Herms Niel & Reichsmusikzug des RAD

[Ivan Ž.]

Niel on a stadium in Warsaw (possibly in 1940).

Herms Niel Kapellmeister zu Besuch auf dem Sportfeld Warschau.jpg

Herms Niel Kapellmeister zu Besuch auf dem Sportfeld Warschau2.jpg

Source: https://www.ebay.de/ (miro-antik2012)

[GregSingh]

There was another concert during March 1941 Ostdeutsche Kulturtage in Warthegau.
This time in Litzmannstadt on the 19th of March.

Here is a reminder from local newspaper and after concert article from 21st of March. Nice handwritten greetings from Niel to town residents.
What was that new piece Niel mentioned he was working on, apparently dedicated to SS?

Litzmannstädter Zeitung 1941-03-19 S-6.jpg

Source: Litzmannstädter Zeitung, 19.03.1941, p. 6

Litzmannstädter Zeitung 1941-03-21 S-4.jpg

Source: Litzmannstädter Zeitung, 21.03.1941, p. 4

[Ivan Ž.]

Thanks very much for this article, Greg.

What was that new piece Niel mentioned he was working on, apparently dedicated to SS?

As was written in the text, it's "Wer sich uns entgegenstellt, der fällt!" - one of the most powerful marches of Niel's, featuring motifs from the SS anthem (Wenn alle untreu werden). The vocal part was announced with the opening tune of the SS anthem (Wenn alle untreu werden, so bleiben wir doch treu), and the entire composition ends with the closing tune of the SS anthem (Wir woll'n das Wort nicht brechen...) - but in the Niel/Walden lively oompah-oompah style.

1941

Wer sich uns entgegenstellt, der fällt! [Marsch und Lied]
Composer/Lyricist: Prof. Herms Niel
Publisher: Musikverlag Wilke & Co., Berlin-Wilmersdorf, 1941
Opening Line: Gegen eine Welt von Feinden

Songcard: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 9#p1055079

Part of the song can be heard in Die Deutsche Wochenschau 669: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ez7lWPx_jY

Cheers,
Ivan

[GregSingh]

Excellent, thanks Ivan!

[français]

Thanks for these infos, Ivan
Cheers
français

[reichmusik]

My favourite Herms Niel song will always be "Der Stoßtrupp" followed by "Kleine Elisabeth – schöne Elisabeth!"

PS I think this subsection needs more actual music links to listen too

[Fallersleben]

N044175full.jpg

Source: https://www.germanmilitaria.com/

[Fallersleben]

HN-huesken-com.jpg

Source: https://www.huesken.com/

[Fallersleben]

A self-built Niel postcard. Photo was glued onto a standard postcard but with his signature it's a special item...

111989755648.jpg

Source: http://www.ebay.de/itm/RRR-Kapellmeiste ... 1989755648 (mexxxoo7)

[Ivan Ž.]

...with his hunting companion, Dina

Thanks for posting! (The price of the item is absolutely insane though.)

Cheers,
Ivan

[Auceps]

Great find!

[KG1001nacht]

Hi, can someone please help identify this version of "Frankreichlied" in this clip - from 4:57 onwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TJ9dAUXNi0

It sounds more authoritative, like the official "large orchestra" versions of "Vorwärts nach Osten!" and "Bomben auf Engelland" and I am wondering if is produced by the same arranger. Thanks

[Ivan Ž.]

Hello and

Yes, it does "sound more authoritative" as you described it, since it is The official (radio) recording of the song. The arranger is Hanns Steinkopf (one of the main radio arrangers) and the performer is Orchester des Reichssenders Berlin + Musikkorps des Regiments "General Göring", conducted by the composer, Herms Niel. Vocals by Männerchor des Deutschen Opernhauses, Berlin + a large soldiers' chorus (unnamed unit).

Cheers,
Ivan

[KG1001nacht]

Hi Ivan,

Thankyou for replying so quickly and comprehensively - I appreciate it! I wonder if there are 'clean' versions of these fascinating tunes available somewhere. It would be so interesting to study how the average German of those times responded to these bombastic and powerful recordings. One might think that younger Germans who danced to the 'trendy' jitterbug tunes from america would be more cynical to this grandiose propaganda music, but then younger Germans often proved the most fanatical members of the military...

[Ivan Ž.]

Hello again,

The German Radio Archive (DRA) has many of the full (clean) radio recordings, including this version of "Frankreichlied". But it is not publicly available.

Cheers,
Ivan