Common theme in German WWI songs-- The common citizen does not want to fight and misses his family and home, but he knows that he has to fight because if he doesn't, he will have no home to go back to.
John Taylor, You are correct in your statement that the German Empire was the primary aggressor in The Great War, but both the song and my statement refers to the point of view of the common German soldier who is sent to fight for a war he feels is a war to protect his homeland.
@@johntaylor4787 Germany mobilized to protect its ally Austria, who was the aggressor in this war, despite German requests to Austria to not demand too much of Serbia. Due to Russia's immense manpower and growing industry, German high command viewed a quick defeat of France as the only way to win a war against Russia. An invasion of Belgium facilitated this quick defeat of France.
@@DingDingTheRU-vidBuddy yeah. serbia provoked austria hungary into war, and because germany was austria hungary's allie, they declared war on serbia to help. then other countries went to help serbia, and they declared war to help eachother, creating a chain cycle.
@@EinDeutscherPatriot620it’s coarser then languages like French, but it is still beautiful, in the context of war, or some sort of metal or rock music, it sounds amazing Ich liebe deutsche Lieder!
I just finished watching "All Quiet on the Western Front", the lyrics feel just like it, pain and suffering inside endless trenches, waiting for your turn to charge in a suicide assault, risking your life for a few inches of mud and useless soil.. True terror comes from things like these.
As decent of a read as the book is, All Quiet on the Western Front was not even written by someone who experienced the events of the war. I recommend you read Storm of Steel, a book very much contrasting All Quiet on the Western Front. Unlike Remarque, Jünger actually wrote about his own experiences and perspectives.
@@OlavEngelbrektson Read both, liked All quiet, but loved Storm of steel. But Erich Maria Ramarque fought for some time at the western front. Though, clearly not as long as Junger.
@@OlavEngelbrektson I think while Remarque's works are more detached from him personally, they're still greatly influenced by his own experiences (he did spend several months at war before going back home wounded, and probably many interactions with war-weary fellow soldiers back home as well). On the other hand, the first renditions of Storm of Steel were Junger basically publishing his raw war diary without even a slight edit, not giving much of a sentiment nor confirming to opinions. Just "I went there, did that, shot and got shot, repeat". Those two's opinion on war could, and most likely so, differ from each other from slightly to significantly depend on how you interpret their works, and greatly influenced by their different approaches to matters in life a war. But imo both views are valid and need great consideration by the readers.
(Sorry for the unrelated reply) A late relative of mine who did fight in ww1 fought in the german army at le cateau, his diary has these words "will i ever see germany again?"..... *he never did...* He was a corporal, then an officer. He led advance after advance before he was killed by a british rifleman.
what makes it even more sad, that with every stanza sung, less members of the choir sing along... to echo every loss which makes this rendition even more special!
Well, Germanic songs are upbeat at times but tell stories of very sad and harsh realities. Sverige har fallit is one such song which has a beautiful tone but it ends with a swede getting stabbed by an Arab who laughs at him, then uses his own blood to carve the runes. It's depressing but it's a perfect example of what Sweden (and most of Europe) is going through today
The lack of an instrumental for this version makes it all the more powerful. It really shows the 'emptiness' of WW1- no bombastic glory and triumph, just the people themselves at the front dealing with the dread of war.
@@Nepalskiy а это и не стих, это литературный перевод песни. Вот собственно оригинал текста: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zANc29fE92A.html
A very beautiful song. It is a shame that american media has done so much to harm the average persons perspective and appreciation of the beauty and poetic quality of the German tongue.
Especially without the triumphant verses in the end. The telling of the Pioneer’s story is, instead, cut off at the peak of his charge, at the activation of the grenade, as if to give it a much more “real” feel.
The silence between the lines and the reverb makes it seem so haunting, like the voices of so many unknown voices from beyond singing a song that was their last, maybe those bones and unknown graves you see in the graveyards could be one of these voices? With their own hopes, dreams and wishes. My prayers go out to all those who have no name and no voice, your sacrifice helped us build who we are now. Salute to all who have no name!
@@Nordbon1523 Ich erinnere mich an den letzten wahren König meines Volkes (Altsachsen). Ich möchte, dass unsere alten Könige zurückkommen. Es lebe die germanischen Brüder Nord und West! 🇩🇪🇸🇪🇳🇴🇩🇰🍻⚔️
@@EinDeutscherPatriot620 Eines Tages werden die Monarchie und die Junker auf ihren rechtmäßigen Thron zurückkehren. Es lebe die konstitutionelle Monarchie! danke, deutsche für karl xii (wittelsbach).
