Anzac Day: 25th April

[Peter Roberts]

Australian Memorial Park, Fromelles, France



Pheasant Wood Cemetery, France



Australian Cemetery, Nunhead, UK

​

And I can't help but wonder, now Willie McBride,
Do all those who lie here know why they died?
Did you really believe them when they told you the Cause?
Did you really believe that this war would end wars?

Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame
The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain,
For Willie McBride, it all happened again,
And again, and again, and again, and again.

No Man's Land: Eric Bogle

​

 

[Gianluca Drago]

There is an echo of Brecht in the words of this song.

 

[Stefan Wilde]

Er fiel im Oktober 1918, an einem Tag, der so ruhig und still war an der ganzen Front, dass der Heeresbericht sich nur auf den Satz beschränkte, im Westen sei nichts Neues zu melden.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

Er fiel im Oktober 1918, an einem Tag, der so ruhig und still war an der ganzen Front, dass der Heeresbericht sich nur auf den Satz beschränkte, im Westen sei nichts Neues zu melden.

Erich Maria Remarque?

 

[Stefan Wilde]

Erich Maria Remarque?

Yes, the last sentence of All Quiet On The Western Front.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

Erich Maria Remarque?

I was thinking of Bertolt Brecht.

Der Krieg, der kommen wird
Ist nicht der erste. Vor ihm
Waren andere Kriege.
Als der letzte vorüber war
Gab es Sieger und Besiegte.
Bei den Besiegten das niedere Volk
Hungerte. Bei den Siegern
Hungerte das niedere Volk auch.

 

[Stefan Wilde]

I was thinking of Bertolt Brecht.

Yes, those are powerful words. They all express how a human life seems to be a negligible quantity to those who plunge nations into war. There is no respect or appreciation, let alone awe for the preciousness of each single life, all the effort, care, hope and love that goes into raising each one of our kind. All that is so easily forgotten once a dictator decides he doesn't like a line on a map...

 

[Peter Roberts]

Er fiel im Oktober 1918, an einem Tag, der so ruhig und still war an der ganzen Front, dass der Heeresbericht sich nur auf den Satz beschränkte, im Westen sei nichts Neues zu melden.

Und sehr wirklich gesprochen, Stefan.

My subject is war, and the pity of war: Wilfred Owen (Died 4th Nov 1918)

 

[Peter Roberts]

I was thinking of Bertolt Brecht.

Yes, it's always the little people who bear the suffering. Never the leaders.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

It's hard for me to follow the thread here My knowledge of German language is equal to zero (Bitte Google, Hilfe!).

 

[Peter Roberts]

It's hard for me to follow the thread here My knowledge of German language is equal to zero (Bitte Google, Hilfe!).

Und sehr wirklich gesprochen. Literally translates to 'And very truly spoken'.

 

[Stefan Wilde]

Sorry, will go back to English immediately! I just thought I'd use German to underscore how supposed enemies can find themselves feeling much alike, no matter the language or the culture.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

I know a bit of Brecht poetry because my wife graduated with a thesis about him. Remarque, I haven't read him, but I listened to an extract from "All Quiet On The Western Front" at the radio, and it was a strong/powerful experience.

 

[Stefan Wilde]

I know a bit of Brecht poetry because my wife graduated with a thesis about him. Remarque, I haven't read him, but I listened to an extract from "All Quiet On The Western Front" at the radio, and it was a strong/powerful experience.

 

[Stefan Wilde]

I am impressed by your wife's achievement! I know very little Brecht and am not very well versed in literature at all. However, I read Remarqu and he has given a powerful account of the experience of a generation. He is on one side of the spectrum of the German post war literature, yet there were more controversial authors such as Ernst Jünger and also pro-war authors. I have no idea at all about the literary reception of the first world War in Italy - I'm just guessing you are Italian, Gianluca?

 

[Peter Roberts]

supposed enemies can find themselves feeling much alike

Well said, Stefan.

Alike unto death sadly. Langemark German Cemetery, France:

 

[Stefan Wilde]

Well said, Stefan.

Alike unto death sadly. Langemark German Cemetery, France:

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View attachment 19400View attachment 19401

Those pictures capture the atmosphere extremely well. Thank you.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

I'm just guessing you are Italian, Gianluca?

Yes, Stefan, I am.