Ausser meiner Kompetenz

[Richard Hargreaves]

"Warum haben wir sie denn nicht in ihren Wohnungen gelassen?"
"Befehl der Gauleitung, zugegeben, ein blödsinniger Befehl, aber haben wir nötig, die Gauleitung zu kritisieren?"
"Aber wir können diese Menschen doch nicht draußen erfrieren lassen?" Doktor Schulz nahm sein nervöses Umhergehen wieder auf, dabei sprach er: "Laß gefälligst diese Zweihunderttausend wild werden, halbverhungert bei wieder fast zwanzig Grad Kälte ...", er blieb wieder vor Wichmann stehen und fragte hart: "Bitte, was dann?"

"Why haven't we left them in their apartments then?"
"Orders of the Gau leadership, admittedly, stupid orders, but can we criticise the Gau leadership?"
"But we can't let these people freeze outside." Doctor Schulz continued to walk around nervously, then he spoke: " ... ",

he stopped in front of Wichmann and asked bluntly: "Please, what next?"

Can't get Laß gefälligst diese Zweihunderttausend wild werden, halbverhungert bei wieder fast zwanzig Grad Kälte.

[vkun]

That's quite clumsy because of the almost literal translation:

Kindly (or perhaps: for god's sake) let those twohundred thousand (people) go crazy, half-starved in again almost 20 degrees cold.

[Richard Hargreaves]

Thanks Vkun.

That really was as awkward as thought it was.

[Howard]

May be something like " Just let those 200,000 go wild, half-starved when its 20 below again" he stopped in front of Wichmann again and said harshly: "Tell me, what then?"

I think he means wild here as the opposite of civilised, tame etc, not that it's party time!

[Richard Hargreaves]

Thanks Howard. I had a feeling it was a "Let them eat cake moment." You can't beat compassionate Nazis...