German Military Songs of WW2 and their political context

[Panzermahn]

Hi,

I am interested to know German military songs of WW2 and their political context..For example

a) Gegen Briten und Franzosen (this song I believed was sung during the invasion of France when the German Wehrmacht launched an offensive in the Ardennes and cut off the Anglo-French-Belgian forces

b) Bomben auf Engeland (this song most probably sung during the heydays of Battle of Britain and the Blitz)

c) Engelandlied - Wir Fahren Gegen Engeland (the famous England fanfare, played everytime the British suffered a defeat at the hands of the Wehrmacht, for example, Tobruk 1942, destruction of PQ17 1942, Leros 1943, Crete 1941)

d) Im Osten Nur, Maschieren Wir (The song of the Eastern front)

Anyone got more info on this?

[tommy303]

Wir Fahren gegen England was actually written by Herber Loens, b. 1866, d. 1914 and so predates WW2. I am sure you can find some info on most of the ones you are interested in at

http://ingeb.org/Volksobi.html

[Ivanwss]

As Tommy wrote, you can find lyrics of almost all (3) songs on that exellent website.

Bomben auf Engeland
http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wirfuhle.html
Gegen Briten und Franzosen
http://ingeb.org/Lieder/alssolda.html
Das Engelandlied
http://ingeb.org/Lieder/heutewow.html

"Das Engelandlied" was written before WWII (as Tommy pointed),
but it was composed by a well-known III Reich's composer and song-writer Herms Niel,
at the beginning of the war (1939).

The song "Im Osten nun marschieren wir" is a war version of a well-known SA song
( http://ingeb.org/Lieder/durchdeu.html ).

Im Osten nun marschieren wir (Rußland-Lied)

Im Osten nun marschieren wir,
Für Adolf Hitler kämpfen wir.
Die rote Front, brecht sie enzwei!
Deutschland marschiert, Achtung! Die Straße frei!

This song was performed by Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler Musikkorps,
so it is most probbably a Waffen-SS song, like another "Rußland-Lied"
- "Von Finnland bis zum Schwarzen Meer" ( http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wirstanf.html ).

Cheers,
Ivan

[Ivanwss]

Perhaps some more info on these songs:

- Bomben auf Engeland - is a (WWII) Luftwaffe song
- Gegen Briten und Franzosen - is a (WWII) Infantry song
- Das Engelandlied - is a (WWI, maybe even pre-WWI) Kaiserliche Marine song
- Im Osten nun marschieren wir (Rußland-Lied) - as i wrote, probbably Waffen-SS song (WWII, of course )

Cheers,
Ivan

[Ivanwss]

Here's (most probbably Waffen-SS) song from Balkan-invasion:
- Wir stürmen dem Siege entgegen - http://ingeb.org/Lieder/derfeind.html
Poland:
- Lied der Deutschen in Polen - http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wasdicha.html & http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wasauchi.html
- Ade Polenland - http://ingeb.org/Lieder/adepolen.html
France:
- Frankreich-Lied - http://ingeb.org/Lieder/kameradi.html
England:
- Wir ziehen nach Engeland - http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wirhaben.html
(and many other Kriegsmarine songs)

etc


/Ivan

[Sdt]

Also :

-Bomben auf Polenland : same lyrics as Bomben auf Engelland but with Polenland

-In Holland steht aus Klinkerstein : performed by LSSAH Musikkorps (dont have the lyrics)

[Panzermahn]

As Tommy wrote, you can find lyrics of almost all (3) songs on that exellent website.

Bomben auf Engeland
http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wirfuhle.html
Gegen Briten und Franzosen
http://ingeb.org/Lieder/alssolda.html
Das Engelandlied
http://ingeb.org/Lieder/heutewow.html

"Das Engelandlied" was written before WWII (as Tommy pointed),
but it was composed by a well-known III Reich's composer and song-writer Herms Niel,
at the beginning of the war (1939).

The song "Im Osten nun marschieren wir" is a war version of a well-known SA song
( http://ingeb.org/Lieder/durchdeu.html ).

Im Osten nun marschieren wir (Rußland-Lied)

Im Osten nun marschieren wir,
Für Adolf Hitler kämpfen wir.
Die rote Front, brecht sie enzwei!
Deutschland marschiert, Achtung! Die Straße frei!

This song was performed by Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler Musikkorps,
so it is most probbably a Waffen-SS song, like another "Rußland-Lied"
- "Von Finnland bis zum Schwarzen Meer" ( http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wirstanf.html ).

Cheers,
Ivan

Hi Ivanwss,

Thanks for the info.

Do you kow why the the song Im Osten Nur, Marschieren Wir had the same tune with Durch Deustchen Land, Marschieren Wir...? Which is the original one?


Thanks Tommy and SdT for additional info!!

[Ivanwss]

Do you kow why the the song Im Osten Nur, Marschieren Wir had the same tune with Durch Deustchen Land, Marschieren Wir...? Which is the original one?

It has the same melody because it is basicaly the same song,
only now there's entire Germany on the march instead of just SA,
and they're now marching in Russia and not in Germany only anymore...

Original melody is from Pionier-Lied (Argonnerwald um Mitternacht),
composed by Hermann Albert von Gordon in 1915.
( http://ingeb.org/Lieder/argonner.html )

Cheers,
Ivan

[Panzermahn]

Hi Ivanwss,

I see that you're quite knowledgeable in German military songs

Regards
Panzermahn

[Ivanwss]

Btw, it is "Im Osten nun marschieren wir" (Now we march in the East...).

Cheers,
Ivan