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'''National Socialist songs''' were written for the ] (NSDAP) in Germany.
'''Nazi songs''' were songs and ]es used in ]. In modern Germany, the public singing or performing of songs exclusively associated with ] is illegal.


Some songs which are much older than the post-] ], and which were used by the NSDAP, are often confused with songs written by them; this observation applies above all to '']'', which was written in 1841. It was made the national anthem of democratic Germany in 1922, but after 1930 the NSDAP commonly appended the '']'' to it. Also, the song '']'', which was made famous by a scene in the 1943 movie '']'', was at that time almost 100 years old.
==Background==
Some songs that are much older than the post-World War I ], and which were used by the ], are often confused with songs written for them. This observation applies above all to "], ("The song of the Germans")" written in 1841. It became the national anthem of the ] in 1922, but during the ] era, only the first stanza was used, followed by the ] song "]".<ref>{{cite book |last1=|first1=|last2= |first2= |editor-last=Geisler |editor-first=y Michael E. |title=National Symbols, Fractured Identities: Contesting the National Narrative |publisher=Middlebury |date=2005|page=71 |chapter=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CLVaSxt-sV0C&pg=PA71 |isbn=978-1584654377}}</ref>


In modern ], the public singing or performing of songs identified exclusively with ] is illegal.<ref>], German Criminal Code §86a </ref> It can be punished with up to three years of imprisonment. The above distinction is important, because in the modern ], the public singing or performing of songs identified exclusively with ] is illegal (§86a '']'') and can be punished with up to 3 years of imprisonment.


== "Horst Wessel Song" == == Horst-Wessel-Song ==
{{main article|Horst-Wessel-Lied}} {{main article|Horst-Wessel-Lied}}


The "]" ("Song of Horst Wessel"), also known as "]" ("High the Flags"), was the official anthem of the NSDAP. The song was written by ], a party activist and ] leader, who was killed by a member of the ]. After his death, he was proclaimed by the NSDAP a "martyr" and his song gained widespread popularity among the party followers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/horstwessel.html |title=Modern History Sourcebook: The Horst Wessel Song |last= Halsall|first= Paul|date=July 1998 |website=]|access-date=12 May 2018}}</ref> The '']'', also known as '']'', was the official anthem of the NSDAP. The song was written by ], a party activist and ] leader, who was killed by a member of the ]. After his death, he became regarded as a martyr and his song gained widespread popularity among the NSDAP.<ref></ref>


Public performances of the song are currently forbidden in Germany (]) and Austria (]), a ban that includes both the lyrics and the melody, and is only permitted for educational purposes. The song is currently banned in Germany and Austria for public performance (the lyrics and even just the melody) but is permitted for educational purposes.


== ''Es zittern die morschen Knochen'' ==
== "Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten" ==


''Es zittern die morschen Knochen'' "The rotten bones are trembling" by ] was, after the ''Horst-Wessel-Lied'', one of the most famous of the NSDAP's songs.<ref name="zittern_ingeb">. ''ingeb.org''.</ref> It was the official song of the Hitler Youth.
The ''Battle Song of the National Sociaists'', also known by its opening line "Herbei zum Kampf, ihr Knechte der Maschinen" was an early Nazi hymn, its lyrics being written by ], while the melody being essentially based on that of the Russian "Aviamarsh", the official march of the Soviet Air Force, written in 1921 by Yuliy Abramovich Khayt. This melody was popular in Germany in the late 1920s due to its use by German communists in the "Rote Flieger" song.


The original song's refrain (1932) was "''Denn heute, da '''gehört''' uns Deutschland und morgen die ganze Welt''" (for today, Germany '''is ours''' and tomorrow, the whole world). In a later version (1937) this was mitigated for the Hitler Youth to "''Denn heute da '''hört''' uns Deutschland''..", meaning "For today, Germany '''hears us'''...".<ref name="zittern_kgedaechtnis">{{cite web |url=http://kollektives-gedaechtnis.de/texte/vor45/lieder.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2015-12-21 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304132954/http://www.kollektives-gedaechtnis.de/texte/vor45/lieder.html |archivedate=2016-03-04 |df= }} kollektives-gedaechtnis.de ''Versions of "Es zittern die morschen Knochen"''</ref> Note: the audio refrain in the reference can easily be heard to be "Denn heute ERHÖRT uns Deutschland, und morgen die ganzen Welt." The words "da hört" cannot be heard in the audio refrain.
== "Deutschland Erwache (Heil Hitler Dir)" ==


