a new phrase was making the rounds in Berlin, to be deployed upon encountering a friend or acquaintance on the street, ideally with a sardonic lift of one eyebrow: Lebst du noch? Which meant, Are you still among the living?
In Berlin, a new phrase emerged as a darkly humorous greeting among friends and acquaintances during a tense time. The phrase "Lebst du noch?" translates to "Are you still among the living?" and was often delivered with a sardonic lift of the eyebrow, reflecting the precariousness of life in a city overshadowed by fear and uncertainty.
This phrase captures the atmosphere of dread that permeated daily interactions as the Nazi regime tightened its grip on the country. In Erik Larson's "In the Garden of Beasts," the story illustrates how individuals navigated their relationships amid the terror, using humor as a coping mechanism in a deeply troubling reality.
