Hitler in Vienna - March 1938

"If all the Jews would be like you,
The world would be a better place",
Said my friend, Fritz, a Hitler Youth,
With great tact and some grace,
"Hitler will speak in Vienna today,
If you want to see him - just say,
I'll bring you a Hitler Youth outfit,
Give me your size
So you'll have the right fit",
I said to Fritz, "I'll go - it's done
But please, don't tell my mom".

As I stood in line with the
Hitler Youth squads,
German army and SS troops appeared,
Steel helmets and bayonets
Gleaming in the sun,
And as 100.000 Austrians wildly cheered,
Flags waving, tanks in rows
And Stuka dive bombers in the blue sky,
Hitler spoke and emotions ran high
And I felt a powerful euphoria,
An experience - strong and quite new,
But suddenly I asked myself:
'What the hell is it - I do,
I don't belong here,
I am a Jew!'

Alfred Charasz
Copyright 2008 Alfred Charasz