Another variation<ref name="zittern_ingeb"/> in the first stanza reads "''Es zittern die morschen Knochen der Welt vor dem "roten Krieg''", meaning "The rotten bones of the world are trembling for the '''red''' war".
The song "Deutschland Erwache" (Germany Awaken), or "Heil Hitler Dir" (Heil Hitler to Thee), otherwise known as ''Sachsenmarsch der NSDAP'', was written by Dresden-based composer and NSDAP member Bruno C. Schestak, and premiered (in the famous surviving version performed by Carl Woitschach) in the celebrations of Hitler's 48th birthday on 20 April 1937.<ref>https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=130068</ref>


{|class="toccolours" cellpadding="10" rules="cols"
=="SS marschiert in Feindesland"==
!German lyrics<ref name="zittern_ingeb"/> !! Approximate translation<ref>Murdoch, Brian; ''Fighting Songs and Warring Words: Popular Lyrics of Two World Wars'', pp. 121-122, Routledge 1990 {{ISBN|0-415-03184-2}}</ref><br/>''note: translation is inaccurate and does not match up line-by-line''
"SS marschiert in Feindesland" ("SS marches in enemy territory") also known as "Teufelslied" ("The Devil's song")<ref>One of many German military songs thus labelled, historically. {{cite journal | editor-last=Brockhaus|editor-first=Friedrich Arnold |editor-link=Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus|date=1814 |title=Über Deutsche Vaterländische Poesie Dieser Zeit|url=|format= |journal=Deutsche Blätter |volume=5 |issue=186 |page=181 |doi= |access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref> was a marching song of the ] during ]. A marching song with the same melody was adopted by the ]<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12fgTpZoccM&bpctr=1536798084</ref>, ], ] and ] during the war.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Page Taylor |first1=Hugh|last2=Bender|first2=Roger James|title=Uniforms, Organization and History of the Waffen-SS|place=San Jose, California |publisher=R. James Bender Publisher|date=1969 |page= |chapter= |isbn=0-912138-25-4}}</ref>
|-
!colspan="2" bgcolor="lightsteelblue" |First stanza
|-
|
Es zittern die morschen Knochen,<br/>
Der Welt vor dem großen Krieg,<br/>
Wir haben den Schrecken gebrochen,<br/>
Für uns war's ein großer Sieg.<br/>
|
The rotten bones are trembling,<br/>
Of the World for the great War.<br/>
We have smashed this terror,<br/>
For us it was a great victory.<br/>
|-
!colspan="2" bgcolor="coral"|Refrain
|-
|
Wir werden weiter marschieren<br/>
Wenn alles in Scherben fällt,<br/>
Denn heute erhört uns Deutschland<br/>
Und morgen die ganze Welt.<br/>
|
We will continue to march,<br/>
When everything shatters;<br/>
Because today Germany hears/recognizes us,<br/>
And tomorrow the whole World.<br/> (repeat)
|-
!colspan="2" bgcolor="lightsteelblue"|Second stanza
|-
|
Und liegt vom Kampfe in Trümmern<br/>
Die ganze Welt zuhauf,<br/>
Das soll uns den Teufel kümmern,<br/>
Wir bauen sie wieder auf.<br/>
''refrain''<br/>
|
And if there lies in ruins from battle<br />
The whole world,<br />
therefore the devil may care;<br />
We build it up again.<br />
''refrain''<br/>
|-
!colspan="2" bgcolor="lightsteelblue"|Third stanza
|-
|
Und mögen die Alten auch schelten,<br/>
So laßt sie nur toben und schrei'n,<br/>
Und stemmen sich gegen uns Welten,<br/>
Wir werden doch Sieger sein.<br/>
''refrain''<br/>
|
And may the old people chide,<br />
So just let them rage and scream,<br />
And if worlds decide to fight us,<br />
We will still be victors.<br />
''refrain''<br/>
|-
!colspan="2" bgcolor="lightsteelblue"|Fourth stanza
|-
|
Sie wollen das Lied nicht begreifen,<br/>
Sie denken an Knechtschaft und Krieg<br/>
Derweil unsere Äcker reifen,<br/>
Du Fahne der Freiheit, flieg!<br/>
|
They don't want to understand the song,<br />
They think of slavery and war.<br />
Meanwhile, our acres ripen,<br />
Flag of freedom, fly!<br />
|-
!colspan="2" bgcolor="coral"|Fourth stanza refrain
|-
|
Wir werden weiter marschieren,<br />
Wenn alles in Scherben fällt;<br />
Die Freiheit stand auf in Deutschland<br />
Und morgen gehört ihr die Welt.<br />
|
We will continue to march,<br/>
When everything shatters;<br/>
Freedom rose in Germany,<br/>
And tomorrow the world belongs to it .<br/>
|}


