Hermann Müller-John & Musikkorps der Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler"

Ostuf Charlemagne · #16

Most interesting fact is that Mueller-John never studied music before to lead the Musikkorps.... he was a WW1 iron cross decorated officer,who loved music and played by earch.... during the war,Hitler( pleased with his great direction of LSSAH band and wanting to make him a personal gift) , asked him,once, ''what can i do for you ?''... he was astonished when Mueller-John answered : '' send me to study music''!

Andreas Schulz · #17

Müller-John, Hermann geb. Helmstedt 04.08.1894, gest. (Selbstmord) Österreich 08.05.1945. 1931 Eintritt in die NSDAP (Mitgliedsnr. 452.295), 21.07.1933 Eintritt in die SS (Mitgliedsnr. 207.148), 21.07.1933 SS-Sturmhauptführer, 04.08.1933 Musikdirektor des Musikkorps der Leibstandarte-SS ”Adolf Hitler”, 15.11.1935 Reichskultursenator, Mitglied des Präsidialrates der Reichsmusikkammer, 22.07.1936 Verleihung des Titels „Leibstandarten-Obermusikmeisters“, 1. Musik-Inspizient der SS-Verfügungstruppe, 30.01.1943 SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS. 08.05.1945 gemeinsamer Selbstmord mit Frau und Tochter

AnDie

mty · #18

Hi!

I've read from various sources that in 1939 during the campaign of Poland there was an incident where a group of Leibstandarte musicians shot Poles and jews but there seems to be two versions of the story:

The first one says that the Leibstandarte band had just arrived in their bus when it was shot from a nearby house and some of the musicians were killed, others wounded. Müller-John as a commander (btw, did obermusikmeister really have military some military authority?) ordered houses to be searched and those having weapons were shot.

The another version, which appeared as a part of Nuremberg trials testimony against the SS was told to the interrogators by a Wehrmacht Generalleutnant von Sponeck (source: http://www.fpp.co.uk/Himmler/interrogat ... GG169.html):

Sponeck: But even before that business we were not allowed to take proceedings against them. I know the case of the Director of Music of the 'Leibstandarte', whom we dragged off his band-wagon, because he had shot so many Jews in a mad lust for blood. We had him brought before Hoth's court-martial. The man was immediately taken out of Hoth's jurisdiction, sent to Berlin and came back again, still as Director of Music.

So I guess he was never officially punished of these activities. Timo commented earlier that he found suicide a way to find peace with his past actions and war crimes. Doesn't this rather clearly suggest that he committed the murders deliberately without any "cause" (such as first being shot by hostile troops), I don't know. But I certainly would like to learn more about this person. Does anyone have more details about the event, why did his wife and daughter also chose the suicide? Or were their motives similar to those of for example Goebbels family.

- Greetings, Mikko

Sdt · #19

Hello all,

During the 50th birthday of AH, the LSSAH Musikkorps performed some marches ...

I would like to know who is this head of orchestra. Maybe Hermann Müller-John ? I never have seen photos of him.
Pics are taken from a newsreel.
Thanks for help

: LSSAH1939a.jpg (46.33 KiB) Viewed 2949 times

: LSSAH1939b.jpg (47.23 KiB) Viewed 2949 times

Georges JEROME · #20

Yes, it's Musikmeister SS-Hstuf. Müller-John, who directed orchestra of LSSAH on 20 April 1939 for the birthday of AH

Georges

Sdt · #21

Thanks

mty · #22

Awakening an old thread, once again

If someone could provide a good photo of Müller-John now, almost 2 years after the last post this far?

Thanks in advance!
Mikko

Ivan Ž. · #23

Here's a good photo of Müller-John, copied from a 1941 newsreel:

: HMJ1941.jpg (60.72 KiB) Viewed 2940 times

Source: Die Deutsche Wochenschau Nr. 547

Max Williams · #24

Another photo of interest. This is an early photo from the Lichterfelde Barracks.

: LAH Jingling Johnny.jpg (75.5 KiB) Viewed 1326 times

Source: http://www.milweb.net

Max.

In Treue fest · #25

The following quotation is taken from the book Musik in der Waffen-SS. Ein Blick zurück auf die Entwicklung deutscher Militärmusik by Fritz Bunge (Munin-Verlag, Osnabrück ²1986, pp. 29/30):

Über Hermann Müller-John kann nur weniges berichtet werden. Er stammte aus Helmstedt, war gedienter Militärmusiker und hatte den Ersten Weltkrieg als Frontkämpfer erlebt. Für Tapferkeit vor dem Feind war er mit dem Eisernen Kreuz I. Klasse ausgezeichnet worden. 1933 tritt er als Musikführer in Erscheinung, 1934 wird ihm der einmalige Rang eines "Leibstandarten-Obermusikmeisters" verliehen. Zugleich wurde er erster Musikinspizient der SS-Verfügungstruppe.

Nach dem Zusammenbruch 1945 hatte er Zuflucht bei Bergbauern in Tirol gefunden und schied dort - gemeinsam mit seiner Frau und Tochter - aus dem Leben. [...]

Hermann Müller-John war nicht der Militärkapellmeister alter Schule, er war in erster Linie Soldat mit einem gewaltigen Schuß Abenteurerblut in den Adern.

Seine musikalischen Kenntnisse waren keineswegs vertieft, doch hatte er das Glück, hervorragende Chorführer zur Seite zu haben, die für die musikalischen Einstudierungen sorgten und bürgten

Claymore · #26

...from 'Handbuch für die Singleiter der Wehrmacht' (printed approx 1940)...

Claymore · #27

..another one...

Ivan Ž. · #28

Thank you for the photos!

Edit: An original version of the last image, from https://www.sz-photo.de/

: 00052406.jpg (38.85 KiB) Viewed 4661 times

Spielmann der SS-Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler 1938. Der Spielmann der Leibstandarte bläst um 6 Uhr das Wecken.

Cheers,
Ivan

mty · #29

I think this SS-Hstuf. is Müller-John in the mid-30's. He seems to have LSSAH cufftitle and his face is quite similar. What do you others think?

: MilMusik1.jpg (36.93 KiB) Viewed 247 times

Source: http://www.usmbooks.com/nazi_military_music_book.html

Ivan Ž. · #30

Yes, that is Müller-John.

Cheers,
Ivan