Panzerlied

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The Panzerlied is one of the best known Wehrmacht songs. It was composed in June 1933 by Oberleutnant Kurt Wiehle while on his way to Knigsbrck. Wiehle adapted a German sailor's song, writing lyrics more appropriate to the Panzerwaffe. At the time, Germany was clandestinely developing an armored force in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles. The song could be considered as a reflection of the German rearmament, launched in the same time frame as the song was written. It has gained fame in the English-speaking world due to its usage in the 1965 film Battle of the Bulge.[1][2] While throughout that film German characters speak English, the song is sung in the original German. The reference in the Fourth stanza to enemy cannons "hidden in yellow sand" is likely to have been added under the influence of Rommel's "Afrika Korps" campaign in North Africa, as in 1933 it could hardly have been predicted that German tanks would be involved in fighting in a desert environment. The Panzerlied is still in use by Bundeswehr and sterreichisches Bundesheer today. The song is also sung by the Chilean Military[3] and the tune is used for the French Foreign Legion song "Kpi Blanc" and, unofficially, by some motorized and parachute units of the Italian army. The song is also used by the South Korean Army sung in Korean as a Marching Song for its Tank and other Motorized units. The tune of the Panzerlied is used as the unofficial anthem for the German community of Namibia, and the unofficial anthem of the then South African-ruled South-West Africa (present dayNamibia). This song is known as "Das Sdwesterlied" or "Hart wie Kameldornholz". The tune of the Panzerlied was also used as the marching anthem of the fictional Kuromorimine Girls High School from the anime Girls und Panzer.

Contents
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1 Original lyrics 2 Lyrics and translation 3 See also 4 References and notes

5 External links and references

Original lyrics [edit]

Originally, the last three lines of every verse were repeated. It was later changed so that only the last line is repeated.

Lyrics and translation [edit]

German lyrics First stanza Ob's strmt oder schneit, ob die Sonne uns lacht, Der Tag glhend hei, oder eiskalt die Nacht, Verstaubt sind die Gesichter, doch froh ist unser Sinn, Ja, unser Sinn, Es braust unser Panzer im Sturmwind dahin. (x2) Best English Translation

If it storms or snows, or the sun smiles on us, The day burning hot, or the icy cold of night. Dusty are our faces, but joyful are our minds, Yes, our minds They roll our tanks forward into the storm's wind. (x2)

Second stanza Mit donnernden Motoren, geschwind wie der Blitz, Der Feinde entgegen, im Panzer geschtzt Voraus den Kameraden, im Kampf steh'n wir allein, Ja wir allein, So stoen wir tief in die feindlichen Reih'n. (x2)

With thundering engines, as fast as lightning, Towards the enemy, sheltered in the tank, Ahead of our comrades, in battle we stand alone, Yes we alone, That's how we thrust deep into the enemy ranks. (x2)

Third stanza Wenn vor uns ein feindlicher Panzer erscheint, When before us a hostile tank appears,

Wird Vollgas gegeben und ran an den Feind. Was gilt denn unser Leben fr uns'res Reiches Heer? Ja, Reiches Heer. Fr Deutschland zu sterben ist unsre hchste Ehr'. (x2)

Full throttle is given and we close with the enemy. What does our life matter but for the Reich's army? Yes, Reich's army. To die for Germany is our highest honor. (x2) Fourth stanza

Mit Sperren und Tanks hlt der Gegner uns auf, Wir lachen darber und fahren nicht drauf. Und schttelt er gar grmlich und wtend seine Hand, Ja seine Hand, Wir suchen uns Wege, die keiner sonst fand. (x2) Fifth stanza Und lt uns im Stich einst das treulose Glck, Und kehren wir nicht mehr zur Heimat zurck, Trifft uns die Yes, his hand,

With obstacles and tanks the foe blocks our path, We laugh about it and don't drive upon them. And even if his hand shakes morosely and furiously,

We will search for ways that no one else has found. (x2)

And if we are abandoned by treachorous luck, And if we don't return back home again, If death's bullet finds us, and fate calls us

Todeskugel, ruft uns das Schicksal ab, Yes, us away,

away,

Then our Ja, Schicksal ab, Dann wird unser Panzer ein ehernes Grab! (x2) tank shall become an honorable iron grave! (x2)