Theater despite terror
Today, play a comedy?! The path to many Berlin theaters leads through Dolomites of ruined houses and countless memories are buried at every step. Nevertheless – theater is being played.
Illustrierter Beobachter – 25-5-44
It’s known that you’re in a tough spot
And yet you are not allowed to show that,
You act as if you’re doing great
And dance the Nazi dance
Externally, you show no cracks
And show no division,
And you feign humor, you feign peppiness
And maintain a joyful attitude
And Hitler is the Holy Spirit,
Messiah and God the Father,
Whom everyone praises and reveres,
Because: Germany is playing theater.
Whether Eastern Front or Atlantic Wall,
For you, they’re defeats,
Now you’re taking hits everywhere
And seem to bear them gladly.
No matter how much fate takes from you,
You won’t let it show,
You maintain the pose and you act,
As if nothing has happened to you.
You act as if you don’t care about
The thousand bomb craters,
As if you enjoy missing your house,
You laugh and play theater.
You endure in the brewing storm
And in terrorist attacks,
The German people, with all their might,
Have so far not chickened out.
This time, the homeland is worth
The army’s bravery,
Even if today house and hearth is lost,
Today it is endured as it is
The witch’s house in the Luna amusement park,
The devil’s wheel in the Prater,
You appear in good spirits and strong
Yet, you only play theater.
In truth, things are less good for you
Than you’re letting on today,
You’re desperate and full of rage
And often want to cry.
Often, you lost steam,
You’re weary of the war,
The heart’s mood is declining,
The heart asks, when will peace come?
Yet you still do what you are told
By the Swastika adviser,
You smile, even if it’s difficult, and play
Comedy and theater.
How long will this farce last
And pretend joy and cheerfulness,
How long will you feign this feeling of happiness?
It can’t continue like this for long.
The hypocrisy surely won’t
Last too long,
Soon the mask will fall from your face
And one will see pain and sorrow.
You’ve pretended long enough,
Now the big hangover is coming,
The game is over, the curtain falls,
Stop the theater!
Post-Editing: Marloes Abeling, Robert Saunders
Did you notice an error in this transcription or translation, and would you like to send us a corrected version? Or have you created a lyrical translation that captures rhyme and rhythm of the original? Please feel free to send us your version. We appreciate voluntary support for this memorial project, and we regularly review the messages we receive.