The Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a short story by Heiner Müller . It was published in 1956. It describes the situation in which a National Socialist -minded father of a family from Stargard in Mecklenburg, after Hitler's suicide in April 1945, decides to kill himself and his family, a common phenomenon in the last days of the war . For example, 120 people were killed in Stargard alone. Feared or actually experienced war crimes of the Red Army often played a role in addition to blind fanaticism up to the death .
content
Festively adorned with the Iron Cross, the father of the family asks his wife and daughter whether they are willing to die with him out of loyalty to Hitler. On the way out of the city into the forest, he lets the women go ahead. In the meantime, he cannot clarify whether he should fear that she will run away from him or whether it should not be better for him to run away himself. He gives up his intention of throwing the weapon away as the women wait for him. While his wife clings to him crying, he shoots his daughter, then his screaming wife. He does not kill himself because no one can order him to commit suicide, nor can anyone see him. After that, he does not go home, but runs away westward. After determining that his situation is not hopeless, he throws away the weapon and the iron cross.
interpretation
The story is shocking because it shows how fanaticism and blind obedience destroy people's lives and happiness, that even the perpetrators themselves can become victims of their violent attitudes. At the same time, the cowardice of the apparently loyal Nazis is exposed , who are ready to murder others, but shy away from violence against themselves and basically act inconsistently in the prospect of being able to come to terms with the new rulers. The question that remains open is whether this inconsistency is to be viewed positively as a departure from false ideals or, conversely, whether the upright Nazi's obvious lack of mind is criticized.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Beate Lakotta: Bury it deep, don't touch it . In: Spiegel Special from 2005-03-30 . No. 2 , 2005.