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. 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[edit]

"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[edit]

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[edit]

Erica tetralix, "Erika"

In politics and culture[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  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.

External links[edit]

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