== ''Deutschland erwache/Heil Hitler dir'' ==
In 2013, Stefan Gotschacher, press secretary of the ] and ] ] political party in ], was fired after posting on his ] page lyrics from the song.<ref>"" ("FPÖ fires spokesman for quoting Waffen-SS on Facebook"), '']'', 12 April 2013 (in ])</ref>.


''Deutschland erwache'' "Germany Awake", also known as ''Heil Hitler dir'' "Hail Hitler to thee" was another song favoured by the NSDAP:
=="Es zittern die morschen Knochen"==
<br/>
"Es zittern die morschen Knochen" ("The rotten bones are trembling") by ] was, after the "Horst-Wessel-Lied", one of the most famous Nazi Party songs and the official song of the ].<ref>{{cite journal |last=|first=|last2= |first2=|last-author-amp=yes |date=1935 |title=Lieder der Hitlerjugend|language=German |trans-title=Songs of the Hitler Youth|url= |format= |journal=Demokratische Blätter |volume=7 |issue=78 |pages= |doi= |access-date=12 May 2018}}</ref>
{|class="toccolours" cellpadding="10" rules="cols"
!German lyrics<ref></ref>!! Approximate translation
|-
!colspan="2" bgcolor="lightsteelblue" |First stanza
|-
|
Deutschland erwache aus deinem bösen Traum!<br/>
Gib fremden Juden in deinem Reich nicht Raum!<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Wir wollen kämpfen für dein Auferstehn''<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Arisches Blut soll nicht untergehn!''<br/>
|
Germany awake from your nightmare!<br/>
Give foreign Jews no place in your Reich!<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''We will fight for your resurgence!''<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Aryan blood shall never perish!''<br/>
|-
!colspan="2" bgcolor="lightsteelblue"|Second stanza
|-
|
All diese Heuchler, wir werfen sie hinaus,<br/>
Juda entweiche aus unserm deutschen Haus!<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Ist erst die Scholle gesäubert und rein,''<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Werden wir einig und glücklich sein!''<br/>
|
All these hypocrites, we throw them out,<br/>
Judea leave our German house!<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''If the native soil is clean and pure,''<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''we united and happy will be!''<br/>
|-
!colspan="2" bgcolor="lightsteelblue"|Third stanza
|-
|
Wir sind die Kämpfer der N.S.D.A.P.<br/>
Treudeutsch im Herzen, im Kampfe fest und zäh.<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Dem Hakenkreuze ergeben sind wir.''<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Heil unserm Führer, Heil Hitler dir!''<br/>
|
We are the fighters of the N.S.D.A.P.<br>
True Germans in heart, in battles firm and tough.<br>
''To the Swastika, devoted are we''<br/>
''Hail our Leader, Hail Hitler to thee!''<br/>
|}


==Combat songs==
The original song's refrain (1932) was "''Denn heute, da gehört uns Deutschland / und morgen die ganze Welt''" ("For today, Germany is ours / and tomorrow the whole world"). In a later version (1937) this was mitigated for the Hitler Youth to "''Denn heute da hört uns Deutschland''..." ("For today, Germany hears us...").<ref name="zittern_kgedaechtnis">{{cite web |last=Bengelsdorf|first= Reinhold|url=http://kollektives-gedaechtnis.de/texte/vor45/lieder.html |title=Lieder der SA und deren unterschiedliche|language=German |trans-title=Songs of the SA and their various lyrics|date=2002|deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304132954/http://www.kollektives-gedaechtnis.de/texte/vor45/lieder.html |archivedate=4 March 2016|accessdate=12 May 2018 |df=}}</ref>
The battle song of the NSDAP was the '''''Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten''''' by ].


