Late at Night by Michael Rosen

Late at night,

I’m groping through the internet,

and I find that my father’s uncle Oscar 
fought in the First World War

in the Kaiserlich und Königlich* Infantry Regiment 56.

It’s a Polish regiment who fight 
alongside the German Army

in the Austro-Hungarian Army.

Another night,

I find that my father’s uncle Martin 
fought in the First World War,

in the Deuxième Régiment Étranger.*
It’s a French regiment who fought 
against the Austro-Hungarian Army.

After the First World War,

they live near each other in France – 
near enough for Martin

to be best man

at Oscar’s wedding.

   

Fighting with the German Army 
didn’t save Uncle Oscar.

He was deported from France by 
the German Security Police

to Auschwitz,

and never came back.

Fighting with the French Army 
didn’t save Uncle Martin.

He was arrested by the French Police, 
handed over to the German Security Police, 
deported to Auschwitz,

and never came back.

*KaiserlichundKöniglich=Kings’Own

*DeuxièmeRégimentÉtranger=SecondForeignRegiment