One of Carl Zuckmayer’s best known dramas,
Des Teufels General[
The Devil’s General, 1946] deals with serious moral issues of the Germans under Hitler’s regime during World War II. The play is a classic three-act drama set in and around Berlin, with a title for each act:
Erster Akt — Höllenmaschine[
Act One — Hell Machine], set in a reserved room of the old German “Otto’s Restaurant”;
Zweiter Akt — Galgenfrist oder Die Hand[
Act Two — Hangman Time or The Hand] takes place in General Harras’ apartment in the “New West”, a large studio on the top floor of a modern house; and
Dritter Akt — Verdammnis[
Act Three — Damnation] is set in the technical office of a military airport close to Berlin.
Zuckmayer developed the main components of the play during his exile
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Citation: Yang, Peter J.. "Des Teufels General". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 May 2017 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35868, accessed 14 December 2024.]