Panzerlied

Das Panzerlied

English: The Tank Song
Music	Oberleutnant Kurt Wiehle
Audio sample
Duration: 1 minute and 30 seconds.1:30 file help

The Panzerlied (English: "Tank Song") was a Wehrmacht military march of the Nazi era, sung primarily by the Panzerwaffe, the tank force of Nazi Germany during World War II. It is one of the best-known songs of the Wehrmacht and was popularised by the 1965 film Battle of the Bulge. It is still used today by the Chilean and Brazilian armies. The modern-day German Army has discontinued its use, due to the song's Nazi origins and associations.

History

Panzerlied was composed in 1933 by Oberleutnant Kurt Wiehle. In 2017, the German Army was banned from publishing song books containing Panzerlied and other marching songs by the Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen as part of new efforts at denazification.

The song is sung by some motorized and parachute units of the Italian Army, most especially by the 185th Paratroopers Division Folgore under the title of "Sui Monti e Sui Mar". In France, the lyrics were adapted slightly to become the "Marche des Chars" used by the 501e régiment de chars de combat. The half portion of the song was used for Namibian patriotic song and unofficial anthem under South African rule, "Das Südwesterlied". In the songs of motorized and parachute units from the Brazilian Army under the title of "Canção da Tropa Blindada". A Spanish translation of the song is used by the Chilean Army as an armoured cavalry march, and by the Chilean Naval Academy as a pasacalle. French Foreign Legion also has this song in their repertoire under the name Kepi Blanc.

The lyrics of Panzerlied were adapted to fit a Kriegsmarine song.

Lyrics

Verse	German	Directly Translated English
1	Ob’s stürmt oder schneit, Ob die Sonne uns lacht, Der Tag glühend heiß Oder eiskalt die Nacht, Verstaubt sind die Gesichter, Doch froh ist unser Sinn, Ja unser Sinn. Es braust unser Panzer Im Sturmwind dahin.	Whether it storms or snows, Whether the sun smiles upon us, [Whether in] The day's scorching heat, Or the ice-cold of the night, Dusty are the faces, But joyful are our minds, Yes, our minds. Our tank roars there, Along in the storm winds.
2	Mit donnernden Motoren, Geschwind wie der Blitz, Dem Feinde entgegen, Im Panzer geschützt. Voraus den Kameraden, Im Kampf steh'n wir allein, Steh'n wir allein, So stoßen wir tief In die feindlichen Reih'n.	With thundering engines, Quick as lightning, Towards the enemy, Protected in the tank. Ahead of our comrades, In combat we stand alone, We stand alone. So we strike deep Into the enemy's ranks.
3	Wenn vor uns ein feindliches Heer dann erscheint, Wird Vollgas gegeben Und ran an den Feind! Was gilt denn unser Leben Für uns'res Reiches Heer? Ja Reiches Heer Für Deutschland zu sterben Ist uns höchste Ehr'.	When before us an enemy Army then appears. Shalt full throttle be given And run to the enemy! What then do our lives count for, For our empire's army? Yes, empire's army To die for Germany Is our highest honor.
4	Mit Sperren und Minen Hält der Gegner uns auf, Wir lachen darüber Und fahren nicht drauf. Und droh'n vor uns Geschütze, Versteckt im gelben Sand, Im gelben Sand, Wir suchen uns Wege, Die keiner sonst fand.	With obstacles and mines the opponent holds us up, We laugh about it and onto them, don't drive. And guns before us threaten, hidden in the yellow sand, in the yellow sand. We look for ways No others have found.
5	Und läßt uns im Stich Einst das treulose Glück, Und kehren wir nicht mehr Zur Heimat zurück, Trifft uns die Todeskugel, Ruft uns das Schicksal ab, Ja Schicksal ab, Dann wird uns der Panzer Ein ehernes Grab.	And should we get abandoned once by treacherous luck, And return we will no more, Back to home, Hitting us, the deathly bullet, Fate calls us away, Yes, fate away. Then becomes the tank for us, an honorable/iron grave.