Here's to my grandpa, a WW2 veteran who fought under Field Marshal Montgomery in Africa and Egypt! May all those who died in battle throughout history defending their countries and families rest in peace!
My grandfather fought under him in Normandy and Germany, he took part in taking Bergen Belsen. They didn't take prisoners for a few weeks after. Both those things affected him until he died. As a military historian I'm with you.....throw war and violence in the bin. A bit naive,probably,wrong,NO!
In your cold earth rest so many brave soldier's blood hits hard because no one wants to fight but are left with no choice other than they must fight it's sad but this is how people are
This track is taken from a vinyl record called "Lieder die wir einst sangen" it's actually quite rare from my understanding Infact own a copy with all sorts of great ww1/2 songs the choir who sang it was the "choir of former SS Soldiers"
It's amazing and terrifying at the same moment. The whole song just repeats one question and one answer. "What did war take away from you?" "Humanity."
Every soldier that falls in wartime is a soul that was corrupted by the evils of war, conquest and atrocity. No matter the race, faith or gender, all those people sent to die out there should be always remembered for their sacrifices.
RU-vid wouldn't have deleted them if it wasn't for a certain group of losers with the intellect and the cognitive ability of a toddler who fills up the entire comment section with their nonsensical and incoherent ramblings.
@@afruitshopowner3307 Aren't you by any chance that person? Then why aren't you attacking commies? I don't listen to them for ideologies, I just like them. And sückers like you think all those who listen to it are NaZis blablabla.
@@unionjack408 1) I'm not a communist (if that's what you ask). 2) The main reason why i don't do this to commies is the fact that communism main goal was never the extermination of different groups (don't get me wrong, Stalin,Mao etc.. were tyrants but if you think that they are worse than the same idelogy who started the most destructive conflict in history, you have a serious problem). 3) You're free to like whatever piece of propaganda from backwards regimes as long you DON'T idolize said regimes.
"Our bodies may be rotten, Our bones may in ground lay: But, whom darest repeat our wrong, He shall with pain pay! Have we fought for nothing? Are we in a hell of a pit? For if thy shallst blood spill, We shall never sleep!" - Yakov Galekin Respect for every fallen man of WWI. May their memory be never forgotten, so we never - ever forget their sacrifice. But it's too late... We failed them. Miserabely.
@@ramikocanilla3544 my brother in Christ, I wrote that song. There is no sung version of that, only written one on lyricstranslate, you can check out my other work, and if you are brave enough, you can actually sing it, just contribute me as an author.
My friend's grandfather died in the second war. The other one who made it through died before she was born. Germany simply will never return to what we were in the 1800s. What happened in WW1 left us with no choice but to fight. But in WW2, we should have simply accepted our loss despite how poorly we were treated. But now, we'll always be a shadow of what we could have been
@@EinDeutscherPatriot620 In my opinion, Germany has accomplished it's destiny with the creation of the EU. It is not in its past's shadow, it has overcome it. EU with Germany in its heart is the realization of every single great German statesman's dream. Germany (and the EU) is not "the shadow", but it is the shining city on a hill - an example for the world that you don't have to always prey for glory and prestige, that you don't have to be the "overlord" and that you don't have to always choose violence to enforce national interests, but that dialogue and cooperation always brings far more prestige to a nation than violence. Look at Germany today! World's No. 3 by nominal GDP, No. 19 by GDP per capita, No. 16 happiest country in the world, No. 9 by HDI and I could go on and on. Isn't this what every German stateman wanted? General happiness and prosperity for Germany? But this is just my opinion, you can have a different one, and I respect it.
