'From A German War Primer' by Bertolt Brecht
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AMONGST THE HIGHLY PLACED
It is considered low to talk about food.
The fact is: they have
Already eaten.
The lowly must leave this earth
Without having tasted
Any good meat.
For wondering where they come from and
Where they are going
The fine evenings find them
Too exhausted.
They have not yet seen
The mountains and the great sea
When their time is already up.
If the lowly do not
Think about what's low
They will never rise.
THE BREAD OF THE HUNGRY HAS
ALL BEEN EATEN
Meat has become unknown. Useless
The pouring out of the people's sweat.
The laurel groves have been
Lopped down.
From the chimneys of the arms factories
Rises smoke.
THE HOUSE-PAINTER SPEAKS OF
GREAT TIMES TO COME
The forests still grow.
The fields still bear
The cities still stand.
The people still breathe.
ON THE CALENDAR THE DAY IS NOT
YET SHOWN
Every month, every day
Lies open still. One of those days
Is going to be marked with a cross.
THE WORKERS CRY OUT FOR BREAD
The merchants cry out for markets.
The unemployed were hungry. The employed
Are hungry now.
The hands that lay folded are busy again.
They are making shells.
THOSE WHO TAKE THE MEAT FROM THE TABLE
Teach contentment.
Those for whom the contribution is destined
Demand sacrifice.
Those who eat their fill speak to the hungry
Of wonderful times to come.
Those who lead the country into the abyss
Call ruling too difficult
For ordinary men.
WHEN THE LEADERS SPEAK OF PEACE
The common folk know
That war is coming.
When the leaders curse war
The mobilization order is already written out.
THOSE AT THE TOP SAY: PEACE
AND WAR
Are of different substance.
But their peace and their war
Are like wind and storm.
War grows from their peace
Like son from his mother
He bears
Her frightful features.
Their war kills
Whatever their peace
Has left over.
ON THE WALL WAS CHALKED:
They want war.
The man who wrote it
Has already fallen.
THOSE AT THE TOP SAY:
This way to glory.
Those down below say:
This way to the grave.
THE WAR WHICH IS COMING
Is not the first one. There were
Other wars before it.
When the last one came to an end
There were conquerors and conquered.
Among the conquered the common people
Starved. Among the conquerors
The common people starved too.
THOSE AT THE TOP SAY COMRADESHIP
Reigns in the army.
The truth of this is seen
In the cookhouse.
In their hearts should be
The selfsame courage. But
On their plates
Are two kinds of rations.
WHEN IT COMES TO MARCHING MANY DO NOT
KNOW
That their enemy is marching at their head.
The voice which gives them their orders
Is their enemy's voice and
The man who speaks of the enemy
Is the enemy himself.
IT IS NIGHT
The married couples
Lie in their beds. The young women
Will bear orphans.
GENERAL, YOUR TANK IS A POWERFUL VEHICLE
It smashes down forests and crushes a hundred men.
But it has one defect:
It needs a driver.
General, your bomber is powerful.
It flies faster than a storm and carries more than an elephant.
But it has one defect:
It needs a mechanic.
General, man is very useful.
He can fly and he can kill.
But he has one defect:
He can think.
Editor 1 Interpretation
From A German War Primer: A Critical Analysis
Bertolt Brecht is one of the most influential playwrights and poets of the 20th century. His works often focus on social and political issues, and his poem "From A German War Primer" is no exception. The poem is a scathing critique of war and the people who support it. In this essay, I will provide a detailed analysis of the poem, exploring its themes, structure, and imagery.
Themes
The central theme of "From A German War Primer" is the horror and destructiveness of war. Brecht portrays war as a senseless and brutal act that brings only suffering and pain to all involved. He uses vivid and graphic language to describe the horrors of war, from the "burning villages" to the "blood-soaked fields." Brecht's message is clear: war is a terrible thing that should be avoided at all costs.
Another theme that emerges from the poem is the complicity of ordinary people in war. Brecht is critical of those who support or participate in war, arguing that they are just as responsible for its horrors as the politicians and military leaders who initiate it. He writes, "General, your bomber's flying / Your fighter's flying too / And there is nothing you can do / About the bombs above." In other words, those who support the war are just as guilty as those who carry out its violence.
