Germany has arguably composed the greatest military songs out every country. Many German military songs are so great that they have been adopted by foreign countries like Japan, Chile the UK and Brazil. Below are my personal favorite German military songs which I like to listen to.
Note: Now let’s clarify some things first, just because these songs are of German origin, doesn’t mean they are “Nazi”. In fact, none of the songs on this list are Nazi songs. So before you read this informative piece on German military music, please put your fallacious reasoning aside.
1.)Hohenfriedberger marsch composed in 1795 by Frederic the great: One of the most popular German military marches was composed in 1795, supposedly by Frederic the Great. It commemorates the Prussian victory over the Austrians in Hohenfriedberg.
2.) Yorkscher march, composed 1808 by Ludwig Van Beethoven: The marsh was composed in the early 1800s by Germany’s most popular composer Ludwig Van Beethoven. It has served as a standard military marsch for the German military ever since. Even the “national volks armee” of the culturally repressed East Germany used it as their main march. The march is currently used by the German Bundeswehr.
3.) Die Wacht am Rhein(the watch on the Rhein), composed by Karl Willhelm 1851: A song composed to commemorate the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. The song talks about a soldier standing on guard at the Rhein river for French invaders. The song also has English and Russian versions and was also used during WWI. It’s not used by the German army anymore but is still considered a part of German history. Yale University currently uses the melody of this song for their own song called “Bright college years.”
When people you hear the words “German military march” this is perhaps the first song that comes to your mind. This march commemorates the battle of konnigratz and also includes the hohenfriedberger march. The song became popular when it was used in Indiana Jones and the last crusade and in call of duty world at war. The song is often incorrectly called a Nazi march by ignoramuses but in reality it’s not a Nazi march but rather a Prussian march which is still used by the German Bundeswehr and Chilean military.
5.) Preussens Gloria, composed 1871 by Johan Gottfried Pfiefke: Another Prussian march that is has been used by various German militaries and is currently used by the Bundeswehr.
6.) Alte Kameraden(old comrades) composer in 1899 by Carl Teike: A very popular German song that has been adopted by the British military. Many people assume it’s a “British march” but in reality it’s German. It’s still played by various military bands and musical groups around the world today.
7.)Argonnerwaldlied composed during WWI by Hermann Albert Gordon:
The song talks about the extensive fighting that took place in the Argonne forest during WWI. It also expresses German Patriotism. The melody of the song would also be used by both the Nazis and the Sparticist communists for their own songs. But nonetheless the song predates both Ideologies and shouldn’t be stigmatized for it. The original Argonnerwaldlied is still sung by various German music groups.
7.)BadenWeiler marsch composed 1914 by Georg Furst: A very popular military march that is often used by many movies to emphasize German military might due to it’s authoritative tone. The march is still used today by the German bundeswehr.8.) Panzerlied composed 1933 by Kurt Wiehle: A very popular German military march used by German tank units during WWII. Unfortunately the highly despised Ursula Von der Layen prohibited the bundeswehr from using melody in 2017 do you it’s association with the third reich. The song isn’t even political but Ursula still used the guilty by association fallacy. Fortunately the melody of the song is still used by the French, Brazilian and Chilean militaries.
Erika, composed circa 1930s by Herms Niel: The most popular German military march used by the Wehrmacht. Despite it’s very militant rhythm the lyrics of the song itself have nothing to with politics or the military. The song talks about a heath named Erika and woman named Erika as well. It also talks about nature. The song is still sung by some singers and played by some musical groups. And it’s still used by the Chilean military. Lisa, Lisa Date composed unknown(possibly 1930s), composer unknown: ”Lisa, Lisa” is a German military song that talks about a barmaid named Lisa. It also talks about soldiers and their routines.Funkerlied(Radio operator’s song), date composed unknown(possibly 1930s), composer unknown: A very popular German military song about German radio operators sending love messages to their girlfriends. It has a very happy tone to it and is currently occasionally played by some German musicians.
Westerwaldlied composed between 1932-1935 by Willi Müller and Joseph Neuhauser: A popular German military march about a mountain range called the “Westerwald”. The song is not political and only talks about soldiers marching through the Westerwald. The melody is currently used by the armies of both Chile and South Korea.
Lili Marleen composed 1938 by Norbert Schultze: The most popular song on this list, the lyrics are actually a poem composed by a German soldier during WWI but the melody itself was composed in 1938 by Norbert Schultze. The song is an anti War love song about a soldier reluctantly saying goodbye to his lover Lili Marleen before he goes to war. High ranking nazis actually tried to ban the song because of it’s anti war message but failed to ban it since the song’s popularity rapidly grew. The song was very popular amongst both allied and axis soldiers. And ever since publication, it has gradually been translated into over 80 languages including Japanese, Finnish, Yiddish, Indonesian, Spanish, French, Italian, English, Russian etc. The song is currently played by various military bands around the world such as the Bundeswehr, the British military, the Canadian military, the US military, the Chilean military, etc. The song is also currently sung by various singers and musical groups such as the Johann Strauss orchestra, orquestra romanticos Cuba etc. There are several monuments dedicated to this song, several restaurants named after it and several movies named after it. There is even a sequel to the song called the “wedding of Lili Marleen”. This song is perhaps the most beloved song around the world. The first time I heard Lili Marleen, I was absolutely amazed by how beautiful the song is.
Es war ein Edelweiss composed in 1941 by Herms Niel: A popular song amongst the German Gibergsjäger(mountain troops). The song talks about the alps and specifically about a flower native to the alps called the “edelweiss”. The song is currently sung by various German musical groups.
I can only add 15 videos so I’ll probably write a part two with more iconic apolitical German military songs.
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