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Erika (song)

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"Erika" is a German marching song. It is primarily associated with the German Army, especially that of Nazi Germany, although its text has no political content.[1] It was created by Herms Niel and published in 1938, and soon came into usage by the Wehrmacht. It was frequently played during Nazi Party public events.[citation needed] According to British soldier, historian, and author Major General Michael Tillotson, it was the single most popular marching song of any country during the Second World War.[2]

Origins

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"Erika" is both a common German female name and the German word for heather. The lyrics and melody of the song were written by Herms Niel, a German composer of marches. The exact year of the song's origin is not known; often the date is given as "about 1930",[3] but this has never been substantiated. The song was originally published in 1938 by the publishing firm Carl Louis Oertel [de] in Großburgwedel, but it had been popular prior to the war.[4]

Music

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The song begins with the line "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein" (On the heath a little flower blooms), the theme of a flower (Erika) bearing the name of a soldier's sweetheart.[2] After each line, and after each time the name "Erika" is sung, there is a three beat pause, which is filled by the kettledrum or stamping feet (e.g. of marching soldiers), shown as (xxx) in the text below.

\header { tagline = ##f } \paper { paper-width = 240\mm } \layout { indent = 0 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } } global = { \key g \major \numericTimeSignature \time 2/4 } heidetenor = \relative c'' { b,4. c8 | d4 d | d g | g b | b4. a8 | g4 s | s2 | fis4 g | a s | s2 | b4. a8 | g4 s | s2 } tenorVoice = \relative c'' { \global \set midiInstrument = #"brass section" \voiceOne \dynamicUp \repeat volta 2 { \heidetenor \bar ":|." } d,4. g8 | fis4 fis | fis fis | e fis | g s | s2 | fis4. g8 | a4 a | a a | d4. c8 | b4 s | s2 \bar "|." } verse = \lyricmode { Auf der Hei -- de blüht ein klei -- nes Blü -- me -- lein, und das heißt E -- ri -- ka. Denn ihr Herz ist vol -- ler Sü -- ßig -- keit zar -- ter Duft ent -- strömt dem Blü -- ten -- kleid. } verseR = \lyricmode { Heiß von hun -- dert -- tau -- send klei -- nen Bie -- ne -- lein wird um -- schwärmt E -- ri -- ka. } heideshots = { s2*5 |s4 \override NoteHead #'style = #'cross e4 | e e | s2 | s4 e | e e | s2 | s4 e | e \mark \markup \small "Fine" e \bar ":|." } shots = \relative c'' { \global \set midiInstrument = #"gunshot" \voiceTwo \repeat volta 2 { \heideshots } s2*4 | s4 e | e e | s2*4 | s4 e | e \mark \markup \small "D.C. al Fine" e \bar "|." } \score { << \new Voice = "singer" { \tenorVoice } \addlyrics { \verse } \addlyrics { \verseR } \\ \new Voice = "shots" { \shots } >> \layout { } } \score { \unfoldRepeats { << \tenorVoice \\ \shots >> << \heidetenor \\ \heideshots >> } \midi { \tempo 4=120 \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument } \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" } \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } } }

Lyrics

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Erica tetralix, "Erika"

In politics and culture

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  • Hell Let Loose, a tactical first-person shooter based in WW2 uses the song when the Axis (German) side wins a round.[6]
  • Girls und Panzer, a Japanese anime series about WW2-era tanks being maintained and used as a school sport for girls includes the song (used without lyrics) for the school that uses Nazi Germany's tanks.
  • Strike Witches, another Japanese anime series includes the song as an OST with Japanese lyrics.
  • In June 2024, members of the University of Warwick Conservative Association were widely reported to have sung and danced to the song during an annual event.[7][8] University of Warwick representatives condemned the actions of the students.[9] The association stressed that it was requested by a single member who was no longer welcome, and apologised for any offence caused.[10]

References

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  1. ^ HF (29 July 2019). "Two Songs, Two Flowers: 'Edelweiss' and 'Erika'". german-way.com. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b Tillotson, Michael (3 September 2016). "Songs soldiers sang in the face of battle". The Times. London. p. 81. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  3. ^ "'Weiße Haid' war in Schlammersdorf und Riggau einst Weihbüschelpflanze – Lieder besingen ...: 'Als ich gestern einsam ging ...'". onetz.de (in German). 17 October 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  4. ^ Berszinski, Sabine (2000). Modernisierung im Nationalsozialismus? : Eine soziologische Kategorie und Entwicklungen im deutschen Schlager 1933–45 [Modernization under National Socialism? : A Sociological Category and Developments in German popular music 1933–45] (magister thesis) (in German). Institut für Soziologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. p. 54.
  5. ^ "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein (Erika)", volksliederarchiv.de
  6. ^ "Youtube - German Soldier's Song - "Erika - Germany Win on Hell Let Loose". Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  7. ^ Fox, Andrew. "Tory student group apologises after members 'danced to Nazi song'". The Sunday Times. Times Media Limited. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  8. ^ Brown, Faye. "Warwick: Tory student group apologises over video 'showing members singing and dancing to Nazi song'". Sky News. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  9. ^ Price, Richard. "Students' Nazi song video branded reprehensible". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  10. ^ Pogrund, Gabriel (30 June 2024). "Tory student group apologises after members 'danced to Nazi song'". The Sunday Times. p. 2.
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