The attempts made by the Romanian government in the face of the revolutionary turmoil of the year 1917 to clarify relations with the neighboring country lead to a journey by Antonescu to Petersburg. Here, he witnesses Bolshevik agitation. Antonescu observed Lenin. “He appeared almost daily on Petropavlovsk Square, his people placed a small white table in the middle of the square, he jumped on the table, repeatedly moved his arms from top to bottom, and shouted loudly: Neva, Neva, Neva, tomorrow the Neva must be full! That was his daily address to the peasants. He meant to say that the should fill the Neva with citizens, intellectuals, and officers.” This incident has been deeply engraved in Antonescu’s memory. Since then, he knew what Bolshevism meant and also knew the tremendous danger looming over his homeland as long as this system persisted. – Koralle No. 12 – 11-6-44
The Russians have always been
Quite sympathetic to me,
But since today, it’s not the same,
They are too fanatic for me.
Now everything is crystal clear to me,
Now there is no doubt,
I now know for sure, Lenin was
A Satan and a Devil.
I didn’t see it myself,
But Marshal Antonescu did,
He saw it and I must admit,
It was gruesomely grotesque,
It truly sends shivers
Down my spine even now,
What a diabolical figure
Full of schemes and tricks.
Like Beelzebub and Alberich,
I see Lenin in a vivid way,
Almost indescribably terrible,
And hellish and fantastic.
He incites the masses
To wild cruelties,
As they have existed
Since the earliest times in this world.
Never seen before, never witnessed
Since Adam and Eve,
He stands on a table and shouts loudly
Neva! Neva!! Neva!!!
Make the Neva full for me tomorrow
With citizens, officers!
Bloodthirsty he stands there, wild,
Not moved by pity.
Antonescu witnessed it all
And he became fearful,
Of this evil, evil man
And his red hordes.
He saw that Bolshevism is
Very cruel and dangerous,
And that’s why he became a fascist,
That’s quite understandable.
Fear struck me to the core,
Lenin was quite something,
What will it be like with Stalin,
He’s even more sinister.
The Neva is not big enough
For his devilries,
No, the curse of his evil deeds
Cannot flourish there anymore.
He might be standing at Red Square
With some Olga,
And both of them shout one phrase
Only: Volga! Volga!! Volga!!!
Post-Editing: Sylvia Stawski, Ernst Sittig
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.