1st Argonne Forest, at midnight, a pioneer was on guard duty. |: A little star stood high in the sky, brings him a greeting from a distant homeland. :| 2. And with spade in hand He stood in front of the sapp. |: With longing he thinks of his love: Will he see her again? :| 3. And the artillery roars thunderously. We are in front of the infantry. |: Shells hit us, the Frenchman wants to get into our position. :| 4. He asked neither why nor how, did his duty as all they did. |: In no song was it heard, Whether he stayed or returned home. :| 5. No matter how much the enemy threatens us, we Germans no longer fear him. |: And no matter how strong he may be, he won't fit into our position. :| 6. The storm breaks loose, the mine cracks, The pioneer immediately advances. |: He makes his way up to the enemy and then ignites the hand grenade. :| 7. The infantry stands guard, until the hand grenade cracks, |: Then goes with storm to the enemy, With hurrah they then take the position. :| 8. The Frenchman shouts: Pardon Monsieur! Raise both hands in the air, |: He then begs us for mercy, which we as Germans then grant him. :| 9. A lot of blood flowed during this storm , it cost many a young life. |: But we Germans stand our ground, For the beloved, dear fatherland. :| 10. Argonne Forest, Argonne Forest, you will soon become a quiet graveyard! |: Many a brave soldier's blood rests in your cool earth . :| 11. And when I come to the gates of heaven, An angel of God stands for it: |: Argonne fighter, come in, here shall be eternal peace for you. :| 12. You pioneer at midnight, today all of Germany is on guard. |: Firm in loyalty, pure in will, As a new strong watch on the Rhine! :|
Warum sollten wir uns dafür schämen? Ich höre, wie Deutsche mich und andere Deutsche befragen, weil wir stolz auf unsere ganze Geschichte sind, zurück zu den Stämmen und dann bis hierher mit Liedern wie diesem. Ob wir wollen oder nicht, wir sind Deutsche und unser Land und unsere Geschichte steht und lebt durch uns bis zur Gründung unseres Volkes vor 2000 Jahren. Es lohnt sich, daran zu glauben und stolz darauf zu sein.
@@haggiwaggi6402 Why should we be ashamed of this? I hear Germans questioning me and other Germans because we are proud of our whole history, back to the tribes and then to here with songs like this. Whether we like it or not, we are Germans and our country and our history stands and lives through us until the founding of our people 2000 years ago. It is worth believing in and being proud of.
Certain Canadian units had REAL grudge matches with certain German units, the Hitlerjugand Pander Division only being most famous. At first my (we're Scottish)Grandfather didn't get it. Then he saw Bergen Belsen. He and his mates stopped taking prisoners for a while after. I'm 44 now,he died when I was 17 yet I still remember him telling me after he had a few too many. He regretted it. But.....
Nein, deutsche Soldaten haben nicht für ihr Vaterland gekämpft sondern für idiotische Machtallüren durchgeknallter Imperialträumer, die wiederum von der Großindustrie und den dahinter stehenden Banken angestachelt wurden. Deutschland wurde weder 1914 noch 1939 von einem anderen Staat angegriffen sondern es war der Aggressor.
@@yc__ , doch den gab es: Deutschland !!! Hätte Deutschland nicht den dekadenten Habsburgern diesen Blankoscheck ausgestellt (sog. "Nibelungentreue"), hätte Österreich nie einen Krieg gegen Serbien angefangen. Wie man dann auch sehr schnell gesehen hat, haben es die Österreicher auch nicht gebacken bekommen, sodass Deutschland neben der Westfront und der Ostfront dann noch im Südosten eine neue Front errichten musste. Dass das nie gutgehen konnte, leuchtet ja wohl ein.
It’s an interesting contrast to hear the song that came from England during this time and Germany. They’re were some upbeat songs like “It’s A Long Way To Tipperary” and “In einem Polenstädtachen“, but then the British near the end of it had “When This Lousy War Is Over” when soldiers sing about what they’ll do when they can finally stop going to France and get to stay home in England. While Germany had songs like this one and “Wo alle Straßen enden“ where it doesn’t sing about what comes after the war, but what they are currently facing and that they might not see what is behind them again. If there are any songs like this to England let me know because I might not about them.
By and large British troops didn't sing when they marched. This is why artistic expression of the British common soldier is limited though as you note not non existent. Many middle and even upper class U.K officers wrote poetry but I doubt Tommy Atkins read much of it. Also the few working class U.K soldiers songs usually have bitter humor in them. A last note is that one noted by many military historians,the desire to conserve energy on the match which the British soldier had learned the hard way while marching over the globe.
This is one of the most beautiful military songs ever composed, only a German could have written it. There is something tragic and sad about it but at the same time is a beautiful and moving tribute to the noble and glorious German soldiers who stood firm against the whole world.
Its heartbreaking to picture it, regardless of the front or war, fighting to defend ideals you think are right or fighting to protect your people. At least the dead have finished their war. 😔
The World Wars truly were the most senseless of violence, and this hatered in the end cost the World greatly. Rest your souls, no matter if French, Belgian, British, German, Polish, Russian, Hungarian, and all other nations of the world that are driven into chaos by ruthless power hungry people.
We Germans(Prussia) had the best military and soldiers in the world WW1 and WW2, Germany fought against three superpowers America and Soviet Union and British Empire.
@@user-ts1nx1to8h Wenn das dein Blick auf uns Ost Deutschen ist dann zeigt das nur wie unreif du bist und das du kein vereintes Deutschland willst. (Schade)
