My son,your shiny boots and Brown shirt were a present from me: If I'd known then what I know now I'd have hanged myself from a tree. My son,when I saw your hand raised In the Hitler salute that first day I didnt know those who saluted Would see their hand wither away. My son,I can hear your voice speaking: Of a race of heroes it tells. I didnt know,guess or see that You worked in their torture cells. My son,when I saw you marching In Hitler's victorious train I didnt know he who marched off then Would never come back again. My son,you told me our country Was about to come into its own. I didnt know all it would come to Was ashes and bloodstained stone. I saw you wearing your brown shirt. I should have protested aloud For I did not know what I now know: It was your burial shroud. -BERTOLT BRECHT