=== ''Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten'' ===
==Vorwärts! Vorwärts!==
"Vorwärts! Vorwärts! schmettern die hellen Fanfaren" ("Forward! Forward! Blare the bright fanfares") is a Hitler Youth marching song. The text of the song, published in 1933, comes from ] and is based on a melody by ] composer ], originally used in a documentary on ] island.{{cn|date=September 2018}}


The melody of "Herbei zum Kampf", and hence the melody of the March of Soviet Air Force, was incorporated into this song.
"Vorwärts! Vorwärts!" was first performed in the 1933 propaganda film '']''. Motifs from the song are used throughout the film, underlying representations of the Hitler Youth, in contrast to ] and ] motifs in scenes from a socialist "commune".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.phil.uni-sb.de/projekte/imprimatur/2000/imp000209.html |title=Prümm, K: ''Hitlerjunge Quex: Psychopolitik der Nazipropaganda durch das Medium Film'' |language=German |access-date=2009-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008005116/http://www.phil.uni-sb.de/projekte/imprimatur/2000/imp000209.html |archive-date=2008-10-08 |dead-url=yes |df= }}</ref>


<poem style="margin-left:3em; float:left;">
==Sturmabteilung (SA) songs==
''Wir sind das Heer vom Hakenkreuz,''
''Hebt hoch die roten Fahnen!''
''Der deutschen Arbeit wollen wir,''
''Den Weg zur Freiheit bahnen!''


''Heraus zum Kampf, ihr Knechte der Maschinen.''
Many pre-1933 ] songs were based on older German folk melodies, while there were instances in which SA combat songs copied the melodies of rival ] songs, which were in turn based on ] marches. An example of this is the fascist song "Brüder in Zechen und Gruben" ("Brothers in mines and pits"), which copied the melody of the communist "Brüder, zur Sonne, zur Freiheit" (Brothers, to the sun, to freedom"), whose melody, in turn, belonged to the march "Smelo, tovarishchi, v nogu" ("Смело, товарищи, в ногу"; "Comrades, let's bravely march") written in 1895/6 by Leonid Radin in ]'s ].
''Nun Front gemacht der Sklavenkolonie.''
{{See|de:Brüder, zur Sonne, zur Freiheit}}
''Hört ihr denn nicht die Stimme des Gewissens,''
''den Sturm, der euch es in die Ohren schrie?''


''Ja, aufwärts der Sonne entgegen.''
==Panzerlied==
''Mit uns zeiht die neue Zeit.''
A German military marching song of the ] armoured troops (]), "]" was composed in 1933.<ref>, '']''</ref> In 2017, the ] was banned from publishing song books containing Panzerlied and other marching songs by the ] ] as part of new efforts at ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/verteidigungsministerium-stoppt-bundeswehr-liederbuch-a-1147482.html|title="Schwarzbraun ist die Haselnuss": Ministerium stoppt Bundeswehr-Liederbuch |trans-title="Dark-brown is the hazelnut": Ministry withdraws Bundeswehr songbook |date=12 May 2017 |publisher=] }}</ref>
''Wenn alle verzagen, die Fäuste geballt,''
''wir sind ja zum Letzten bereit!''

''Und höher und höher und höher,''
''wir steigen trotz Hass und Verbot.''
''Und jeder SA ruft mutig: "Heil Hitler!"''
''Wir stürzen den jüdischen Thron!''

</poem>
<poem style="margin-left:6em; float:left;">
Rough English translation:<ref>]. ''Liberty or Equality'', Christendom Press, Front Royal, Virginia, 1993. pg 268. This is referenced to: Cf. Ehart (ed) ''Unter Hitlers Fahnen: grossdeutsches Liederbuch'' (N.p..Verlag Grossdeutschland, 1932), p.&nbsp;4.</ref>

We are the army of the swastika,
Raise high the red Flags!
For the German labour we want
to clear the path to freedom!

Brought to fight, your servants of the machines.
Now the slave colony is made a front.
Do you not hear the voice of your conscience,
the storm that screams into your ears?

Yes, upwards, towards the sun.
With us comes the new era.
When all others give up, with clenched fists,
we're ready for the worst!

And higher and higher and higher,
we climb despite hatred and bans.
And every SA man shouts boldly: "Heil Hitler!"
We overthrow the Jewish throne!
</poem>

{{clear|left}}

There also exists an alternate version of ''Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten''<ref></ref>:
<poem style="margin-left:3em; float:left;">
''Wir sind das Heer vom Hakenkreuz,''
''Hebt hoch die roten Fahnen!''
''Der deutschen Arbeit wollen wir''
''Den Weg zur Freiheit bahnen!''

''Wir schließen keinen Bruderpakt''
''Mit Roten und mit Welschen,''
''Und allen, die den Freiheitsbrief''
''Des deutsche Volkes fälschen.''

