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Wessel was the son of apastor and educated at degree level, but was employed as aconstruction worker. He became notorious among the Communists when he led a number of SA attacks into theFischerkiez, an extremely poor Berlin district, which he did on orders fromJoseph Goebbels, who was then the NaziGauleiter (regional party leader) of Berlin.[3] Several of these incursions were only minor altercations, but one took place outside the tavern which the localGerman Communist Party (KPD) used as its headquarters. As a result of that melee, five Communists were injured, four of them seriously. Communist newspapers accused the police of letting the Nazis get away while arresting the injured Communists, while Nazi newspapers claimed that Wessel had been trying to give a speech when Communists emerged and started the fight.[3] Wessel's face was printed together with his address on Communist street posters.[2] The slogan of the KPD and the Red Front Fighters' League became "strike the fascists wherever you find them".[3]
Wessel moved with his partner Erna Jänicke into a room onGroße Frankfurter Straße.[4] The landlady was the widowed Mrs. Salm, whose husband had been a Communist. After a few months, there was a dispute between Salm and Wessel over unpaid rent. Salm requested Wessel's partner to leave but Jänicke refused. Salm appealed to Communist friends of her late husband for help.[5][6][7] Shortly thereafter on 14 January 1930, Wessel was shot and seriously wounded by two Communist Party members, one of whom wasAlbrecht "Ali" Höhler.[2][8][9] Wessel died in hospital on 23 February fromblood poisoning, which he contracted during his hospitalisation.[8][9] Höhler was tried in court and sentenced to six years' imprisonment for the shooting.[10] After the Naziaccession to national power, he was taken out of prison under false pretenses by the SA in September 1933 and shot dead.[2][11]
Joseph Goebbels, the NaziGauleiter and owner and editor of the newspaperDer Angriff ('The Attack), had made several attempts to create Nazi martyrs for propaganda purposes, the first being an SA man named Hans-Georg Kütemeyer, whose body was pulled out of a canal the morning after he attended a speech by Hitler at theSportpalast. Goebbels attempted to spin this into anassassination by Communists, but the overwhelming evidence showed it to have beensuicide, and he had to drop the matter.[12] Thus, Goebbels put considerable effort into mythologizing Wessel's story, even as the man lay dying. He met with Wessel's mother, who told him her son's life story, his hope for a "better world", and his attempt to rescue a prostitute he had met on the street. Goebbels saw Wessel as an "idealistic dreamer".[4]
Wessel himself had undergone an operation at St. Joseph's Hospital which stopped hisinternal bleeding, but the surgeons had been unable to remove the bullet in hiscerebellum. Wessel was brought to his mother's home to die. In his diary, Goebbels described Wessel's entire face as being shot up and his features distorted, and claimed that Wessel told him "One has to keep going! I'm happy!" After a period where his condition stabilized, Wessel died on 23 February.[4]
Goebbels consultedHermann Göring and others in the party on how to respond to Wessel's death. They declared a period of mourning until 12 March, during which party and SA members would avoid amusements and Wessel's name would be invoked at all party meetings. Wessel's unit was renamed the Horst Wessel Storm Unit 5.[4]
From a mixture of fact and fiction, Goebbels' propaganda created what became one of theNazi Party's centralmartyr-figures of their movement. He officially declared Wessel's march, renamed as the "Horst-Wessel-Lied" ("Horst Wessel Song"), to be the Nazi Party anthem,[13][14] which aided in promoting Wessel as the first of many in the Nazi cult of martyrdom.[15] Wessel was buried on 1 March 1930. Contrary to Nazi claims, there were no attacks on thefuneral procession.[16] Hisfuneral was filmed and turned into a major propaganda event by the NSDAP.[16] The "Horst Wessel Song" was sung by the SA at the funeral, and was thereafter extensively used at party functions, as well as sung by the SA duringstreet parades.
