The villagers decide to hide in a well.
The Germans stop near the well. One says, “Where are they?”
From the bottom of the well, one villager tries to imitate an echo: “Where are they…”
The second German says, “Maybe they’re in the cornfield.”
The villager again echoes: “In the cornfield…”
Then one German grins and says, “Let’s throw a grenade in the well just in case.”
The villager quickly yells: “Or maybe they’re in the cornfield!!!”
Joke Poo: The Focus Group
Two Marketing Execs in a conference room are desperately trying to figure out why their new soda isn’t selling.
They decide to eavesdrop on a focus group discussing the product from behind a one-way mirror.
The moderator asks the group, “What do you think of the new ‘Citrus Blast’ soda?”
From the other side of the mirror, one exec tries to sound like he’s part of the group, mimicking the general sentiment: “…It’s kinda flat…”
The second exec whispers, “Maybe it’s the aftertaste, people keep mentioning a metallic tang…”
The first exec, still trying to blend in echoes: “…A metallic tang…”
Then the second exec, frustrated, says, “Alright, let’s add more sugar and green food coloring. That always works!”
The first exec yells out, “Actually, it’s GREAT just the way it is!!!”
Alright, let’s dive into this classic WWII joke.
Joke Dissection:
- Core Elements: WWII setting, German soldiers, fleeing villagers, a well as a hiding place, the “echo” trick, and a twist ending with the villager blowing their cover.
- Humor Source: The humor comes from the villager’s initial cleverness in using the echo to mislead the Germans, followed by their utter panic and desperation when faced with a more serious threat. It’s situational irony meets slapstick (implied grenade explosion).
- Target: The joke gently pokes fun at both the Germans (portrayed as slightly dim) and the villagers (whose clever plan unravels spectacularly).
Comedic Enrichment – “Did You Know?” & New Joke Idea:
Did You Know? – The Perilous History of Wells:
While wells are often seen as idyllic, throughout history they’ve been locations of much more than just fetching water.
- Disease Vectors: Before modern sanitation, wells could be breeding grounds for disease. The “Village Well” wasn’t just a source of life; it was a potential source of dysentery, cholera, and other nasty ailments.
- Strategic Importance: In sieges, controlling or poisoning wells was a common tactic. A well could become a critical strategic asset, a battleground in itself. So hiding in one was often a gamble!
- Burial Sites: Sadly, they were also sometimes used to hide unwanted consequences.
New Joke Idea (Playing on the historical peril of wells):
Two Prussian soldiers in the Franco-Prussian War capture a local farmer. They demand to know where the rest of his family is hiding.
The farmer, desperately trying to protect his family, points towards the village well and sighs: “They are gone… lost to cholera”.
The first Prussian, skeptical, leans over the well and shouts down “ARE YOU DOWN THERE?!”
A muffled voice shouts back “No! We are definitely not in the cornfield!”
The second Prussian, confused, turns to his comrade and says “Why are they screaming in English?”
The first Prussian smirks, “They’re playing a very clever game. But there’s another voice replying in German, so they’re a bit too obvious for us, don’t you think?”