Panzerlied Explained
| Das Panzerlied |
| English Title: | The Tank Song |
| Composer: | Oberleutnant Kurt Wiehle |
| Sound: | Der_Panzerlied_Instrumental.ogg |
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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]
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.[4] 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".[5] 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 heißOder eiskalt die Nacht,Verstaubt sind die Gesichter,Doch froh ist unser Sinn,Ja unser Sinn.Es braust unser PanzerIm 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 tiefIn 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 deepInto the enemy's ranks. |
| 3 | Wenn vor uns ein feindlichesHeer dann erscheint,Wird Vollgas gegebenUnd ran an den Feind!Was gilt denn unser LebenFür uns'res Reiches Heer?Ja Reiches HeerFür Deutschland zu sterbenIst uns höchste Ehr'. | When before us an enemyArmy then appears.Shalt full throttle be givenAnd run to the enemy!What then do our lives count for,For our empire's army?Yes, empire's armyTo die for GermanyIs our highest honor. |
| 4 | Mit Sperren und MinenHält der Gegner uns auf,Wir lachen darüberUnd 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 minesthe opponent holds us up,We laugh about itand onto them, don't drive.And guns before us threaten,hidden in the yellow sand,in the yellow sand.We look for waysNo others have found. |
| 5 | Und läßt uns im StichEinst das treulose Glück,Und kehren wir nicht mehrZur Heimat zurück,Trifft uns die Todeskugel,Ruft uns das Schicksal ab,Ja Schicksal ab,Dann wird uns der PanzerEin ehernes Grab. | And should we get abandonedonce 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. | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Watch: Panzerlied - The Wehrmacht Tankmen's Song (Battle of the Bulge). Nieuwint. Joris. 2016-10-18. WAR HISTORY ONLINE. en. 2019-02-28.
- Web site: Jennings . Ralph . 2017-01-02 . Nazi imagery from Taiwan stems from ignorance, not hate, analysts say . 2023-05-19 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
- News: "Schwarzbraun ist die Haselnuss": Ministerium stoppt Bundeswehr-Liederbuch . "Dark-brown is the hazelnut": Ministry withdraws Bundeswehr songbook . 12 May 2017 . .
- Web site: La Marche des Chars . The Tank March . Musique-militaire.fr. musique-militaire.fr.
- Web site: Hinos e Canções. 2021-02-16. Centro de Instrução de Blindados. pt-br.
