Volk ans Gewehr

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Volk ans Gewehr (People to Arms) was the refrain of the very popular 1931 Nazi song "Siehst du im Osten das Morgenrot" (Do you see dawn in the east). The song was written by , who dedicated it to Joseph Goebbels.[1] It contains strong allusions to the well-known workers' song Brothers, to the sun, to freedom.

The song, which was characterized by a hammering march rhythm, was first heard at a rally in the Berlin Sports Palace on January 8, 1932 by about 150 SA people of Standard 7 and performed publicly by the Fuhsel Chapel. In the following years, it became one of the most played National Socialist songs.

Pardun's song was one of the most famous mass songs of the Nazi era; in the 1930s, it was mainly used as an SA marching song. It was also a compulsory song for the Reichsarbeitsdienst. During the war, it was used as a military song - not least because it was included in the soldier's song book Morgen marschieren wir (Tomorrow we march).

The decisive bars of the song were used shortly after the Nazi seizure of power by the Berlin radio station. Lectures at German universities or student council meetings also started with the song after 1933.[2] Thus, people were constantly reminded of this song. The historian describes this as a subtle educational tool of the National Socialists for propaganda and preparation for war.[3][4]

At the Nuremberg trials of the major German war criminals, this song was used as evidence.

Text and Melody[]

1. Siehst du im Osten das Morgenrot? Ein Zeichen zur Freiheit, zur Sonne! Wir halten zusammen, ob lebend, ob tot, mag kommen, was immer da wolle! Warum jetzt noch zweifeln, hört auf mit dem Hadern, Noch fließt uns deutsches Blut in den Adern. Volk ans Gewehr! Volk ans Gewehr!

2. Viele Jahre zogen dahin. Geknechtet das Volk und betrogen. Verräter und Juden sie hatten Gewinn, sie forderten Opfer Legionen. Im Volke geboren erstand uns ein Führer, gab Glaube und Hoffnung an Deutschland uns wieder. Volk ans Gewehr! Volk ans Gewehr!

3. Deutscher, wach auf nun und reih dich ein, wir schreiten dem Siege entgegen! Frei soll die Arbeit, frei woll’n wir sein und mutig und trotzig verwegen. Wir ballen die Fäuste und werden es wagen, es gibt kein Zurück mehr und keiner darf zagen! Volk ans Gewehr! Volk ans Gewehr!

4. Jugend und Alter, Mann für Mann, umklammern das Hakenkreuzbanner. Ob Bürger, ob Bauer, ob Arbeitsmann, sie schwingen das Schwert und den Hammer. Für Hitler, für Freiheit, für Arbeit und Brot, Deutschland erwache und Juda den Tod! Volk ans Gewehr! Volk ans Gewehr!

1. Do you see the dawn in the east? A sign to freedom, to the sun! We stick together, whether alive or dead, whatever may come! Why still doubt now, stop quarreling, German blood still flows in our veins. People to the rifle! People to the rifle!

2. Many years passed. Subjugated the people and betrayed them. Traitors and Jews they made a profit, they made sacrifices to legions. Born among the people, a leader rose to us and gave us back faith and hope in Germany. People to the rifle! People to the rifle!

3. German, wake up now and get in line, we are stepping towards victory! Work should be free, we want to be free and courageous and defiantly daring. We clench our fists and will dare, there is no turning back and nobody should hesitate! People to the rifle! People to the rifle!

4. Youth and old age, man for man, clasp the swastika banner. Whether a citizen, a farmer or a laborer, they swing sword and hammer. For Hitler, for freedom, for work and bread, Germany awake and Judah death! People to the rifle! People to the rifle!

The text contains allusions to numerous cornerstones of Nazi ideology, such as the demand for the creation of living space in the east (“Do you see the dawn in the east”), sharp anti-Jewish sentiment (“Germany awake, Judah death”) and the invocation of the entire people to military force ("People to the rifle, people to the rifle"), as well as the popular workers' song Brothers, to the sun, to freedom, for example in the first line.

The slogan People to the rifle goes back to a poem from 1820 ("Freedom, your tree is rotting/everyone on the begging stick/soon bites into the hunger grave/people's rifle"). The melody has a minor character, fifth and fourth structures as well as echoes of church modes of the 19th century song type. The song was "exposed to the accusation of being un-German, Russian or Bolshevik". Above all, the power of the chorus line gives the battle song its effect.

Legal position[]

The performance of this song in public is prohibited in Germany according to Section 86a of the Criminal Code. In Austria, comparable provisions apply due to Section 3 of the Prohibition Act of 1947.


References[]

  1. ^ "Siehst du im Osten das Morgenrot (Volk ans Gewehr)". Volksliederarchiv. 27 May 1931. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  2. ^ "\"Volk ans Gewehr\" — Universität Bonn".
  3. ^ Jutta Sywottek: Mobilmachung für den totalen Krieg. Die propagandistische Vorbereitung der deutschen Bevölkerung auf den Zweiten Weltkrieg. Opladen 1976, S. 89, Fußnote 233.
  4. ^ Thomas Friedrich (2007), Die missbrauchte Hauptstadt. Hitler und Berlin (in German)
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