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"Erika" (German: [ˈeːʁɪka] ^ⓘ), also known by its incipit "Auf der Heide" (On the Heath), is a German marching song with words and music by Herms Niel and published in 1938 during the Nazi regime.^[1]^[2] The song was then soon used as a soldier song by the Wehrmacht. According to British soldier, historian, and author Major General Michael Tillotson, it was the most popular marching song of any country during the Second World War.^[3]

Origins

The exact year of the song's origin is not known; often the date is given as "about 1930",^[4] but this has never been substantiated. The song was originally published in 1938 by the publishing firm Carl Louis Oertel [de] in Großburgwedel, a village northeast of Hanover, Lower Saxony, but it had been popular prior to that.^[5]

Music

"Erika" is both a common German female name and the German word for heather. After each line, and after each time the name "Erika" is sung, there is a three-beat pause, which is filled by the timpani 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.^[6]

On the heath there blooms a little flower (xxx)
and it's called (xxx) Erika. (xxx)
Hot from a hundred thousand little bees, (xxx)
swarm around (xxx) Erika. (xxx)
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)

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

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

Controversy

In June 2024, members of the University of Warwick Conservative Association sang and danced to this song during an annual event.^[7]^[8] University of Warwick representatives condemned the actions of the students.^[9] The association stressed that it was requested by a single member who was "no longer welcome", and apologised for any offence caused.^[10]

References

^ "'Erika' Marching Song". Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
^ Matthews, Brian (2002). "The Reich's Song Composers, Lyricists & Performers". The Military Music & Bandsmen of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich 1933–1945. Tomahawk Films. pp. 218–219. ISBN 0-9542812-0-9.
^ 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 Ludwig University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau. p. 54.
^ "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein (Erika)", volksliederarchiv.de
^ Fox, Andrew. "Tory student group apologises after members 'danced to Nazi song'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
^ Brown, Faye. "Warwick: Tory student group apologises over video 'showing members singing and dancing to Nazi song'". Sky News. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
^ Price, Richard. "Students' Nazi song video branded reprehensible". BBC News. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
^ Pogrund, Gabriel (30 June 2024). "Tory student group apologises after members 'danced to Nazi song'". The Sunday Times. p. 2.

External links

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

[1] "'Erika' Marching Song". Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Retrieved 4 March 2025.

[2] Matthews, Brian (2002). "The Reich's Song Composers, Lyricists & Performers". The Military Music & Bandsmen of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich 1933–1945. Tomahawk Films. pp. 218–219. ISBN 0-9542812-0-9.

[3] Tillotson, Michael (3 September 2016). "Songs soldiers sang in the face of battle". The Times. London. p. 81. Retrieved 18 April 2023.

[4] "'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.

[5] 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 Ludwig University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau. p. 54.

[6] "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein (Erika)", volksliederarchiv.de

[7] Fox, Andrew. "Tory student group apologises after members 'danced to Nazi song'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 June 2024.

[8] Brown, Faye. "Warwick: Tory student group apologises over video 'showing members singing and dancing to Nazi song'". Sky News. Retrieved 30 June 2024.

[9] Price, Richard. "Students' Nazi song video branded reprehensible". BBC News. Retrieved 30 June 2024.

[10] Pogrund, Gabriel (30 June 2024). "Tory student group apologises after members 'danced to Nazi song'". The Sunday Times. p. 2.

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@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
 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 flower (''xxx'')
 and it's called (''xxx'') Erika. (''xxx'')
-Eagerly a hundred thousand little bees, (''xxx'')
+Hot from a hundred thousand little bees, (''xxx'')
 swarm around (''xxx'') Erika. (''xxx'')
 For her heart is full of sweetness, (''xxx'')

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