Customer Reviews

Landser Marches

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Although "Landser Marches" (PZG 230) were recorded during the Third Reich, most of them are less National Socialist than traditional German military music. In addition to their unique historical significance, they are distinguished by the incomparably high level of their performances. Why? Because the men who played these venerable compositions were intensely proud of an armed forces' heritage steeped in the accomplishments of Frederick the Great and Bismarck. After World War Two, German musicians abhorred this heritage as a shameful embarrassment. Hence, their vapid interpretations. To understand how the Old Army tunes were meant to be heard, we must go back to an era when the spirit in which they were conceived was still alive. In other words, to the recordings featured on "Landser Marches", when national self-consciousness reached its height.

Something of this spirit appears on the reproduced album cover, the 1936 painting of a youthful German infantryman. Behind him are the images of farmers and factory workers, mothers and children, signifying the folk he was sworn to protect with his life. While other peoples may find it difficult to comprehend, becoming a soldier in pre-1945 Germany was not unlike joining the priesthood. Both offices were universally respected as sacred. Those who wore the Landser field-gray uniform were the epitome of personal decency, blind obedience, and self-sacrifice. Anyone who failed these requirements was so disgraced, exile or suicide were the only alternatives. Even minor infractions of discipline demanded a long, difficult effort to get back, if ever, into the good graces of one's comrades and superiors. During World War Two, for example, drunkenness while on duty was punishable by firing squad, and even high-ranking officers who lost such items as binoculars or magazine clips were sentenced to punishment battalions. Standards were ruthlessly high, but resulted in the finest military since Rome. It is important to understand at least something of this former ethic to better appreciate the music that grew out of such a hard tradition.

A representative example is "Schoen ist es, Soldat zu sein", or "It's beautiful to be a soldier", the fifteenth selection on "Landser Marches". While the "Niedersachen Marsch" ("Lower Saxony March"), and "Alte Kameraden" ("Old Comrades") are part of the Army's pre-20th Century tradition, "Das Lied der Männer vom Westwallbau" ("Song of the Men from the West Wall") belongs to the years immediately preceding the 1940 invasion of France, but was revived when Allied forces threatened the western territories of the Reich four years later. It refers to a series of fortifications known alternately as the "Siegfried Line" or "West Wall" facing first the Maginot Line, then the on-coming Anglo-American invaders. Its final verse reads, "We stand as soldiers in these hard, great times. We shook hands with the men of the spade, and were ready every hour to demonstrate our love of the Fuehrer by building this fortress for Germany. We want to protect it, we men in gray. We win and die at the West Wall."

A song from the trenches of World War One is "Wildgänse rauschen durch die Nacht", or "Wild geese rush through the night", composed in 1917 by Walter Flex. Its concluding stanza runs, "Like you, we are a gray-uniformed bunch, the Kaiser's fighting soldiers. If battle must end with our disappearance, then fly south, and sing our Amen".

Although some "Landser Marches" may be familiar to listeners acquainted with Third Reich compositions, this collection features at least several numbers which are probably new to them, such as the seldom-heard "Isarwinkler Schuetzenmarsch", about protecting the River Isar, or the "Altdeutscher Fanfaren-Marsch" ("Old German Fanfare March"). In any case, they will never find more authentically spirited versions of venerable standards like the "Koeniggrätzer Marsch" ("The King of Gräz [Austria] March"), or "Von der Tann" ("From the woods"). As such, "Landser Marches" is sure to become a perennial staple in the collection of all military music aficionados.

This is a fantastic collection of marches and march music. Taken at face value, the music presented here tops anything any school marching band was forced to play. Inspirational without knowing the lyrics. Up-lifting and well performed.The uninformed associate this music with war crimes and the propaganda images we have been feed for years to darken the image of the German soldier. This is the patriotic music of the common soldier and not the battle cry of the SS. Some people need a history lesson and a lot less tv before attempting to review music. The second world war was a product of politicians using fear and prejudice to forward nationalism. This was true of both sides. What remains of the music of the time period bears no sign of hate or violence, but instead a love for and dedication of the people to their land.

As a historical relic these timeless marches are unsurpassed. Though quality tends to be lacking overall (60 jahre alt), these recordings traverse time's unending challenge and seek to win their way into history...or have they already. Truly, these songs lend a much more realistic aspect with a knowledge von Deutschere spreche. Try these, and you truly can not go wrong with a bit of history in your blood!! Also, many of these are attributed to different divisions, groups, battles, etc., and thus offer a personal aspect as is individualised in regard to their relevance. Read some books if you're curious.

I love good songs, military or not, and I recognize that this is a good collection of military german songs. I have some of these songs recorded in the 80's and the 90's and the big difference is the quality of recording because the quality of this recording is not perfect even if it has been remastered. However, in this collection, there are 6 different CD regarding the Wehrmacht, the panzer, the Kriegmarine, the Luftwaffe and so on and if you wish to find the widest collection of German military songs from the 1933-1945 period, it is a good choice.

Good music but some tracks have abrupt stops or breaks in the recording which makes it sound choppy or like skipping. MP3 conversion seems to accentuate this even. Still I dont think its possible to find authentic 3rd Reich choral marches anywhere else so ***

The CD was somewhat disappointing in that I had other recordings of German military music that were much better in sound quality. Some of the music tracks were VERY poor, worse than on other CDs I've purchased. I also thought that the music would be along the lines of German soldiers singing marching songs, soldatenlieder so to speak. There was very little of that. The music was authentic and did have some good recognizable tunes.

This CD is a nice compilation of authentic marches. Some complain that the sound quality is less than perfect but they forget that they recordings were made during the 1930 and 1940, long before the advent of hi-fidelity. However, the CD's sound quality is more than adequate to listen to. The CD has a nice cover. I only wish that the CD contained an insert with the lyrics and English translation of the marches.

As a student of the second world war, I collect music from all the countries involved. Remember, the music in this recording, although good, was sung or played over 60 years ago. It's not like your modern CD's. I recommend this and Landser Marches 2, and Blitzkreig.

I'm really not that happy with this music. Don't know what I was thinking when I bought it, and I'm very glad I didn't buy more than one CD from the set ... there is a CD of Luftwaffe marches, a CD of Panzer marches, Kriegsmarine marches, Landser Marches II, etc.
Obviously the Nazis just loved, loved, loved to sing and march and kill.
As one might expect, the recordings, singers and musicains are all rather low quality. Mono recordings of the great orchestras and conductors from the 1940s and 1950s are also rather poor.
I'm much happier with a Deutsche Grammophon recording of Marches. It contains two CDs, and costs the same as landser Marches. Herbert von Karajan conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Octet for most of the selections. ASIN: B000001GLC.

Very interesting recordings. Thanks to the digital revolution, us Baby Boomers and their children can now hear the music of another era, that will never be broadcast on public radio stations. My one complaint is that, perhaps, the sound quality could have been improved by using the original source tapes, if available.