''Wir schließen keinen Bruderpakt''
''Mit unseren Tyrannen''
''Und mögen sie uns hundertmal''
''Ins tiefste Elend bannen.''

''Wir schließen keinen Bruderpakt''
''Mit bangen, feigen Wichten,''
''Es gilt die große Niedertracht''
''Europas zu vernichten.''

''Wir sind das Heer vom Hakenkreuz,''
''Hebt hoch die roten Fahnen!''
''Der deutschen Arbeit wollen wir''
''Den Weg zur Freiheit bahnen!''

</poem>

<poem style="margin-left:6em; float:left;">
Rough English translation:

We are the army of the swastika,
Raise the red flags high!
We want to pave the way to freedem
For our German workers!

We do not make a brother pact
With the Reds and with non-Germanics,
And all those who falsify the certificate
Of liberty for German people.

We do not make a brother pact
With our tyrants,
And may we banish them a hundred times
Into the deepest misery.

We do not make a brother pact
With fearful, cowardly weights;
It is the great duty
Of Europe to destroy.

We are the army of the swastika,
Raise the red flags high!
We want to pave the way to freedem
For our German workers!
</poem>

{{clear|left}}

=== ''Sieg Heil Viktoria'' ===

A popular marching song of the NSDAP period, which was attributed to the ] (''Schutzstaffel'')

:''Ade, mein liebes Schätzelein,
:''Ade, ade, ade.
:''Es muß, es muß geschieden sein,
:''Ade, ade, ade.
:''Es geht um Deutschlands Gloria,
:''Gloria, Gloria.
:''Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil Viktoria!
:''Sieg Heil, Viktoria!

:Good-bye, my sweet darling,
:good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
:It has, It has to be parted,
:good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
:It is all about German glorious,
:Glorious, glorious.
:Hail! Hail ]!
:Hail the victory!

:''Visier und Ziel sind eingestellt,
:''Ade, ade, ade.
:''Auf Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt,
:''Ade, ade, ade.
:''Es geht um Deutschlands Gloria,
:''Gloria, Gloria.
:''Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil Viktoria!
:''Sieg Heil, Viktoria!

:Sight and target are adjusted,
:good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
:To Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt,
:good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
:It is about Germany's Glory,
:Glory, Glory.
:Hail! Hail the victory!
:Hail, the victory!

:''Wir ruhen und wir rasten nicht,
:''Ade, ade, ade.
:''Bis daß die Satansbrut zerbricht,
:''Ade, ade, ade.
:''Es geht um Deutschlands Gloria,
:''Gloria, Gloria.
:''Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil Viktoria!
:''Sieg Heil, Viktoria!

:We don't rest or stop,
:good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
:Until the spawn of Satan breaks,
:good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
:It is about Germany's Glory,
:Glory, Glory.
:Hail! Hail the victory!
:Hail, the victory!

:''Reich mir die Hand zum Scheidegruß,
:''Ade, ade, ade.
:''Und deinen Mund zum Abschiedskuß,
:''Ade, ade, ade.
:''Es geht um Deutschlands Gloria,
:''Gloria, Gloria.
:''Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil Viktoria!
:''Sieg Heil, Viktoria!

:Give me your hand for the parting greeting,
:good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
:And your mouth for the parting kiss,
:good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
:It is about Germany's Glory,
:Glory, Glory.
:Hail! Hail the victory!
:Hail, the victory!

==Sturmabteilung songs==

Many pre-1933 ] songs were based on older German folk melodies, while there were instances in which SA combat songs copied the melodies of rival ] songs, which were in turn based on ] marches. A famous example of this is "Brüder in Zechen und Gruben" which copied the melody of left-wing song "Brüder, zur Sonne, zur Freiheit" which in turn was based on Leonid Radin's ] march "Smelo, tovarishchi, v nogu".<ref>https://forum.axishistory.com//viewtopic.php?t=213264</ref>

A similar case is the SA song "Herbei zum Kampf, ihr Knechte der Maschinen", which shares its melody with the official march of the ]. The dominant opinion is that the SA had borrowed the melody from the ], who had used it for their "Rote Flieger" song in the 1920s (that was later to become the official march of the ])<ref>]</ref>{{Better source|reason=per WP:CIRCULAR|date=March 2018}}.


