September 30, 1944
Introduction to the content
Curt Bloch cynically comments on the progress of his time: While a press release from 1938 described the journey of six US bombers carrying 20 tons of cargo as a “mass flight” and an “adventure,” today, hundreds of planes from England would be heading to Germany, dropping thousands of tons of explosives in a minute. “It’s dizzying how fast we’re advancing, how elevated our culture is!”
Even if their situation seems utterly hopeless, German troops continue to fight on multiple fronts until the bitter end and refuse to surrender. Bloch addresses the believers directly in his poem. They would die for Hitler, even though he himself “was always treacherous and never kept a promise.” There is no reason, no understanding – “the delusion of Hitler” and the belief in miracles still determine their actions.
A report in a National Socialist newspaper suggests that the use of German fighter planes in France may still be being held back. Curt Bloch regards this news as a bluff that he has seen through. While the Germans had air superiority four years ago, the tide has now turned. Bloch offers a simple explanation for the current absence of planes: the Germans no longer have them anymore.
The poem Like a knife through butter is illustrated by Curt Bloch with a pasted advertisement for the Dutch traditional brand “Blue Band.” With this, he emphasizes how effortlessly the Allied forces can penetrate hostile territories. The Germans are forced to retreat quickly. Those mentioned include Josef Grohé (1902–1987), who had to give up his position as Reich Commissioner for the occupied areas in Belgium and Northern France, and Günther von Kluge (1882–1944); Kluge committed suicide on August 19 at Verdun after being relieved of his command as leader of the army in the West by Adolf Hitler, due to military failure. Bloch writes that there is no hope for the fleeing soldiers.
In Roman mythology, Neptune was the god of the waters. That’s why Curt Bloch feels particularly connected to him. However, the “onderduiker” senses that he can resurface soon: “The time of fear and hiding is almost over.” In the poem The person in hiding says goodbye, he addresses Neptune and his sad wife. They will soon have fewer guests, and it will be cozier. As a memento, Bloch will leave the King of the sea a portrait of himself, so he will remember him. The abandoned couple with the picture is also displayed on the magazine’s cover.
Just as before the first poem, Bloch also places a news report from 1938 before the last text of this issue. It quotes Joseph Goebbels. The Reich Minister for Propaganda claims that Hitler’s policy is the “policy of freedom, honor, and peace.” Due to Germany’s lack of defense, there was a “provocation for war”, but this changed through massive rearmament. Bloch continues with beautiful words about Hitler’s peace assurance through weapons but ends the last four lines with harsh reality: only one and a half years after Goebbels’ statements, Adolf Hitler himself broke the peace.
