Poetry

Volkssturm

A photo from the last days of the Reich: An old man with forage cap and arm-band Lifting a Panzerfaust, under the cold eyes Of instructors, readying for a final stand. From the east the Red Army is pouring in, From the West bombers blacken the sky. The men have makeshift uniforms and weapons And a few hours left in which to die. In a mix of worn and shabby clothes: Civilian suits and arm-bands Uniforms stripped from corpses, Wooden legs and artificial hands. The very sight of them should crush morale. The hangman waits for those who would betray…

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