Horst Wessel (b. September 9, 1907, Bielefeld, Germany -- d. February 23, 1930,
Berlin, Germany) joined the Nazi party in in 1926. He was killed by political enemies
in a fight in his rooms in Berlin. Glorified as a martyr to the Nazi cause,
his song became the offical Nazi anthem.
This was perhaps the most famous Nazi song of the war.
[Correction to previous note here. The Horst Wessel Song was not,
as previously stated, the German song sung, famously, in the emotional scene Rick's Cafe
Amercaine in Casablanca, only to be drowned out by the Marseillaise!.
As several correspondents pointe out, that song was an older patriotic, but (non-Nazi song
called Wacht am Rhein (The Watch on the Rhine)]
Click to hear a Real Audio of the Horst Wessel Song
[Note: Although real audio files are capable of being "streamed" over the
net, that is not possible from the server I am using on this page (that may change).
But even as downloadables, they are much smaller than AU and WAV files. You will need a
Real Audio player installed to play them. It is from from the Real Audio Website. ]
Click to hear a midi file of the Horst Wessel Song
Click to hear a WAV file of the Horst Wessel Song [At Anesi]
Horst Wessel Lied
Die Fahne hoch die Reihen fest geschlossen
S. A. marschiert mit ruhig festem Schritt
Kam'raden die Rotfront und Reaktion erschossen
Marschier'n im Geist in unsern Reihen mit
Die Strasse frei den braunen Batallionen
Die Strasse frei dem Sturmabteilungsmann
Es schau'n auf's Hackenkreuz voll Hoffung schon Millionen
Der Tag fur Freiheit und fur Brot bricht an
Zum letzen Mal wird nun Appell geblasen
Zum Kampfe steh'n wir alle schon bereit
Bald flattern Hitler-fahnen Uber allen Strassen
Die Knechtschaft dauert nur mehr kurze Zeit
Die Fahne hoch die Reihen fest geschlossen
S. A. marschiert mit ruhig festem Schritt
Kam'raden die Rotfront und Reaktion erschossen
Marschier'n im Geist in unsern Reihen mit
Translation
Flag high, ranks closed,
The S.A. marches with silent solid steps.
Comrades shot by the red front and reaction
march in spirit with us in our ranks.
The street free for the brown battalions,
The street free for the Storm Troopers.
Millions, full of hope, look up at the swastika;
The day breaks for freedom and for bread.
For the last time the call will now be blown;
For the struggle now we all stand ready.
Soon will fly Hitler-flags over every street;
Slavery will last only a short time longer.
Flag high, ranks closed,
The S.A. marches with silent solid steps.
Comrades shot by the red front and reaction
march in spirit with us in our ranks.