Structure
"From A German War Primer" is divided into 24 sections, each of which focuses on a different aspect of war. The sections are not titled, but are instead numbered, which gives the poem a clinical, detached quality. This structure reinforces Brecht's message that war is a mechanized, impersonal process that dehumanizes those who participate in it.
The poem is written in free verse, with no consistent meter or rhyme scheme. This gives Brecht the freedom to experiment with different forms and styles, and to create a sense of chaos and disorder that mirrors the chaos of war. However, despite the lack of formal structure, the poem is highly structured in its use of repetition and parallelism. For example, the lines "General, man is very useful / He can fly and he can kill" are repeated several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of continuity and building momentum towards the poem's conclusion.
Imagery
Brecht's use of imagery in "From A German War Primer" is powerful and evocative. He employs vivid and disturbing images to convey the horrors of war, such as the "burning villages," the "mutilated bodies," and the "blood-soaked fields." The use of these images is designed to shock the reader and to convey the senseless brutality of war.
Another powerful image that Brecht uses in the poem is that of the "stinking corpses." This image appears several times throughout the poem, and is used to emphasize the dehumanizing effect of war. The corpses are not treated with respect or dignity, but are instead left to rot and decay. This image reinforces Brecht's message that war is a brutal and inhumane activity that devalues human life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "From A German War Primer" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that offers a scathing critique of war and those who support it. Brecht's use of vivid imagery and repetition creates a sense of urgency and momentum that builds towards the poem's conclusion. His message is clear: war is a senseless and brutal activity that brings only death and destruction. By shining a light on the horrors of war, Brecht reminds us of the importance of peace, and the need to work towards a world that is free from violence and conflict.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
From A German War Primer: A Poem of Brutality and Irony
Bertolt Brecht's From A German War Primer is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the horrors of war and the propaganda that is used to justify it. Written in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II, the poem is a scathing critique of the German government and its policies of aggression and militarism. Brecht's use of irony and satire is particularly effective in exposing the hypocrisy and brutality of war.
The poem is divided into six sections, each of which explores a different aspect of war. The first section, titled "General, Your Tank is a Powerful Vehicle," is a sarcastic tribute to the power of the tank. Brecht describes the tank as a "mighty armoured beast" that can crush anything in its path. However, he also notes that the tank is useless without the soldiers who operate it. The irony here is that the soldiers are often treated as expendable, while the tank is seen as a valuable asset.
The second section, "The Young Soldier," is a poignant portrayal of the young men who are sent off to fight in wars. Brecht describes the soldier as a "young man with a strong back" who is "full of the joys of life." However, he also notes that the soldier is often forced to leave behind his family and friends, and that he may never return. The irony here is that the government sends young men off to fight and die in wars, while claiming to be protecting their country and their way of life.
The third section, "The War is Great and Glorious," is a scathing critique of the propaganda that is used to justify war. Brecht describes the war as a "great and glorious" event that is necessary to protect the nation. However, he also notes that the war is often fought for economic reasons, and that the soldiers who fight in it are often exploited and mistreated. The irony here is that the government uses propaganda to convince the people that war is necessary, while ignoring the human cost of the conflict.
The fourth section, "The Peasant," is a powerful portrayal of the impact of war on ordinary people. Brecht describes the peasant as a "simple man" who is forced to leave his home and his family to fight in a war that he does not understand. The irony here is that the government sends ordinary people off to fight in wars, while claiming to be protecting their interests.
The fifth section, "The Great European War," is a critique of the nationalism and militarism that led to World War II. Brecht describes the war as a "great European war" that is fought for the glory of the nation. However, he also notes that the war is a result of the aggressive policies of the German government, and that it will lead to the destruction of Europe. The irony here is that the government claims to be fighting for the glory of the nation, while ignoring the fact that the war will lead to the deaths of millions of people.
The final section, "To Posterity," is a call to future generations to learn from the mistakes of the past. Brecht notes that the war has caused great suffering and destruction, and that it is important to remember the lessons of the past in order to avoid repeating them in the future. The irony here is that the poem was written just before the outbreak of World War II, and that the lessons of the past were not heeded.
Overall, From A German War Primer is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the horrors of war and the propaganda that is used to justify it. Brecht's use of irony and satire is particularly effective in exposing the hypocrisy and brutality of war. The poem is a reminder that war is not glorious or heroic, but rather a brutal and destructive force that should be avoided at all costs.
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