The Oppermans ... Book Two: Today

Punked: Donald Trump pardons two war criminals and the country shrugs but the world is watching


Days later the newspapers announced that Richard Karper, editor of the Tagesanzeiger, had been stabbed by a young hothead. The youth, a certain Werner Rittersteg, what was in the Lower Sixth of Queen Louise School explained that he had remonstrated with the editor about his notorious article on the Leader and that Karper had seized and attempted to strangle him, so that he had no choice but to use his knife in self-defence. The papers reported that Rittersteg, after examination, had been discharged.

Rittersteg père, a wealthy merchant, who held four honorary appointments, gave his son a good box on the ear on the impulse of the moment. Rittersteg mère burst into tears on account of the disgrace which the Lad had brought upon her. But soon it turned out that Long Lummox, (his nickname) was no scoundrel but a hero. The Nationalist newspapers, Fox News of the day, published his photograph. They pointed out that, although the young man’s deed could not be unconditionally approved of, it was nevertheless easy to understand that a German youth would be aroused to do violence on account of the dead man’s dastardly assertions. Rittersteg père’s acquaintances rang up to congratulate him. He was appointed to two more honorary positions. After 24 hours Ritterstag’s parents had forgotten how they had first reacted to what had happened. To them, too, the lad was now a hero . After 48 hours Rittersteg père would have been able to swear, with a good conscience, that he had always expected his heroic son to accomplish some such patriotic act. In spite of the bad times he rashly promised to let the lad have an outboard engine installed in his rowing-boat for the spring.

Dr. Voogelsand was filled with the deepest dissatisfaction. The case proved how impressionable  German youth  was if only one knew how to manage them. A mere hint was enough to get them off in the right direction. Werner Rittersteg was one of those youngsters who would be certain to efface everything evil, corrupt, and disintegrating in Germany.

What does not suit you
You must abjure;
What harms your soul
Never endure.

18 of the 26 boys in the Lower Sixth were now Nationalists.

(Excerpt from Lion Feuchtwanger’s, The Oppermans)