Questions About Three Comrades

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Do we ever learn which political faction Gottfried Lenz is a member of? When Otto and Robert search for him, they begin at a rally that seems to echo those of National Socialism. He isn't there. I feel like the murderer with yellow pants is a clue (perhaps he is a Nazi and Lenz is a Communist). I'd love your thoughts.

Curtis To me, Remarque is keeping all of the political factions vague on purpose. If he'd specified a party, he'd risk having the reader's political bias inf…moreTo me, Remarque is keeping all of the political factions vague on purpose. If he'd specified a party, he'd risk having the reader's political bias inform their reading of those scenes, and having the reader root for one gang or another. By keeping Lenz's faction vague, the reader can focus on the point--these factions are all opportunists preying on the desperation, fear and aimlessness of the people. They turn those who could be comrades against each other.

On the other hand, when that gang show up to break up Lenz' political meeting, Otto refers to the thugs as a 'stormtroop,' which were basically the Nazi's hired thugs. They would often brutalize political opponents of all types, but mostly focused on attacking/killing communists. Stormtroopers were also a special type of soldier from Imperial Germany/WW1, so there might be a double entendre there. :)(less)

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Ruxandra

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Rất muốn mua quyển này ở VN (sách xịn nhé). Không biết có ai giúp không nhỉ?

Peter Google translate says ”I really want to buy this book in Vietnam (good book). Don't know if anyone can help?”

But probably anyone who knows the answer …moreGoogle translate says ”I really want to buy this book in Vietnam (good book). Don't know if anyone can help?”

But probably anyone who knows the answer would already be able to read it. I borrowed my electronic copy from my local library.(less)

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