==Other music== ==Other music==
* "]" * '']
* "]" * '']
* "]" * '']
* "]" * '']
* '']
* "]"
* "]" * '']
* '']
* '']
* '']
* '']

==See also==
* ]


==References== ==References==
Line 56: Line 370:


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Frommann |first=Eberhard |date=1999 |title=Die Lieder des NS-Zeit: Untersuchungen zur nationalsozialistischen Liedpropaganda von den Anfängen bis zum Zweiten Weltkrieg |edition=1st |language=German |trans-title=The songs of the NS era: Investigations on the National Socialist propaganda songs from the beginning to the Second World War|publisher=PapyRossa|url=|isbn=3-89438-177-9 |access-date=12 May 2018}} * Frommann, Eberhard (1999). ''Die Lieder des NS-Zeit: Untersuchungen zur nationalsozialistischen Liedpropaganda von den Anfängen bis zum Zweiten Weltkrieg.'' {{ISBN|3-89438-177-9}} {{de icon}}

==External links==
*
*


{{NSDAP}} {{NSDAP}}
Line 64: Line 382:
] ]
] ]
]
]

Revision as of 19:03, 23 December 2018

National Socialist songs were written for the National Socialist German Worker's Party (NSDAP) in Germany.

Some songs which are much older than the post-World War I National-Socialist movement, and which were used by the NSDAP, are often confused with songs written by them; this observation applies above all to Das Lied der Deutschen, which was written in 1841. It was made the national anthem of democratic Germany in 1922, but after 1930 the NSDAP commonly appended the Horst-Wessel-Lied to it. Also, the song Die Wacht am Rhein, which was made famous by a scene in the 1943 movie Casablanca, was at that time almost 100 years old.

The above distinction is important, because in the modern Federal Republic of Germany, the public singing or performing of songs identified exclusively with Nazi Germany is illegal (§86a Strafgesetzbuch) and can be punished with up to 3 years of imprisonment.

Horst-Wessel-Song

Main article: Horst-Wessel-Lied

The Horst-Wessel-Lied, also known as Die Fahne Hoch, was the official anthem of the NSDAP. The song was written by Horst Wessel, a party activist and SA leader, who was killed by a member of the Communist Party of Germany. After his death, he became regarded as a martyr and his song gained widespread popularity among the NSDAP.

The song is currently banned in Germany and Austria for public performance (the lyrics and even just the melody) but is permitted for educational purposes.

Es zittern die morschen Knochen

Es zittern die morschen Knochen "The rotten bones are trembling" by Hans Baumann was, after the Horst-Wessel-Lied, one of the most famous of the NSDAP's songs. It was the official song of the Hitler Youth.

The original song's refrain (1932) was "Denn heute, da gehört uns Deutschland und morgen die ganze Welt" (for today, Germany is ours and tomorrow, the whole world). In a later version (1937) this was mitigated for the Hitler Youth to "Denn heute da hört uns Deutschland..", meaning "For today, Germany hears us...". Note: the audio refrain in the reference can easily be heard to be "Denn heute ERHÖRT uns Deutschland, und morgen die ganzen Welt." The words "da hört" cannot be heard in the audio refrain.

Another variation in the first stanza reads "Es zittern die morschen Knochen der Welt vor dem "roten Krieg", meaning "The rotten bones of the world are trembling for the red war".

German lyrics Approximate translation
note: translation is inaccurate and does not match up line-by-line
First stanza

Es zittern die morschen Knochen,
Der Welt vor dem großen Krieg,
Wir haben den Schrecken gebrochen,
Für uns war's ein großer Sieg.

The rotten bones are trembling,
Of the World for the great War.
We have smashed this terror,
For us it was a great victory.

Refrain

Wir werden weiter marschieren
Wenn alles in Scherben fällt,
Denn heute erhört uns Deutschland
Und morgen die ganze Welt.

We will continue to march,
When everything shatters;
Because today Germany hears/recognizes us,
And tomorrow the whole World.
(repeat)

Second stanza

Und liegt vom Kampfe in Trümmern
Die ganze Welt zuhauf,
Das soll uns den Teufel kümmern,
Wir bauen sie wieder auf.
refrain

And if there lies in ruins from battle
The whole world,
therefore the devil may care;
We build it up again.
refrain

Third stanza

Und mögen die Alten auch schelten,
So laßt sie nur toben und schrei'n,
Und stemmen sich gegen uns Welten,
Wir werden doch Sieger sein.
refrain

And may the old people chide,
So just let them rage and scream,
And if worlds decide to fight us,
We will still be victors.
refrain

Fourth stanza

Sie wollen das Lied nicht begreifen,
Sie denken an Knechtschaft und Krieg
Derweil unsere Äcker reifen,
Du Fahne der Freiheit, flieg!

