East German Army: Prussian Goose Step vs Wehrmacht Goose Step 

The music is called "Les Préludes" by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt. Ironically, this music was used as the intro for German newsreels after the invasion of the Soviet Union 1941. You can listen to the score: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IM47hhXrJho.html

@@MaximusandHistory OMG thank you!!! Love your channel btw. Watch 3-4 of your videos every day.

The music is called Yorkscher Marsch or Marsch des Yorkscher Corps. Composer was Ludwig van Beethoven he named it Marsch Nr 1 in F Dur

Yeah, I like how East Germany kept a lot of traditional German military characteristics, I've heard this was intentional.

@@titanderp that's right and they were left wing too

@@jasonscott6174 yea I know, Prussian does not mean "fascist"

East Germany kept German traditions while West Germany kept fascist bastards in power.

​​​@@JohnSmith-ii9cidly they destroyed all of the religious traditions there. Also the east germans are more slavified.

The arm swing is definitely Prussian, since the arm goes up to the belt, and not the armpit like in Soviet drill. The clenched fist is indeed Russian and it's one of the few Soviet elements in the NVA. Here is a video of the Russian Presidential Regiment of the FSO at the tomb of the unknown soldier: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gV3EUAqWzSs.html Notice how the arm swings completely up to rifle and physically hits the receiver of the SKS? Also the rifle is held upright, not rested on the shoulder like in German drill.

@@MaximusandHistory that's why wrote a "a bit Russian".

Red Fascism- McCarthy

Absolutely.

The arm swing is 100% Prussian it is the old style which was used as well by the Wehrmacht.

You're welcome!

Neither West or East Germany adopted the iron cross medal.

@@MaximusandHistory The Iron Cross was reinstated by the Bundeswehr in 1955. In 1957, the West German government awarded World War II veterans a new Iron Cross, replacing the original swastika with an oak leaf in the middle. But today's Iron Cross is only a symbolic existence, and there is no entity in the same color and shape as the past in modern times. However, since 2008, the Bundeswehr has established the "Bundeswehr Cross of Honor for Bravery" (Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr für Tapferkeit) as the Bundeswehr's highest medal of honor, awarded to a number of soldiers who have performed heroically in the war on terror.

@@MaximusandHistory Although there were multiple discussions throughout West-Germany‘s history to re-introduce the Iron Cross in the event of a war between East- and West. Luckily that never happened but there‘s the „Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr“, which clearly takes the inspiration from it (though it isn‘t as broad as the Iron Cross) and WW1 and WW2 veterans were still allowed to openly wear their Iron Crosses at official ceremonies.

@@scanida5070 Yes, and interestingly the FRG gave former Iron Cross recipients a denazified variant with oak leaves instead of a Swastika!

​@@yipming9053 It was never reinstated, they just handed out denazified variants to previous Iron Cross recipients as a symbolic gesture. The iron cross is not officially part of the Bundeswehr's award system.

The drill regulations of 1906 served as a model for the NVA drill manual

„Zusammenhalt“ **Wählt die Nummer fürs MfS** Ja, hallo? Mein Nachbar schaut sich gerade Videos auf einer kapitalistischen Website an! Bitte kommen sie sofort!

🤮🤮🤮 Nee danke! Auf die Gehirnwäsche und den Drill habe ich sehr gerne verzichtet. Mich hat schon geekelt, wenn ich diesen Adi im Ostfernsehen gesehen habe...

Obwohl die Verfassung der DDR guarantierte Bewegungsfreiheit, duerfte man nur mit Aursreisegenehmigung ins Ausland fahren. In den meisten Faellen nur genehmigt nachdem man 62 Jahre alt war. Das war nicht so sehr schoen. Der Honni blieb zulange an der Macht, und ZK liess es alles was der DDR passierte vorkommen.

The commies brought as much shame to Germany as the Nazis. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I think the Kaiser should be reinstated, but I have no say or power over Germany. I hardly have the right to Express my opinion of it, I am not a german and don't live in Germany so I'll stay out of Germany's business unless that changes. Just remember we dropped 260 million bombs on Laos for being next to a communist country, we have better bombs now. Ohh wait I forgot you're German you have Nächstbereichschutzsystem (MANTIS) anti aircraft guns, those are scary... but I don't think they can hit B-52s.

Das waren die schönsten Zeiten für mich, eine Deutsche einheit hätte es nie geben dürfen. War viel schöner in der DDR, und ist immer noch.

