(based on his last speech to the Dutch people)
Regarding the food supply, until September 1944, each Dutch person was allocated: 1,800 grams of bread, 150 grams of gro¬ceries, 250 grams of sugar, 125 grams of butter, 100 grams of cheese, 3 kg of potatoes, and 1¾ litres of milk per distribution period. Now, this seems like a fairy tale, and yet these rations could be maintained until the autumn 1945 harvest, thanks to Germany‘s accommodating attitude. Delays could possibly occur in some districts, but the central organs of the Reich were willing to send bread grain to the Netherlands, although this was not necessary according to a strict interpretation of the Hague Land Warfare Regulations. This grain was exchanged for vegetables: if the Netherlands were to export more vegetables than the intended quantity, they would also receive more food, mainly grain. As in previous years, therefore, an equal consideration would be provided. If everything had remained the same, we could have faced the food situation in 1945 with some peace of mind. That has all changed now. We all know, regardless of our differing opinions, that the already extremely tense transportation situation in the Netherlands was brutally ended in September. This was not only due to the railway strike but also the collapse of a large part of inland shipping. – 9-1-45
How generous the Germans are
How good the Germans are to us,
Sometimes I thought Germany is stripping us.
But when I read what Seyss said, I must
say: No, that isn’t so,
The opposite is exactly right,
Because Germany gave us grain as a gift,
They apparently had too much.
Whose bread I eat, whose song I sing,
I did the opposite:
I wrote many anti-Krauts things,
While I ate German grain.
I poorly repaid the kindness,
The people who gave us food
I slandered and insulted,
I constantly criticized them.
I see it now and I accuse
Myself of ingratitude
And that’s why I write a poem,
In which I say, I’m sorry.
Not before ‘40 things have been
Going well for me and I feel good,
I feel happy, I feel free,
And just like me, the rest
Thanks to Adolf Hitler and Seyss
The Netherlands was well fed,
We lived in a paradise,
We lived quietly, lived sweetly.
What Seyss did, was well done,
He gave us a generous bread ration,
From Germany came plenty of grain,
And with this grain, we could make do.
We lived peacefully, lived quietly,
And never appreciated it,
Our life here was idyllic,
He ruled us excellently.
But now the Netherlands has screwed it up
No wonder people are starving.
Yes, if you look at it precisely
It is a natural fact
It’s our own stupid fault
That hunger and shortage prevail,
The granary was fully filled,
We had vegetables, butter, bacon.
And everything our hearts desired,
We had coffee, had tea,
Seyss ruled us excellently,
Only as a result of the strike we became miserable
Deprived of what is necessary,
Of fuel, clothing, food, and drink,
Only since September things have gone wrong,
How gladly I would thank Seyss
For milk and cheese and bacon and grain
For clothing, coal, coffee, tea,
For all he’s done,
But … I better wait for peace.
Post-Editing: Robert Saunders
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