A BOOK of jokes told during the Nazi era goes on sale this week, breaking a long-standing taboo in Germany and — according to its author — demonstrating that Germans were not taken in by Hitler.

Heil Hitler, The Pig is Dead, by the film director Rudolph Herzog shows how people made fun of the Nazi top brass and how the Jews made light of their persecution. “Historians of the 1950s suggested that the Germans were hypnotised by the demon Hitler with his propaganda. The jokes show they saw through it,” Herr Herzog said.

“Political jokes weren't a form of active resistance but valves for pent-up public anger. They were told in pubs, on the street and this suited the Nazi regime which was deeply humourless. People who released their frustration through jokes didn't go out on the street and demonstrate.”

The Nazis banned criticism of the regime, but court cases usually resulted in a warning or a fine. By the end of the war, however, a joke could get you killed. A Berlin munitions worker was executed for telling this one: Hitler and Göring are standing on top of Berlin's radio tower. Hitler says he wants to do something to cheer up the people of Berlin. “Why don't you just jump?” suggests Göring.

A fellow worker overheard her telling the joke and reported her to the authorities.

HEARD THE ONE ABOUT HITLER AND THE LUNATIC ASYLUM?

As the persecution of the Jews worsened, they relied upon humour: Levi and Hirsch meet in the African jungle, each with a rifle. “What are you doing here?” asks Hirsch. “I’ve got an ivory carving business in Alexandria and I shoot my own elephants,” says Levi. “And you?” “I manufacture crocodile leather goods in Port Said and shoot my own crocodiles — and what happened to our friend Simon?”

“He’s turned into a real adventurer. He stayed in Berlin.”

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