A great war shall burst forth from fishes of steel. Machines of flying fire, lobsters, grasshoppers, mosquitoes. The mass attacks shall be repulsed in the woods, when no child in Germany shall obey any longer.

The quote "A great war shall burst forth from fishes of steel. Machines of flying fire, lobsters, grasshoppers, mosquitoes. The mass attacks shall be repulsed in the woods, when no child in Germany shall obey any longer." is attributed to the famous 16th-century prophet and seer Nostradamus. This cryptic passage is often interpreted as describing a future conflict involving mechanized warfare, potentially alluding to the use of tanks (fishes of steel), aerial bombers (machines of flying fire), and possibly even chemical warfare (represented by insects like mosquitoes). Nostradamus' use of metaphorical and symbolic language has led many to speculate that he was predicting World War II or a similar catastrophic conflict.

The imagery of machines of "flying fire" and "fishes of steel" suggests advanced military technology, specifically referencing the airplanes and tanks used during World War II. The mention of lobsters, grasshoppers, and mosquitoes adds to the mysterious nature of the prophecy, possibly referring to smaller, more agile forces, such as infantry or light tanks. These elements combine to evoke a sense of an overwhelming and multifaceted military assault, with mass attacks being repelled in the woods, potentially hinting at resistance movements or guerrilla warfare.

The reference to no child in Germany obeying any longer could be seen as a metaphor for the collapse of authority or the breakdown of societal norms in the face of total war. It might suggest a revolution or a moment of intense social upheaval, where even the youngest and most impressionable members of society reject the forces of oppression, likely pointing to the eventual downfall of regimes like Nazi Germany.

In essence, this quote from Nostradamus paints a vivid picture of a future marked by technological warfare, societal collapse, and resistance. While the exact meaning remains speculative, it reflects his characteristic style of writing, full of metaphor and ambiguity, which has been subject to various interpretations over the centuries. The prophecy resonates particularly with those who see echoes of these descriptions in the global conflicts of the 20th century, especially the rise of mechanized warfare during World War II.