas.
If we had chanced to win the war -
But thank the Lord we did not win it!
[translated from German to English by Patrick Bridgwater]
If your German is up for it, here is a good recitation of the original:
This entry was originally posted at https://selenak.dreamwidth.org/1318786.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.
The Other Possibility
(Die andre Möglichkeit)
If we had chanced to win the war
By dint of charging at the double,
Then Germany would be no more,
Would be a madhouse for its trouble.
They would attempt to make us tame
Like any other savage nation.
We'd jump aside if sergeants came
Our way and we'd spring to attention.
If we had chanced to win the war,
We'd be a proud and happy land.
In bed we'd soldier as before
While waiting for the next command.
Women would have to labour more.
One child per year. Or face arrest.
The state needs children for its store.
And human blood's what it likes best.
If we had chanced to win the war,
Then Heaven would be German national.
The parsons would be officers
And God would be a German general.
Then we'd have trenches for our borders.
No moon, insignia instead.
We'd have an Emperor issuing orders
And a helmet for a head.
If we had won, then everyone
Would be a soldier. An entire
Land would be run by goon and gun.
And round that lot would run barbed wire.
Then children would be born by number.
For men are easy to procure.
And cannon alone without fodder
Are not enough to win a war.
Then reason would be kept in fetters.
And facing trial each single minute.
And wars would run like operettas.
If we had chanced to win the war -
But thank the Lord we did not win it!
[translated from German to English by Patrick Bridgwater]
If your German is up for it, here is a good recitation of the original:
Click to viewThis entry was originally posted at https://selenak.dreamwidth.org/1318786.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.