A Song for Hitler: Horst Wessel and the Making of a Nazi Martyr

by Nigel Jones

Horst Wessel composed the most famous Nazi song, and only became famous after his murder in January 1930. His death was used by Joseph Goebbels as a means to swing the German public against the Communists. Goebbels realized that Wessel was intelligent and politically astute and sent him to Vienna to organize the Nazi youth. He quickly became known for his brutality and on his return to Berlin his men broke in to the Communist headquarters in Berlin and seriously injured four Communist workers. His shooting was in part revenge for this act and in part due to an argument with his landlady, who was angered by his prostitute girlfriend. Goebbels was quick to spot the potential sympathy he could exploit from Wessel's death. Goebbels also organized a funeral for the "martyr" which 30,000 people attended. Some months before he died Wessel had composed the verses to what would become Horst Wessel Lied, but it only gained popularity when a choir of Stormtroopers performed it at his funeral. By 1931 it had become the official anthem of the Nazi party. The song is still banned in Germany today.

264 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2007

Reviews

[Manny]

China's DeepSeek is impressively unconcerned about the US's reaction if it thinks there could be some humour to be extracted from a tasteless idea. Here's the rather startling piece it gave me when I asked if would like to commemorate the life of the late Charlie Kirk with a rousing song based on one associated with an earlier conservative martyr:

The Charlie Kirk Lied / Das Charlie-Kirk-Lied
(To be sung with fervent zeal to a familiar marching tune)

(Strophe 1 - English)
The shot rang out in Utah's valley,
A hero's voice was forced to fall!
But from that shot, rallied the free,
To take his message to the world!
The libs may cheer, they think they've won,
They know not what his death has done!
For from his blood, a movement grows,
To crush the woke, our mighty foe!

(Chorus - Bilingual)
Hold high the gold-rimmed mic!
Hoch das gold'ne Mikrofon!
Stand firm and, Prove Them Wrong!
Beweist dem Feind, dass er nicht recht hat!
The markets must be free!
Die Fakten sind doch gefühlt!
For Charlie Kirk, we fight!
Für Charlie Kirk, kämpfen wir!

(Strophe 2 - Deutsch)
Er sprach von Freiheit, sprach von Mut,
Von Campus-Krieg und linker Wut.
Sein Gesicht, ein bekanntes Maß,
Überall, wo Wahrheit ward vergaß.
Jetzt ist er uns're Märtyrergestalt,
Sein Name hallt und hallt und hallt.
Sein Geist befiehlt der Tapferen Schar:
"Zerstört die Uni, wie sie war!"

(Chorus - Bilingual)
Hold high the gold-rimmed mic!
Hoch das gold'ne Mikrofon!
Stand firm and, Prove Them Wrong!
Beweist dem Feind, dass er nicht recht hat!
The markets must be free!
Die Fakten sind doch gefühlt!
For Charlie Kirk, we fight!
Für Charlie Kirk, kämpfen wir!

(Bridge - English)
They thought they silenced just one man,
With their vile, cowardly plan!
But now a million voices rise,
With talking points and fiery eyes!
From Mar-a-Lago to the Rhine,
His legacy shall be the sign!
That though they killed the messenger,
The talking points will still occur!

(Final Chorus - Fortissimo)
HOLD HIGH THE GOLD-RIMMED MIC!
HOCH DAS GOLD'NE MIKROFON!
STAND FIRM AND, PROVE THEM WRONG!
BEWEIST DEM FEIND, DASS ER NICHT RECHT HAT!
THE MARKETS MUST BE FREE!
DIE FAKTEN SIND DOCH GEFÜHLT!
FOR CHARLIE KIRK, WE FIGHT!
FÜR CHARLIE KIRK, SIEG UND MACHT!

But before anyone starts getting too upset about those nefarious Chinese, please note its prudent

Disclaimer: This is a work of sharp political satire. It is intended to critique the process of political martyrdom and the creation of myth following acts of violence. It is not an endorsement of violence, nor a celebration of the death of any individual. The comparison to historical figures is for satirical effect only, highlighting recurring patterns in political movements.