Erika (song)

"Erika" is a marching song used by the German military. The song was composed by Herms Niel in the 1930s, and it soon came into usage by the Wehrmacht, especially the Heer. No other marching song during World War II reached the popularity of Erika.

Origins

"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",[1] a date that, however, has not been substantiated. The song was originally published in 1938 by the publishing firm Louis Oertel in Großburgwedel. It had been popular prior to the start of World War II.[2] The song encourages hard work, and according to Michael Tillotson, no other marching song during World War II reached the popularity of Erika.[3] It was exclusively played at large political events.[4]

Music

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 a soldier's sweetheart's name.[3] 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 stomping feet (e.g. of marching soldiers).

References
  1. "Als ich gestern einsam ging ..." by Leonore Böhm, Der neue Tag (Grafenwöhr), 17 October 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2014. (archived, (Seite 4 [page 4])) (in German)
  2. 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.
  3. Tillotson, Michael (2016-10-03). "Songs soldiers sang in the face of battle". The Times. London. p. 81.
  4. Made in Germany: studies in popular music. Oliver Seibt, Martin Ringsmut, David-Emil Wickström. Abingdon. 2020. pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-1-351-20079-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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