WhenAdolf Hitler became theChancellor of Germany in January 1933, the "Horst Wessel Song" became anational symbol by law on 19 May 1933. The following year, a regulation required the right arm be extended and raised in the "Nazi salute" when the (identical) first and fourth verses were sung. Nazi leaders can be seen singing the song at the finale ofLeni Riefenstahl's 1935 filmTriumph of the Will. Hitler also mandated thetempo at which the song had to be played.[18] After Hitler's public speeches, he would exit during the playing of both the national anthem and then the Horst Wessel Song.[19]
Some Nazis were extremely sensitive about the uses to which the "Horst Wessel Song" was put. For instance, abandleader[who?] who wrote ajazz version of the song was forced to leave Germany, and whenMartha Dodd, the daughter ofWilliam E. Dodd, at the time theUS ambassador to Germany, played a recording of an unusual arrangement of the song at her birthday party at the Ambassador's residence in 1933, a young Nazi, who was a liaison between theGerman Foreign Ministry andHitler's Chancellery, turned off therecord player, announcing "This is not the sort of music to be played for mixed gatherings and in a flippant manner."[20] The song was played in someProtestant places of worship, because some elements of theProtestant Church in Germany had accepted the Horst Wessel cult, built as it was by Goebbels on the model of Christian martyrs of the past.[21]
With the end of the Nazi regime in May 1945, the "Horst Wessel Song" was banned. The lyrics and tune arenow illegal in Germany, with some limited exceptions. In early 2011, this resulted in aLower Saxony State Police investigation ofAmazon.com andApple Inc. for offering the song for sale on their websites. Both Apple and Amazon complied with the government's request and deleted the song from their offerings.[22]
A special marine commando unit within theChilean Navy uses the same melody as the Horst-Wessel-Lied with different lyrics called "Himno de la Agrupación de Comandos IM no. 51".[23][better source needed]
The words to the "Horst Wessel Song" were published in September 1929 in the Nazi Party's Berlin newspaper,Der Angriff ('The Attack') which Joseph Goebbels owned and ran.
Die Fahne hoch! Die Reihen fest geschlossen![a] SA marschiert mit ruhig festem Schritt.[b] 𝄆 Kam'raden, die Rotfront und Reaktion erschossen, Marschier'n im Geist in unser'n Reihen mit.𝄇
Die Straße frei den braunen Bataillonen. Die Straße frei dem Sturmabteilungsmann! 𝄆Es schau'n aufs Hakenkreuz voll Hoffnung schon Millionen. Der Tag für Freiheit und für Brot bricht an!𝄇[c]
Zum letzten Mal wird Sturmalarm geblasen![d] Zum Kampfe steh'n wir alle schon bereit! 𝄆Schon flattern Hitlerfahnen über allen Straßen.[e] Die Knechtschaft dauert nur noch kurze Zeit!𝄇
Raise the flag! The ranks tightly closed! TheSA marches with calm, steady step. Comrades shot by the Red Front and reactionaries March in spirit within our ranks.
Clear the streets for the brown battalions, Clear the streets for the storm division man! Millions are looking upon the swastika full of hope, The day of freedom and of bread dawns!
For the last time, the call to arms is sounded! For the fight, we all stand prepared! Already Hitler's banners fly over all streets. The time of bondage will last but a little while now!
^Also: "Schon bald flattern Hitlerfahnen über Barrikaden"
Hitler Youth giving theNazi salute; Germans were required by law to make the salute during the singing of the "Horst Wessel Song"[25]
TheRotfront, or "Red Front", was theRotfrontkämpferbund, the paramilitary organization of the Communist Party of Germany. The Nazi SA (also known as the "brown shirts" after their uniforms) and the Communist Red Front fought each other in violentstreet confrontations, which grew into almost open warfare after 1930. The "reactionaries" were theconservative political parties and theliberal democraticGerman government of theWeimar Republic period, which made several unsuccessful attempts to suppress the SA. The "time of bondage" refers to the period after the 1919Treaty of Versailles, in which the victorious powers imposed hugereparations on Germany, stripped it of its colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Ocean, some of which becameLeague of Nations mandates, gave parts of Germany to Belgium, Denmark, France, Poland, and Lithuania, andoccupied the Rhineland.
The lineKameraden, die Rotfront und Reaktion erschossen is technically ambiguous. It could either meanKameraden, die von Rotfront und Reaktion erschossen wurden ("Our comrades who were shot dead by the Red Front and Reactionaries") orKameraden, welche die Erschießung von Rotfront und Reaktion durchführten ("Our comrades who have shot the Red Front and Reactionaries dead"). Despite this obvioussyntactic problem, which was mentioned byVictor Klemperer in hisLTI – Lingua Tertii Imperii, the line was never changed. The following lineMarschier'n im Geist in unser'n Reihen mit (March in spirit within our ranks), however, indicates that the aforementioned comrades are deceased, advocating the first interpretation.
