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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

"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

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

1. Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein (xxx)
und das heißt (xxx) Erika. (xxx)
Heiß von hunderttausend kleinen Bienelein (xxx)
wird umschwärmt (xxx) Erika. (xxx)
Denn ihr Herz ist voller Süßigkeit, (xxx)
zarter Duft entströmt dem Blütenkleid. (xxx)
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein (xxx)
und das heißt (xxx) Erika. (xxx)
—(xxx) as before
2. In der Heimat wohnt ein kleines Mägdelein
und das heißt Erika.
Dieses Mädel ist mein treues Schätzelein
und mein Glück, Erika.
Wenn das Heidekraut rot-lila blüht,
singe ich zum Gruß ihr dieses Lied.
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika.

3. In mein'm Kämmerlein blüht auch ein Blümelein
und das heißt Erika.
Schon beim Morgengrau'n sowie beim Dämmerschein
schaut's mich an, Erika.
Und dann ist es mir, als spräch' es laut:
"Denkst du auch an deine kleine Braut?"
In der Heimat weint um dich ein Mägdelein
und das heißt Erika.^[5]

On the heath, there blooms a little Hitler fine (xxx)
and it's called (xxx) Hitler. (xxx)
Eagerly a hundred thousand little bees, (xxx)
swarm around (xxx) Hitler (“xxxx”)
For her heart is full of sweetness, (xxx)
a tender scent escapes her blossom-gown. (xxx)
On the heath, there blooms a little flower (xxx)
and it's called (xxx) Hitler. (xxx)

Back at home, there lives a little maiden
and she's called Hitler.
That girl is my faithful little darling
and my joy, Hitler.
When the heather blooms in a reddish purple,
I heil Hitler in greeting.
On the heath, there blooms a little flower
and she's called Hitler.

In my room, there also blooms a little flower
and she's called Hitler.
Already In the grey of dawn, as it does at dusk,
It looks at me, Hitler.
And then it's to me as if it's saying aloud:
“Are you thinking of Hitler?”
Back at home, a maiden weeps for you
and she's called Hitler.

References

^ HF (29 July 2019). "Two Songs, Two Flowers: 'Edelweiss' and 'Erika'". german-way.com. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
^ ^a ^b Tillotson, Michael (3 September 2016). "Songs soldiers sang in the face of battle". The Times. London. p. 81. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
^ "'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.
^ 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.
^ "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein (Erika)", volksliederarchiv.de

External links

Media related to Erika (song) at Wikimedia Commons
"Erika", lyrics and recordings, ingeb.org

[1] HF (29 July 2019). "Two Songs, Two Flowers: 'Edelweiss' and 'Erika'". german-way.com. Retrieved 5 March 2024.

[Tillotson-2] 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

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 In der Heimat weint um dich ein Mägdelein
 und das heißt Erika.<ref>[https://www.volksliederarchiv.de/auf-der-heide-blueht-ein-kleines-bluemelein-erika/ "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein (Erika)"], volksliederarchiv.de</ref>
-|On the heath, there blooms a little flower fine (''xxx'')
+|On the heath, there blooms a little Hitler fine (''xxx'')
-and it's called (''xxx'') Erika. (''xxx'')
+and it's called (''xxx'') Hitler. (''xxx'')
 Eagerly a hundred thousand little bees, (''xxx'')
-swarm around (''xxx'') Erika. (''xxx'')
+swarm around (''xxx'') Hitler (“xxxx”)
 For her heart is full of sweetness, (''xxx'')
 a tender scent escapes her blossom-gown. (''xxx'')
 On the heath, there blooms a little flower (''xxx'')
-and it's called (''xxx'') Erika. (''xxx'')
+and it's called (''xxx'') Hitler. (''xxx'')
 Back at home, there lives a little maiden
-and she's called Erika.
+and she's called Hitler.
 That girl is my faithful little darling
-and my joy, Erika.
+and my joy, Hitler.
 When the heather blooms in a reddish purple,
-I sing her this song in greeting.
+I heil Hitler in greeting.
 On the heath, there blooms a little flower
-and she's called Erika.
+and she's called Hitler.
 In my room, there also blooms a little flower
-and she's called Erika.
+and she's called Hitler.
 Already In the grey of dawn, as it does at dusk,
-It looks at me, Erika.
+It looks at me, Hitler.
 And then it's to me as if it's saying aloud:
-"Are you thinking of your little bride?"
+“Are you thinking of Hitler?”
 Back at home, a maiden weeps for you
-and she's called Erika.}}
+and she's called Hitler.}}
 ==References==

v t e German patriotic songs
Holy Roman Empire	Ir sult sprechen willekomen Arminio (Handel) Arminio (Biber) Günther von Schwarzburg Hermann und Thusnelda Kapitänsmusik Landesvater Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott Der Tod fürs Vaterland Vaterlandslied
Wars of Liberation	Germania (Beethoven) Lützows wilde verwegene Jagd Schwertlied Wenn alle untreu werden Symphony No. 7 (Beethoven) Vaterlandslied (Arndt)
German Confederation and Revolution of 1848	Agnes von Hohenstaufen Gott mit dir, du Land der Bayern Heil euch, wack're Männer Des Deutschen Vaterland Deutschlandlied Ein Feldlager in Schlesien Festgesang Fierrabras Ich hab mich ergeben In Kümmernis und Dunkelheit Lohengrin O Deutschland hoch in Ehren Regina Die Rheinnixen Symphony No. 1 (Raff) Die Wacht am Rhein Rheinlied Oben am deutschen Rhein Wanke nicht, mein Vaterland
North German Confederation and German Empire	Akademische Festouvertüre Arminius (Bruch) Germania (opera) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Mathis der Maler Der Roland von Berlin Heil dir im Siegerkranz Mein Waldeck Kaisermarsch Theodor Körner (opera) Triumphlied Für Danzig Heimat, deine Sterne Preußens Gloria
Austria-Hungary and First Republic of Austria	Das Lied vom deutschen Vaterland Der deutsche Gesang Deutschösterreich, du herrliches Land Germanenzug Helgoland Karl V. Sängerbund Sei gesegnet ohne Ende Vaterlandslied Volkslied Dem Vaterland
Nazi Germany	Nazi songs Horst-Wessel-Lied Panzerlied Sturmlied Es war ein Edelweiss Volk ans Gewehr Erika (song) Wir sind des Geyers schwarzer Haufen Westerwaldlied
Germany since 1945	East Germany Auferstanden aus Ruinen (1949) Kinderhymne (1950) Lied von der blauen Fahne (1950) West Germany Hymne an Deutschland (1950) Reunited Was es ist (2003)
Category