Nazi songs

Nazi songs deals with songs that were written for the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany.

Some songs which are much older than the post-World War I Nazi movement, and which were used by the Nazis, are often confused with Nazi songs; 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 Nazis 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.

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 Nazi activist and SA leader, who was killed by a member of the Communist Party of Germany and subsequently considered a martyr by his National Socialist comrades.[1]

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 Nazi songs.[2] 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...".[3] 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[2] 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 [because of] the red war".

German lyrics[2] Approximate translation[4]
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 [because of] 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 [even] 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 ["it" meaning "freedom", not Germany].

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 Nazis:

German lyrics[5] 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 Nazi Party was the Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten by Kleo Pleyer.

Kampflied der Nationalsozialisten (Nazi Combat Song)

Sample:

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

Rough English translation:[1]

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

  1. ^ 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.


Another song by Kleo Pleyer:[1]

Wir Nationalen Sozialisten,
Wir wollen keine Reaktion
Wir hassen Juden und Marxisten
Ein Hoch der deutschen Revolution
(Refrain)
Drum Bruder auf die Barrikaden!
Der Führer ruft, so folget gleich
Die Reaktion hat ihn verraten,
Und dennoch kommt das Dritte Reich!

  1. ^ From G. Feder, Das Programm der NSDAP (Munich: Eher, 1936 [Nationalsozialistische Bibliothek, Heft I]), last page.



We National Socialists
Want no reaction (no Reactionaries)
We hate Jews and Marxists
Long live the German Revolution!
(refrain)
Onward, brothers, to the barricades!
The Führer calls, follow him now!
Reaction has betrayed him
But the Third Reich comes nevertheless.

Sieg Heil Viktoria

A popular marching song of the Nazi 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 about Germany's Glory,
Glory, Glory.
Hail! Hail Victoria!
Hail, Victoria!


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 Victoria!
Hail, Victoria!


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 Victoria!
Hail, Victoria!


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 Victoria!
Hail, Victoria!

Other music

See also

References

  1. Modern history sourcebook
  2. 1 2 3 "Es zittern die morschen Knochen". ingeb.org.
  3. http://kollektives-gedaechtnis.de/texte/vor45/lieder.html 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"

Further reading

External links

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