Some changes were made to the lyrics after Wessel's death:
Stanza 1, line 2
SA marschiert mit mutig-festem Schritt SA marschiert mit ruhig festem Schritt
The storm battalion march with bold, firm step. The stormtroopers march with calm, firm step.
Stanza 3, line 1
Zum letzten Mal wird nun Appell geblasen! Zum letzten Mal wird Sturmalarm geblasen!
The call is sounded for the last time! The last sound to charge is blown!
Stanza 3, line 3
Bald flattern Hitlerfahnen über Barrikaden Schon/bald flattern Hitler-Fahnen über allen Straßen
Soon Hitler's banners will flutter above the barricades Already/Soon Hitler's banners will flutter above all streets
After Wessel's death, new stanzas were added, composed in his honour. These were frequently sung by the SA but did not become part of the official lyrics used on party or state occasions.
Sei mir gegrüßt, Du starbst den Tod der Ehre! Horst Wessel fiel, doch tausend neu erstehen Es braust das Fahnenlied voran dem braunen Heere SA bereit, den Weg ihm nachzugehen.
Die Fahnen senkt vor Toten, die noch leben Es schwört SA, die Hand zur Faust geballt Einst kommt der Tag, da gibts Vergeltung, kein Vergeben wenn Heil und Sieg durchs Vaterland erschallt.
Receive our salute; you died an honorable death! Horst Wessel fell, but thousands newly arise The anthem roars ahead of the brown army The storm divisions are ready to follow his path.
The flags are lowered before the dead who still live The storm division swears, with hand clenched in a fist, That the day will come for revenge, no forgiveness, WhenHeil andSieg will ring through the fatherland.
After Wessel's death, he was officially credited with having composed the music as well as having written the lyrics for the "Horst Wessel Song". Between 1930 and 1933, however, German critics disputed this, pointing out that the melody had a long history. "How Great Thou Art" is a well-knownhymn ofSwedish origin[26] with a similar tune, for example.[citation needed] Criticism of Horst Wessel as author became taboo after 1933, when the Nazi Party took control of Germany and criticism would likely be met with severe punishment.
The most likely immediate source for the melody was a song popular in theImperial German Navy duringWorld War I, which Wessel would no doubt have heard being sung by World War I veterans in the Berlin of the 1920s.[citation needed] The song was known either by its opening line asVorbei, vorbei, sind all die schönen Stunden or as the "Königsberg-Lied", after the German cruiserKönigsberg, which is mentioned in one version of the song's lyrics. The opening stanza of the song is
Vorbei, vorbei sind all die schönen Stunden die wir verlebt am schönen Ostseestrand. Wir hatten uns, ja uns so schön zusamm'n gefunden es war für uns der allerschönste Ort.
Gone, gone are all the happy hours that we spent on the beautiful Baltic shore. Things were so beautiful between us all and it was for us the finest place of all.
In 1936, the German music critic Alfred Weidemann published an article in which he identified the melody of a song composed in 1865 byPeter Cornelius as the "Urmelodie" (source melody).[27] According to Weidemann, Cornelius described the tune as a "Viennese folk tune". This appeared to him to be the ultimate origin of the melody of the "Horst Wessel Song".[28]
One of the marching songs of theBritish Union of Fascists, known asThe Marching Song orComrades, the Voices was set to the same tune, and its lyrics were to some extent modelled on the song, though appealing toBritish Fascism.[30] Instead of referring to martyrs of the party, it identifies Britain's war dead as those marching in spirit against the "red front andmassed ranks of reaction".[31]
Comrades, the voices of the dead battalions, Of those who fell, thatBritain might be great, 𝄆 Join in our song, for they still march in spirit with us, And urge us on to gain thefascist state!
We're of their blood and spirit of their spirit, Sprung from that soil, for whose dear sake they bled, 𝄆 Against vested powers, Red Front, and massed ranks of reaction, We lead the fight for freedom and for bread!
