A thousand thanks, Grishka.

Your explanation makes considerably greater sense to me
than what Yves Keler, the french-language commentator,
explained -- maybe Keler is correct but
it was hard work for me to follow his reasoning.

Very good -- grittig Grabwurm, greedy worms in the grave.

Ferocious wars, mild satire:
It reminds me of the 20th-century Johnny Mercer, the songwriter,
saying "Accentuate The Positive,"
as the lyric is as upbeat as it is mordant.
The soldier is grateful to be alive and
he looks for the sunny side of life, as another song says,
and finds things to joke about.

"Air to breathe,
Water to drink,
and potatoes to eat!"