They don't want to understand the song,
They think of slavery and war.
Meanwhile, our acres ripen,
Flag of freedom, fly!

Fourth stanza refrain

Wir werden weiter marschieren,
Wenn alles in Scherben fällt;
Die Freiheit stand auf in Deutschland
Und morgen gehört ihr die Welt.

We will continue to march,
When everything shatters;
Freedom rose in Germany,
And tomorrow the world belongs to it .

MP3 of first three stanzas

Deutschland erwache/Heil Hitler dir

Deutschland erwache "Germany Awake", also known as Heil Hitler dir "Hail Hitler to thee" was another song favoured by the NSDAP:

German lyrics Approximate translation
First stanza

Deutschland erwache aus deinem bösen Traum!
Gib fremden Juden in deinem Reich nicht Raum!
   Wir wollen kämpfen für dein Auferstehn
   Arisches Blut soll nicht untergehn!

Germany awake from your nightmare!
Give foreign Jews no place in your Reich!
   We will fight for your resurgence!
   Aryan blood shall never perish!

Second stanza

All diese Heuchler, wir werfen sie hinaus,
Juda entweiche aus unserm deutschen Haus!
   Ist erst die Scholle gesäubert und rein,
   Werden wir einig und glücklich sein!

All these hypocrites, we throw them out,
Judea leave our German house!
   If the native soil is clean and pure,
   we united and happy will be!

Third stanza

Wir sind die Kämpfer der N.S.D.A.P.
Treudeutsch im Herzen, im Kampfe fest und zäh.
   Dem Hakenkreuze ergeben sind wir.
   Heil unserm Führer, Heil Hitler dir!

We are the fighters of the N.S.D.A.P.
True Germans in heart, in battles firm and tough.
To the Swastika, devoted are we
Hail our Leader, Hail Hitler to thee!

Combat songs

The battle song of the NSDAP was the Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten by Kleo Pleyer.

Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten

The melody of "Herbei zum Kampf", and hence the melody of the March of Soviet Air Force, was incorporated into this song.

Wir sind das Heer vom Hakenkreuz,
Hebt hoch die roten Fahnen!
Der deutschen Arbeit wollen wir,
Den Weg zur Freiheit bahnen!

Heraus zum Kampf, ihr Knechte der Maschinen.
Nun Front gemacht der Sklavenkolonie.
Hört ihr denn nicht die Stimme des Gewissens,
den Sturm, der euch es in die Ohren schrie?

Ja, aufwärts der Sonne entgegen.
Mit uns zeiht die neue Zeit.
Wenn alle verzagen, die Fäuste geballt,
wir sind ja zum Letzten bereit!

Und höher und höher und höher,
wir steigen trotz Hass und Verbot.
Und jeder SA ruft mutig: "Heil Hitler!"
Wir stürzen den jüdischen Thron!

Rough English translation:

We are the army of the swastika,
Raise high the red Flags!
For the German labour we want
to clear the path to freedom!

Brought to fight, your servants of the machines.
Now the slave colony is made a front.
Do you not hear the voice of your conscience,
the storm that screams into your ears?

Yes, upwards, towards the sun.
With us comes the new era.
When all others give up, with clenched fists,
we're ready for the worst!

And higher and higher and higher,
we climb despite hatred and bans.
And every SA man shouts boldly: "Heil Hitler!"
We overthrow the Jewish throne!

There also exists an alternate version of Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten:

Wir sind das Heer vom Hakenkreuz,
Hebt hoch die roten Fahnen!
Der deutschen Arbeit wollen wir
Den Weg zur Freiheit bahnen!

Wir schließen keinen Bruderpakt
Mit Roten und mit Welschen,
Und allen, die den Freiheitsbrief
Des deutsche Volkes fälschen.

Wir schließen keinen Bruderpakt
Mit unseren Tyrannen
Und mögen sie uns hundertmal
Ins tiefste Elend bannen.

Wir schließen keinen Bruderpakt
Mit bangen, feigen Wichten,
Es gilt die große Niedertracht
Europas zu vernichten.

Wir sind das Heer vom Hakenkreuz,
Hebt hoch die roten Fahnen!
Der deutschen Arbeit wollen wir
Den Weg zur Freiheit bahnen!