The streets are still, the final struggle's ended; Flushed with the fight, we proudly hail the dawn! 𝄆 See, over all the streets, the fascist banners waving, Triumphant standards of our race reborn!
Vije se stijeg i legije predvodi. Čuje se zvuk, zvuk naše pobjede. 𝄆 Junaci, koji za dom u boju sve su dali, duhom su tu, koračaju uz nas!
Nek vidi se, nek cijeli svijet ga znade. Nek čuje se, nek ori se za svagd. 𝄆 Kad brat uz brata opet svoje branit stade, nek pamti se, da mi smo bili tu!
I sad ko tad, kad vrag nam opet prijeti; I sad ko tad, budi se Hrvatska! 𝄆 I hrabro srce kada bije krv ne štedi, jer za svoj rod i život vrijedi dat'! 𝄇
The flag flies high and guides the legions. The sound is heard, the sound of our victory. 𝄆 Heroes, that gave everything fighting for our homeland, are here in spirit, and march among us!
Let it be seen, may the whole world know it. Let it be heard, may it echo for eternity. 𝄆 When brothers stood shoulder to shoulder to defend their own, may it be remembered, that we were here!
So now as then, when the enemy threatens again; So now as then, Croatia arises! 𝄆 When a brave heart fights, it doesn’t save blood, because for one’s kin even dying is worth it!
Iza ike! Hata oshi tatete! Ōshiku susume, susume Warera no teki o yaburu tokoro ni, Kibō (Nozomi) no michi wa hiraku. Warera no teki o yaburu tokoro ni, Kibō (Nozomi) no michi wa hiraku.
Let's go! Raise the flag! Advance bravely, advance. Wherever we defeat our enemies, the path of hope will open up. Wherever we defeat our enemies, the path of hope will open up.
Camisa azul, el yugo y las flechas vestía yo cuando aún dudabas tú. Perseguido por izquierdas y por las derechas, caía yo cuándo aún dudabas tú.
Despierta ya, burgués y socialista, Falange trae: con la revolución, la muerte delcacique y del bolchevique, del holgazán y de la reacción.
Por el honor, la Patria y la justicia, luchamos hoy en este amanecer. Y si la muerte llega y nos acaricia, ¡Arriba España! Gritemos al caer.
La juventud está en nuestras filas, y nuestro es también el porvenir. España, te haremos Una, Grande y Libre, aunque nosotros tengamos que morir.
Blue shirt, the yokes and arrows I wore when you were still in doubt. Chased by the left and the right, I fell when you were still in doubt.
Wake up now, bourgeois and socialist, Falange brings: with the revolution, the death of the chieftain and the bolshevik, of laziness and reaction.
For honor, Fatherland, and justice, we fight today in this dawn. And if death comes and caresses us, Spain be raised! We shall say in falling.
The youth is in our ranks, and ours is also the future. Spain, we will make you One, Great and Free, even if we have to die.
(Note that this was a traditional Falange march, not a march of the original Falange. It was sung by some of the volunteers of the 250th division, theDivisión Azul, after the death ofJosé Antonio Primo de Rivera.)[36]
Nous châtierons les juifs et les marxistes, Nous vengerons nos frères tués par eux, Afin que l'idéal national-socialiste Puisse être un jour fier et victorieux.
We shall smite theJews and theMarxists, We shall avenge our brothers killed by them, So that the National Socialist ideal Should one day be proud and victorious.
In modern Greece,Golden Dawn, anextreme right-wing party, uses the "Horst Wessel Song" with Greek lyrics[37][38] in its gatherings or events such as the occasional public distribution of food "to Greeks only",[39] while its leader,Nikolaos Michaloliakos, often uses the song's key stanzas (e.g. "The flags on high!") in his speeches.[40]
The lyrics of their version are:
Από τουΟλύμπου τη γρανιτένια όψη μέχρι τηςΚύπρου τη σκλαβωμένη γη. Απ' τη μεγάλη του ονείρου μας τηνΠόλη ως τηΧειμάρρα, που είναι Ελληνική! (2x)
Ορθό το λάβαρο κι η νίκη μας προσμένει. Ψηλά το μέτωπο και η καρδιά σκληρή. Στον κόσμο αυτό εμείς θα δείξουμε πώς μένει το θάρρος άπαρτο και φρούριο η τιμή! (2x)
Χτυπάτε αλύπητα, με λύσσα, με φοβέρα με θάρρος, σύντροφοι, τα τείχη των εχθρών. Με την Χρυσή Αυγή θα γίνουμε μια μέρα εκατομμύρια στρατός αγωνιστών! (2x)
The flag on high, victory awaits us. The head held high and our heart remains tough. To this world, we will show how well we carry on, our courage is indomitable and our honor is tough like a fortress!
