AUSTRIAN CONFESSION OF A CHILD OF THE CENTURY. RECKONING WITH PAST IN "DER HERR KARL" BY HELMUT QUALTINGER AND CARL MERZ

Helmut Qualtinger’s and Carl Merz’s drama Der Herr Karl had its premiere on 15th November 1961 on Austrian national television ORF. In his monologue, Herr Karl is telling a story of his life as a witness and co-participant in crucial to both Austria and Europe historical events, from the transformation into the Austrofascist regime and the Anschluss (annexation) by Nazi Germany, through World War II, capitulation followed by occupation by Allied forces, and finally the rebuilding of Austria as a free state. His monologue, at first a funny account of his life as a typical Everyman, slowly transforms into a ‘confession’ of the main protagonist, who then condemns the whole nation for their involvement in Nazi movement and not coming to terms with their difficult past.