Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Tony 1963]

I read the following:

"Some of the best humor against the Nazis went right over their heads. Sigmund Freud was living in Vienna when the Germans marched into the city. They arrested him but then offered to let him leave the country if he signed a statement saying he had not been mistreated. Freud sat down and wrote the following note:

To Whom It May Concern:
I can heartily recommend the Gestapo to anyone.
Signund Freud"

What's the laughing point?
Thank you.
Tony

[pugachevV]

The Gestapo, (Geheime Staatspolizei) (Secret State Police) were a very efficient and terrifyingly cruel police force used by the NAZIs to ensure state security during the period of Hitler's government.
They were feared by everybody, thus, when Freud writes, "I can heartily recommend the Gestapo to anybody". On the face of it it's a compliment, but given the reign of terror that the Gestapo was responsible for over the German population. It can be seen, in retrospect, for the tongue-in cheek sarcasm that it was. The Gestapo hierarchy, being particularly humourless, took it at face value.

[Tony 1963]

It sure helped.