Beat mercilessly, with awesome fury, with courage, comrades, the walls of the enemies. One day, together with the Golden Dawn, we will form an army of millions of warriors!
Заря близка, Знамёна выше, братья! Смерть палачам свободы дорогой! Звенящий меч фашистского врагам проклятья Сметёт навеки их кровавый строй.
Соратники! Нас ждёт земля родная! Все под знамёна! Родина зовёт… Вонсяцкий-Вождь, измену, трусость презирая, На подвиг нас, фашистов, поведёт.
Рубашки чёрные, готовьтесь к бою! Железный фронт фашистов мы сомкнём И на врага, вперёд, железною стеною Бесстрашно, как один, мы все пойдём.
Победы день торжественный настанет, Слетит колхоз и Сталин с ГПУ, И свастика над Кремлём ярко засияет, И чёрный строй пройдёт через Москву!
The dawn is close, Banners on high, brothers! Death to the murderers of our dear liberty! The fascists' sword is our enemy's damnation. It will sweep away forever their bloody system.
Comrades, our Motherland awaits us! Everyone under the banners, the Motherland is calling! Vonsyatsky, our leader who scorns treason and cowardice, With us, fascists, will lead the march!
Blackshirts, get ready for the battle! The Iron Front of fascists unites us And towards the enemy is an iron wall Fearlessly, as one, we all go.
The victory day is coming gallantly, Out with theKolkhozes,Stalin and hisGPU, Thehooked-cross over theKremlin shall shine brightly And our black ranks shall pass throughMoscow
Luo lippujen! Näin rinta rinnan kulkee nyt mustapaidat tahtiin vakavaan. Nyt, veljet rintamaan, mi valheen vuolteet sulkee ja voittoon vie tai urhon kuolemaan!
Nyt tieltä pois, kun marssii joukko musta! Se eestään kaataa kaikki estehet. On katseet kirkkahat ja rinnas uskallusta, ja toivoin katsoo meihin tuhannet.
Jo torvet soi nyt taistoon viime kerran, oi kuulkaa uuden päivän pauhinaa! Sa muista vannoneemme kautta Taivaan Herran: Ei vaikertaa nyt Suomi enää saa!
Luo lippujen! Näin rinta rinnan kulkee nyt mustapaidat tahtiin vakavaan. Vain kurjat halveksia värejämme julkee, kun synnyinmaamme riutuu tuskissaan.
Rally to the flags! So the blackshirts march side by side, with a solemn step. Now, brothers, to the front that closes the rivers of lies and takes us to victory, or the hero to his death
Make way, as the black group marches! It brings down all obstacles. With bright gaze and chests full of daring and thousands look up to us with hope.
The horns call us to the final battle, O hear the roar of the new day! Remember that we swore to the Lord: No longer may Finland lament!
Rally to the flags! So the blackshirts march side by side, with a solemn step. Only the wretched scorn our colors as our land of birth languishes in pain.
Before 1933, the German Communists and theSocial Democrats sang parodies of the "Horst Wessel Song" during their street battles with the SA. Some versions simply changed the political character of the song:
Die Fahne hoch, die Reihen fest geschlossen Rotfront marschiert mit eisenfestem Schritt Genossen, die vom Stahlhelm Hakenkreuz erschossen Marschier'n im Geist in uns'ren Reihen mit.
The flag high! The ranks tightly closed! Red Front marches with iron-firm pace. Comrades, shot dead by theSteel Helmet hooked-cross March in spirit in our ranks.
Ernst Thälmann ruft uns auf die Barrikaden! Bauer, steh auf! Erheb dich, Arbeitsmann Gewehre nehmt! Gewehre gut und scharf geladen! Tragt rote Fahnen hoch im Kampf voran!