Rough English translation:

We are the army of the swastika,
Raise the red flags high!
We want to pave the way to freedem
For our German workers!

We do not make a brother pact
With the Reds and with non-Germanics,
And all those who falsify the certificate
Of liberty for German people.

We do not make a brother pact
With our tyrants,
And may we banish them a hundred times
Into the deepest misery.

We do not make a brother pact
With fearful, cowardly weights;
It is the great duty
Of Europe to destroy.

We are the army of the swastika,
Raise the red flags high!
We want to pave the way to freedem
For our German workers!

Sieg Heil Viktoria

A popular marching song of the NSDAP period, which was attributed to the SS (Schutzstaffel)

Ade, mein liebes Schätzelein,
Ade, ade, ade.
Es muß, es muß geschieden sein,
Ade, ade, ade.
Es geht um Deutschlands Gloria,
Gloria, Gloria.
Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil Viktoria!
Sieg Heil, Viktoria!
Good-bye, my sweet darling,
good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
It has, It has to be parted,
good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
It is all about German glorious,
Glorious, glorious.
Hail! Hail the victory!
Hail the victory!
Visier und Ziel sind eingestellt,
Ade, ade, ade.
Auf Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt,
Ade, ade, ade.
Es geht um Deutschlands Gloria,
Gloria, Gloria.
Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil Viktoria!
Sieg Heil, Viktoria!
Sight and target are adjusted,
good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
To Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt,
good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
It is about Germany's Glory,
Glory, Glory.
Hail! Hail the victory!
Hail, the victory!
Wir ruhen und wir rasten nicht,
Ade, ade, ade.
Bis daß die Satansbrut zerbricht,
Ade, ade, ade.
Es geht um Deutschlands Gloria,
Gloria, Gloria.
Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil Viktoria!
Sieg Heil, Viktoria!
We don't rest or stop,
good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
Until the spawn of Satan breaks,
good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
It is about Germany's Glory,
Glory, Glory.
Hail! Hail the victory!
Hail, the victory!
Reich mir die Hand zum Scheidegruß,
Ade, ade, ade.
Und deinen Mund zum Abschiedskuß,
Ade, ade, ade.
Es geht um Deutschlands Gloria,
Gloria, Gloria.
Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil Viktoria!
Sieg Heil, Viktoria!
Give me your hand for the parting greeting,
good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
And your mouth for the parting kiss,
good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
It is about Germany's Glory,
Glory, Glory.
Hail! Hail the victory!
Hail, the victory!

Sturmabteilung songs

Many pre-1933 SA songs were based on older German folk melodies, while there were instances in which SA combat songs copied the melodies of rival Red Front Fighters songs, which were in turn based on Russian marches. A famous example of this is "Brüder in Zechen und Gruben" which copied the melody of left-wing song "Brüder, zur Sonne, zur Freiheit" which in turn was based on Leonid Radin's Bolshevik march "Smelo, tovarishchi, v nogu".

A similar case is the SA song "Herbei zum Kampf, ihr Knechte der Maschinen", which shares its melody with the official march of the Soviet Air Force. The dominant opinion is that the SA had borrowed the melody from the German communists, who had used it for their "Rote Flieger" song in the 1920s (that was later to become the official march of the East German Air Force).

Other music

See also

References

  1. Modern history sourcebook
  2. ^ "Es zittern die morschen Knochen". ingeb.org.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-12-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) kollektives-gedaechtnis.de Versions of "Es zittern die morschen Knochen"
  4. Murdoch, Brian; Fighting Songs and Warring Words: Popular Lyrics of Two World Wars, pp. 121-122, Routledge 1990 ISBN 0-415-03184-2
  5. Lyrics of "Deutschland erwache"
  6. Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn. Liberty or Equality, Christendom Press, Front Royal, Virginia, 1993. pg 268. This is referenced to: Cf. Ehart (ed) Unter Hitlers Fahnen: grossdeutsches Liederbuch (N.p..Verlag Grossdeutschland, 1932), p. 4.
  7. Lyrics of "Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten"
  8. https://forum.axishistory.com//viewtopic.php?t=213264
  9. ru:Авиамарш

Further reading

  • Frommann, Eberhard (1999). Die Lieder des NS-Zeit: Untersuchungen zur nationalsozialistischen Liedpropaganda von den Anfängen bis zum Zweiten Weltkrieg. ISBN 3-89438-177-9 Template:De icon

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