The "Westerwaldlied" (transl. "Westerwald Song") is a German folk song, written by Willi Münker in 1932, set to music by Joseph Neuhäuser in 1935, and published in 1937. An ode to the Westerwald region of Western Germany, it has been performed by the German military for many decades.[citation needed]
| "Westerwaldlied" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Language | German |
| English title | "Westerwald Song" |
| Written |
|
| Published | 1937 |
| Genre | |
| Composer(s) | Joseph Neuhäuser |
| Lyricist(s) | Willi Münker |
History
editThe song's lyrics were written by Willi Münker in November 1932, before Hitler's rise to power. It was set to music by Joseph Neuhäuser in 1935, reportedly based on an old folk song. It was published and recorded for the first time in 1937. It is an ode to the Westerwald region of Western Germany. It was sung by the German military during World War II.[1][2]
The song for many decades was considered innocuous, enough to be performed by the contemporary West German military.[3][4][5] However, in recent years the performance of "Westerwaldlied" has become somewhat contentious and controversial in Germany due to its association with the Nazi era,[6][1] with the German military reportedly ceasing performances of the song because of it in 2017.[1][7][8][9] Defenders of the song maintain that it is an apolitical folk song with an established history of apolitical, innocuous usage.[1]
Usage elsewhere
editA Spanish-language song based on the "Westerwaldlied"'s melody as composed by Neuhäuser is sung by the Chilean Army, where it is known as "Himno de la Sección".[10] It is also the inspiration for the South Korean patriotic song "Our Nation Forever", used by the South Korean military.[11]
It also appears in Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 1973 film World on a Wire during a scene where the protagonist watches a performance at a nightclub with a Marlene Dietrich impersonator being executed by Nazi soldiers after singing a rendition of Lili Marleen
Lyrics
edit| German | English translation |
|---|---|
| First verse | |
|
Heute wollen wir marschier'n |
Today we want to march |
| Chorus | |
|
Oh, Du schöner Westerwald (Eukalyptusbonbon) |
Oh, you lovely Westerwald (Eukalyptusbonbon) |
| Second verse | |
|
Und die Gretel und der Hans |
And Gretel and Hans |
| Third verse | |
|
Ist das Tanzen dann vorbei |
When the dancing is over |
| Fourth verse | |
|
Oh, Du schöner Westerwald |
Oh, you lovely Westerwald |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "German CDU youth wing filmed singing Nazi-era military song - DW". DW.COM. 14 November 2018.
- ^ Kerber, Malte (12 July 2017). Eine Wanderung über das Rothaargebirge und durch den Westerwald: Notizenbuch. Engelsdorfer Verlag. ISBN 9783961451395 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Drillteam der 7. Kompanie Wachbataillon BMVg". SWR Fernsehen – via YouTube.
- ^ IvanSCF. ""Ein Lied... drei... vier!" [Potpourri] Heeresmusikkorps 6" – via YouTube.
- ^ IvanSCF. ""Drei Lilien, drei Lilien..." [Potpourri] Musikkorps 6 der Bundeswehr" – via YouTube.
- ^ ""Schwarzbraun ist die Haselnuss": Ministerium stoppt Bundeswehr-Liederbuch". Der Spiegel. 12 May 2017 – via Spiegel Online.
- ^ "Westerwaldlied ist in der Diskussion". www.ww-kurier.de. 17 May 2017.
- ^ Müller, Michael (12 May 2017). "Diese Lieder sollen Soldaten nicht mehr singen". Berlin Journal.
- ^ Triebel, Katja (13 May 2017). "Ministerium stoppt Bundeswehr-Liederbuch".
- ^ Fernando Rojas (10 February 2010). "himno de la seccion (Ejercito de Chile)". Retrieved 21 June 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ W시호 (21 July 2014). "한국군가 - 겨레여 영원하여라 [Our Nation Forever]". Retrieved 21 June 2019 – via YouTube.