'Erika' (1939) by German Composter Herms Niel.
DISCLAIMER: I have created this video for strictly non-political and non-ideological purposes. I do not believe in nor endorse fascism, Nazism, or national socialism.
One of the most popular marching anthems to ever come out of Germany, Erika is recognized far from its country of origin.
Often thought of as traditional folk tune, Erika is in fact a more recent military marching song created after 1930. The lyrics and the melody come from the German composer for marching songs, Herms Niel (1888-1954).
Niel was the leading Kapellmeister (the main bandleader) of the Reich Labour Service and composed many songs for the Reich over its twelve years of existence including 'Engel-land-lied’, one of the main German war songs throughout the conflict.
Published under its original title “Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein” (“Erika”), the songs main theme focuses on a man longing for his sweetheart back home.
The name "Erika" has a double meaning both as a traditional German girls name and also that of a flower.
The flowers known in German as Heidekräuter (Erica) are a genus of about 860 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. One variety of heather or heath flowers, Glockenheide (bell heather), has the Latin name Erica tetralix.
'Erika' is a flower found growing “auf der Heide” (on the heath) or in a moor in Germany and other places.
Because of its Nazi-era association, “Erika” is sometimes considered to be politically incorrect. However, other than the march music and drum beats there is nothing in the song or its lyrics that have anythign to do with German militarism or Nazism at all.