Ernst Thälmann calls us to the barricades Farmer arise, workman lift yourself up To arms! Load the guns well with live ammunition Carry high red flags onward into the fight!
Ernst Thälmann was the KPD leader.
These versions were banned once the Nazis came to power and the Communist and Social Democratic parties prohibited. However, during the years of the Third Reich the song was parodied in underground versions, poking fun at the corruption of the Nazi elite. There are similarities between different texts as underground authors developed them with variations. Below are several versions.
Die Preise hoch, die Läden dicht geschlossen Die Not marschiert und wir marschieren mit Frick, Joseph Goebbels, Schirach, Himmler und Genossen Die hungern auch doch nur im Geiste mit.
Theprices high, the shops tightly closed Poverty marches and we march with it Frick, Joseph Goebbels,Schirach,Himmler and their comrades They go hungry too, but only in spirit.
Wilhelm Frick was the Interior Minister, Baldur von Schirach was theHitler Youth leader and Heinrich Himmler was head of theSS and police.
Another version was:
Die Preise hoch, die Schnauze fest geschlossen, Hunger marschiert in ruhig festem Schritt. Hitler und Göbbels, uns're beiden Volksgenossen, Hungern im Geist mit uns Proleten mit.
Im Arbeitsamt wird SOS geblasen, Zum Stempeln steh'n wir alle Mann bereit. Statt Brot und Arbeit gibt der Führer uns nur Phrasen, Und wer was sagt, lebt nur noch kurze Zeit.
Die Straße stinkt nach braunen Batallionen, Ein Pöstchen winkt dem Sturmabteilungsmann. Vielleicht verdient als Bonze morgen er Millionen, Doch das geht uns 'nen braunen Scheißdreck an!
The prices high, the snouts firmly closed, Hunger marches with a quiet, steady step. Hitler and Göbbels, our two comrades, Starve in spirit along with usproles.
In theunemployment benefits officeSOS is sounded, All we men stand prepared to register as unemployed. Instead of bread and work, theFührer gives us just phrases, And whoever says anything lives but a little while.
The street stinks of the brown battalions, A cushy job winks at the Stormtrooper. Perhaps tomorrow he'll be afat cat and get millions, But that means jack-shit to us.[44]
In the first year of Nazi ruleradical elements of the SA sang their own parody of the song, reflecting their disappointment that the socialist element of National Socialism had not been realised:[45]
Die Preise hoch, Kartelle fest geschlossen Das Kapital marschiert mit leisem Schritt. Die Börsianer sind nun Parteigenossen Und für das Kapital sorgt nunHerr Schmitt.
The prices high, thecartels are tightly closed Capital marches with a quiet step. Thestockbrokers are now party comrades And capital is now protected by Herr Schmitt.
Kurt Schmitt was Economics Minister between 1933 and 1935.
Der Metzger ruft. Die Augen fest geschlossen Das Kalb marschiert mit ruhig festem Tritt. Die Kälber, deren Blut im Schlachthof schon geflossen Sie ziehn im Geist in seinen Reihen mit.
Thebutcher calls! The eyes tightly closed The calf marches with quiet, steady step. Calves whose blood has already been spilt at theslaughterhouse They march in spirit within its ranks.
The German post-punk and gothic rock bandXmal Deutschland released a version of theKälbermarsch in 1981 on the compilationLieber Zuviel Als Zuwenig (ZickZack Sommerhits 81) on the Hamburg labelZickzack Records.[47]
After Nazi Germany's capitulation on 8 May 1945, which endedWorld War II, as well as Germany's occupation of Eastern Europe, Germany was divided into four occupation zones (British, French, US-American and Soviet). In theSoviet zone, a version of 'Die Preise hoch' became popular, targeting Communist functionaries:[48]
Die Preise hoch die Läden fest geschlossen Die Not marschiert mit ruhig-festem Schritt. Es hungern nur die kleinen Volksgenossen, Die Großen hungern nur im Geiste mit.
The prices high, the shops firmly closed Poverty marches with a quiet, firm step. Only the little folk are hungry The bigwigs hunger only in spirit.
A French parody was written by humoristPierre Dac,Chant des Waffen SS(Song of the Waffen SS). The lyrics are from the perspective of a Frenchcollaborator, singing about how proud he is to now serve Nazi Germany.[49]
Waffen SS, enfants de la milice, C'est nous les durs, les mecs au cœur de fer, Et nous n'avons pour utiliser nos services, Qu'un seul patron, un seul Adolf Hitler.
