So, when NPR switches to symphony, I switch over to other talk radio – rightist talk radio. They were talking about how the Unions were killing people. So I figured I’d call in, right? Why not? And they let me through. So I said, “I’ve got a song I’d like to sing, about Union workers killing someone.” The DJ was a little pulsed, but allowed me to start singing. So I kicked it off, sing along if you know the words:
“Die Fahne hoch! Die Reihen fest geschlossen!
SA marschiert mit mutig ”
I think figured those people would be all about the Horst-Wessel Song.
Wait . . . You know that song well enough to have it in your head for two hours? I made a point of learning the first stanza so I could do what I did on the radio.
The flag high! The ranks tightly closed!
SA marches with a brave, firm pace.
Comrades whom Red Front and Reaction shot dead
March in spirit within our ranks.
[Make] The street free for the brown battalions;
[Make] The street free for the SA man!
Already millions are looking to the swastika, full of hope;
The day of freedom and bread is dawning.
Chargealert has sounded for the last time!
We are all prepared for the fight/We are all willing to fight!
Soon Hitler-flags will flutter over barricades.
Our servitude will not last much longer now!
The flag high! The ranks tightly closed!
SA marches with a calm, firm pace.
Comrades whom Red Front and Reaction shot dead
March in spirit within our ranks.
It was the official song of the Nazi Party and it was co-national Anthem during the Nazi Regime. Horst Wessel wrote it and was then killed by Communist activists, so the line “Kam’raden, die Rotfront und Reaktion erschossen,” was taken to refer to Wessel getting shot dead, though it originally probably meant, “Comrades, who have shot the Red Front and Reactionaries” as opposed to “Comrades, who were shot by the Red Front and Reactionaries”.
Excellent work…
