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"Der gluckliche Krieger", c. 1884 by George Frederick
Watts (1817-1904) - Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Germany .
Comment: this portrayal of death as "gluck" or "luck"
probably reflects militaristic ideas of the time. Two
world wars followed and devastated Germany and
annihilated millions of people. Nonetheless, today those
who will stay home continue to deceive their own youth
to think that to die for the "fatherland" is a good
fortune. Death of a young being is a tragedy that
most mothers understand.
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