Waffen SS, children of the militia, We are the tough guys, we guys with an iron heart, And we do not have to use our services, Only one boss, one Adolf Hitler.
The most notable English-language parody[50] was written byOliver Wallace to a similar melody and titled "Der Fuehrer's Face" for the 1942Donald Duck cartoon of the same name. It was the first hit record forSpike Jones. The opening lyrics give the flavor of the song:
When der Fuehrer says we is de master race We "Heil!" (pffft), "Heil!" (pffft) right in der Fuehrer's face Not to love der Fuehrer is a great disgrace So we "Heil!" (pffft), "Heil!" (pffft) right in der Fuehrer's face
In 2015, TheNew York Youth Symphony abruptly canceled aCarnegie Hall performance ofMarsh u Nebuttya (Ukrainian: "March to Oblivion"), a 9-minute piece composed byEstonian-born Jonas Tarm, a 21-year-old junior at theNew England Conservatory of Music, after it discovered that a piece it had commissioned included a 45-second musical quote of the "Horst Wessel Song".[51][52] The composer would not explain his purpose in using the song in his piece, saying "[I]t can speak for itself", but the orchestra said that the usage was not appropriate.[51]
German composerKarlheinz Stockhausen's electronic and concrete work titled,Hymnen includes a sample recording of the "Horst Wessel Song".[53] It premiered in Cologne, Germany, on 30 November 1967. It was also performed in New York's Philharmonic Hall (nowDavid Geffen Hall) and London'sEnglish Bach Festival among other international performances.
The tune is used inLukas Foss'Elegy forAnne Frank (1989) as a contorted march about three-quarters of the way through the work. This leads to an abrupt silence after which the earlier theme returns.[54][citation needed]
InReturn to Castle Wolfenstein, the song is played from radios in several locations in the game. The radios can be destroyed to stop the song playing.
In 2003, a high school marching band fromParis, Texas, played the "Horst-Wessel-Lied" while waving aNazi flag at a football match atHillcrest High School in Dallas. The performance coincided with theJewish holiday ofRosh Hashanah. The performance, which was meant to symbolize the history of World War II and also included musical selections and flags from Japan, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, was greeted with boos from the audience which threw objects at the band. The school superintendent apologized to the Dallas school district and removed the flag from future performances of the composition.[59]
The song was featured in a scene of the 1993 TV miniseriesJFK: Reckless Youth during which the future president was in a bar in Nazi Germany.
The song was briefly featured in the 13th episode ofTime Trax, originally aired on 5 May 1993, in which a Neo-Nazi group was singing modified English lyrics while a largeSS insignia was set aflame.
The song is used as background music in the third episode of season 4 ofIndustry as the political beliefs of a wealthy Austrian family become increasingly clear.[60]
^Rathkolb, Oliver (2022). "5".Baldur von Schirach: Nazi Leader and Head of the Hitler Youth. Translated by Heath, John. Barnsley, England: Frontline Books.ISBN9781399020961.
^Spotts, Frederic (2002).Hitler and the Power of Aesthetics. Woodstock, New York: Overkill Press. p. 272.ISBN1-58567-345-5.
^Weidemann, Alfred. "Ein Vorläufer des Horst-Wessel-Liedes?" inDie Musik 28, 1936, pp. 911f. Cited byWulf 1989, p. 270.Die Musik was published in Switzerland, as articles departing from the Nazi doctrine that Horst Wessel had originated both the lyrics and the tune could not be published inNazi Germany.
^Grundy, Trevor (1998).Memoir of a Fascist Childhood: A Boy in Mosley's Britain. William Heinemann Ltd. pp. 31–33.ISBN0434004677.
^Salvador, Alessandro; Kjøstvedt, Anders G. (2017).New Political Ideas in the Aftermath of the Great War. London: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 165–166.ISBN978-3-319-38914-1.
Broszat, Martin (1987) [1984].Hitler and the Collapse of Weimar Germany. Translated by Berghahn, V. R. Providence, Rhode Island: Berg Publishers.ISBN0-85496-517-3.
