August 5, 1944
Introduction to the content
The war-induced poor supply situation also affects Curt Bloch due to the mandated newspaper savings. He laments that Dutch newspapers like the Twentsch Nieuwsblad have been reduced by a quarter of their size. National Socialist media like “Volk en Vaderland”, on the other hand, still appeared to be “well-fed.” Bloch consoles himself with the idea that even one and a half times the size of these newspapers would be of no use to the occupiers, and the Netherlands would not perish from it.
On the cover montage of this OWC edition, the top of the memorial in front of the Feldherrnhalle is depicted. There, “at the swastika’s Grail,” the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers’ Party) honored its fallen members. The monument bears the inscription “And yet you have triumphed!” In the poem of the same name, Curt Bloch responds that the Nazis are simply bad losers and would still celebrate themselves as victors after being still defeated.
Curt Bloch’s poem If you can still sing, then sing along! refers to a speech by Maarten van Nierop, a member of the NSB and editor-in-chief of the Twentsch Nieuwsblad, after the failed bombing attempt on Adolf Hitler on July 20th. Nierop – persistently referred to as “Driekruis” by Bloch in his texts due to his contributions signed with “XXX” – calls for thanked God for the rescue of the “Führer”; unlike the National Socialists, however, church representatives would not want to join in the hymn. Bloch knows: “No one else joins in, all wait and remain silent.” Only when Hitler is defeated will there be rejoicing throughout the country.
Usually, lupine flour was used as animal feed, but now it is being used to replace chicken eggs. “The lupine is making a career,” Curt Bloch mocks. lupine eggs are just one of many substitute items encountered in Germany due to the emergency caused by Hitler. But this particular example highlights: they have “degraded the German people to livestock.”
From the fact that there is currently fighting on all fronts, Bloch draws a joyful perspective for himself and his work as an OWC publisher: freedom is being born, the war is almost won, and the OWC is now entering its final phase, soon he can start with the “peace cabaret.”