Every uniform in East Germany remained closed collar until the mid 1970's (Volksarmee, Volkspolizei, Feuerwehr, Kompanie der Transportpolizei, Grenztruppen, and even the fallschirmjäger uniforms were closed collar! And yes, those are indeed East German Shako's! Early DDR was very traditional, over the course of the 70's and 80's, the uniforms became more modern and some traditions were dropped.

Totally agree, Scanida! I might be even more in the minority because I like the Reichswehr the most. Yeah, it’s controversial and they’re really obscure, but the Reichswehr is (for me at least) honestly the best blend of the old (Prussian traditions and drills) and the new (modern equipment, modern uniforms and helmets, etc.) :D

It's so sad that they NVA discarded some of the Prussian drill movements in favor for the hybrid Wehrmacht style mixed with Soviet arm swinging!

@@ghiaccioiced ​ I agree mostly, the only thing which has always bothered me about the Reichswehr (and the Wehrmacht and NVA too) is the blandness of the uniforms…they‘re just boring. I mean don‘t get me wrong the M16 Stahlhelm looks amazing and is far superior to the M35, M42 and M92 (I don‘t have to mention the M45, do I?) but uniforms in pure field-grey? That‘s just…boring, especially considering the fact that just a few years prior these exact soldiers were marching in colourful uniforms in blue, green and red. I honestly prefer how the Wehrmacht and Bundeswehr brought back some colour with the dark-blue tunics of the Luftwaffe and the latter with the light-gray tunics for the Heer.

@@MaximusandHistory I‘m still pretty confused why a socialist army would use elements from the Wehrmacht. I mean, in West-Germany it still seemed kinda „reasonable“ since the government still believed in the myth of an „innocent“ Wehrmacht up until the mid 1960s (!). In East-Germany it just feels so odd. I‘ve heard the argument that it would make people like the army a little more since many were nostalgic but that just doesn‘t seem like a solid argument to me, don‘t you think? Propaganda purposes sound *fairly* probable but it just doesn‘t add up in my mind, especially considering that it was done *after* they discarded the Prussian drill elements… The NVA was truly an oddball amongst all the German armies in history…

It usually is supposed to be that way, and it's called "Stechschritt" (literally "piercing step"). I am not 100% certain, but I am sure the Stechschritt was invented during the Nazi era. The NVA originally used the Prussian arm swing, as seen at 0:16, but sometime in the late 60's, early 70's, they adopted the Soviet Army style of swinging the arms. (The arm swings all the way to the arm pit) I don't know who created this myth that "Prussia's Glory" was banned, and why its circulating all over the internet, but this is *100% baseless.* I suspect someone who has a grudge against the DDR just created this bs to fling poop at the NVA, because it's complete fiction with zero evidence to support it. I spoke to the former conductor of the Stabsmusikkorps der Volksmarine, he participated in the military parades on Karl Marx Alle since 1979! He told me that no marches were banned in East Germany. Instead, marches such as "Prussia's Glory" were not allowed to be officially part of the repertoire for the military parades because it had the word "Prussian" in its title, same goes for the word "Kamerad." He said it was never about the music, but rather its title. Non the less, they still performed some of these old Prussian era marches but not at official events or ceremonies. As a conductor, he had to be careful with what he chose to perform. Sometimes they would change the name of these old Prussian marches with a more harmless title so that they could perform them! Gerhard Baumann, one of the most respected and talented conductor & military composer in East Germany was given a considerable amount of autonomy. He was given free reign to perform what ever he wanted. I spoke to someone who apparently had an LP recording of the Hohenfriedberger marsch, conducted by Baumann! You can't find this recording anywhere on the internet, but it goes against anything that has been said online. There's a East German concert march composed by Siegfried Bethmann, which is a potpourri of existing German marches. The march includes a musical quote of the Königgrätzer Marsch/Hohenfriedberger Marsch! I hope I cleared up your suspicions!

@@MaximusandHistory yes it has🙂. Fantastic information and that is why I enjoy exchanging comments on RU-vid, I've read something and it turns out to be rubbish, that's fine...thats why I collect militaria and study history , to learn , so thanks again and all the best to you 🙂 🙃 😀 👍

@@MaximusandHistory Speaking of the Hohenfriedberger: In this small clip you can actually hear it, although I doubt that it was actually performed. I think it was added later by West-German press… ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZWOY7mG6-Zw.html

you were right. no Preussens Gloria, and not Der hohenfriedenberger, which can be heard here. It has benn pasted on. Good musicians though. on 2nd october 1990 Deutschland über alles was forbidden. on oct 3 it was the new national anthem. played perfectly in Prora

You are correct. Paradeschritt is less exagerated especially useful in lockmarsch (grouped). The high kick is ceremonial and individual and often seen used by the leading drum major. Look at the Chilean marches.

Why are you disgusted by the Bundeswehr?

@@ghiaccioiced Because the Bundeswehr is democratic and the NVA is the true successor of the Wehrmacht ! That's what he likes, obviously...

@@laurentdevaux5617 Yeah, that’s…weird…to say the least.

@@laurentdevaux5617 "Democracy" has become an religion for Westerners lol

@@laurentdevaux5617 it's false. The bundeswehr looks like a bunch of dead men walking. You can't feel the organisation in their march the same way you do when the prussians were goose stepping

Sounds strangely familiar to Les Preludes by Franz Liszt

Yorckschermarsch by Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Because the Wehrmacht Parade step was slightly different from the traditional Prussian Parade Step used by the Reichswehr! The Wehrmacht step was exaggerated because the foot is forcefully stomped on the ground, compared to the more loose parade step used in the Reichswehr. There were some modifications to drill regulations in the Wehrmacht.

That is not true.@@MaximusandHistory Both steps were used in the Wehrmacht. The Reichswehr change of guard was not a gentle low step. The Chilean army does not use "Wehrmacht" drills.

Both clips are from the 1960's.

No, unfortunately I do not! By the way, your channel is fantastic! You have some amazing & rare DDR recordings. :)

@@MaximusandHistory That’s a shame, Ive been looking to get my hands on the march “Kosmonauten marsch” which is contained in the CD. And thank you for the kind words!

Yorckscher Marsch

Got it thanks!

Both clips are of the NVA.

Yes.

@@MaximusandHistory when will your restored video? I am still siting, waiting and I even thought that your channel is closed...

@@genossedmitry9603 Which restored video? Just to clarify, I don't make restorations. I purchase the original footage which has been archived.

@@MaximusandHistory ok, But still, I will be glad to see a new video. How soon will it be released?

@@genossedmitry9603 I only have a few minutes of footage, it's just too expensive to buy the full video. :( I am going to hopefully start a Patreon and pump out some history videos once my new microphone arrives.

I never claimed this was the Wehrmacht. This is a comparison of the Prussian style goose step vs the Wehrmacht style goose step used by the NVA.

This video is a comparison of the two different styles of goose stepping used by the NVA. Originally they used the Prussian style of goose stepping before they switched to the exaggerated Wehrmacht goose step.

I know this, however in the English speaking world and in Western countries, the DDR was referred to as "East Germany." If I wrote National People's Army, it wouldn't get as many views.

@@MaximusandHistory yes i understand. In History since 1949 the goverment of FRG and each Others write and speak so . It is Not History correctnes. I am 67 y.old, born in GDR, and 1977/78 i go 18 months in NVA. Let us tell please the young Generation whose read here the history correctnes. They never learn it at school.. If you write ever and ever GDR and NVA , the next Reader accept and learn what ist right.😉

@Jörg Reishöfer do you still live in eastern Germany?

@@longiusaescius2537 no , I have lived in the FRG since 1990 . before that I lived in the GDR

I was born in GDR in 1955. No east Germany. GDR was one own state Like FRG. Two own states in German language

…Horrendous for Nazis trapped there most of the Federal Republic was runned by Nazis since the foundation of that Fake Republik in 1948 and became vassals cowards Nazis with their balls chopped off by American Occupation since 1945, look at now Germany it’s imploding into oblivion thanks to their masters and their own stupidity cowardice of their so called leadership a bunch of a second and third generation of Nazi descendants…🐖💨🇩🇪💩🇺🇸…

East Germany didn’t exist in WWII

@@Ocinneade345 Thanks Allen. Regardless of your inference, East Germany became a horrendous regime.

@@rob379lqz so did West Germany. East Germany had better trans rights than every NATO country

@@left-wingshark2302 this is a negative

0:35 this is Prussian arm swinging, Russian is much faster and rigid.

@@MaximusandHistory No they have a closed fist. Here it’s how it’s supposed to look like ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BKt4qF11IZk.html

@@hannovonbahrenfeld5986 I know they have a clenched fist, the arm swinging however is Prussian. Russian arm swinging is more exaggerated! Russian style swings up to the arm pit, here in the video, the NVA guards swing at the stomach level.

@@MaximusandHistory Then you’re doing a bit of false advertising here.

@@hannovonbahrenfeld5986 False Advertising? What? Hahaha.