Devil's song, also known as SS marschiert in Feindesland or Teufelslied (ee. Kuradi laul, fr. Le chant du diable) is a Nazi song. Some versions of the song were used in the Waffen SS, Condor Legion, Hirden and other military forces of the Second World War.
Contents
Style of "SS marschiert in Feindesland" song
The lyrics imply the elite status which SS men saw themselves possessing. They are based on patriotic heroism and the mentality of "fighting till death", which was a popular philosophy in Germany during the Third Reich.
History
The tune of the song was copied from the Luftwaffe's 'Marsch der Legion Condor' in 1939. The lyrics changed as the war went on. Originally they referred to the shores of the river Volga in Russia, later to those of the river Oder on the German-Polish border, where heavy fighting took place in 1945. The lyrics openly declared that the SS would destroy the "Red plague".
As the Waffen SS gradually developed into a multi-ethnic and multi-national force, translated and modified versions were sung by SS men from other countries. Among these were a French version, used by SS Division Charlemagne, a Norwegian version called "På Vikingtokt", and an Estonian version used by members of the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking and later 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS called "Kuradi Laul" (The Song of Estonian Legion). It was also the marching song for the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS.
After the end of the Second World War, the song also found its way into the French Foreign Legion and is still sung today in a version with slightly different and translated lyrics as "La Legion marche vers le front". A version sung by the Brazilian Army Parachute Infantry Brigade (Brazil) is also known.
Original German Lyrics as sung by the Waffen SS
SS marschiert in Feindesland, Und singt ein Teufelslied. Ein Schütze steht am Wolgastrand, Und leise summt er mit. Wir pfeifen auf unten und oben, Und uns kann die ganze Welt Verfluchen oder auch loben, Grad wie es ihnen gefällt. Wir kämpften schon in mancher Schlacht, In Nord, Süd, Ost und West. Und stehen nun zum Kampf bereit, Gegen die rote Pest. SS wird nicht ruh'n, wir vernichten, (or variant: SS wird die Roten vernichten) Bis niemand mehr stört Deutschlands Glück. Und wenn sich die Reihen auch lichten, Für uns gibt es nie ein Zurück.Translation
SS marches in enemy land, And sings a devil's song. A rifleman stands on Volga's beach, And silently hums along. We care about nothing around us, And the whole world can Curse or praise us, Just as it pleases. We fought before in several fights, In North, South, East and West. And now we stand ready to fight Against the red plague. SS will not rest, we annihilate, Until no one disturbs Germany's fortune. And even if our line thins, For us there is no going back.Estonian version
Kord võitles Lõuna-Venemaal, Kaugel Doni steppides. Üks vapper Eesti pataljon, Lauldes laulu kuradist. Meid paisati itta, kord läände, Kõikjal seisime kaljudena Ja Neveli sood ja Tšerkassõ, Ei iial meid unusta saa. Aeg sangarid kord unustab Ja tandrid tasandab. Ja surnupealuu sõdureist Vaid tuul veel jutustab. Teed tagasi meie jaoks pole, Ehk küll häving on silmade ees. Vaba Eesti eest palju ei ole, Kui langeb meist viimnegi mees.Translation
Once in southern Russia there fought, far away in the steppes of Don. One brave Estonian battalion what sang a song about the Devil. We were thrown to the east and the west, everywhere, we stood like the rocks. And the swamps of Nevel and Cherkessia, thus we shall never forget them. Once the time will forget the heroes, and even the battlefields. And the wind will tell us about the soldiers of skull and bones. There is no return meant for us as we face the defeat. It is not much for free Estonia if the last man of us falls.Norwegian version
På vikingtokt til fremmed land dro menn av nordisk ætt, på kongeskip sto mann ved mann av Hirden kamp beredt. Til Grønnland og Island og Hjaltland, gikk ferden på langskip mot vest, i Frankrike, Irland og England, var nordmannen ubuden gjest. Nå reiser vi en Hird på ny av Vidkun Quislings menn. Og her i gamle Oslo by Står Vikingkorpset frem. Se baunene lyser fra fjellet Bærer bud om den nye tid. Og baunenes lys skal fortelle om hirdmenn som fylkes til strid.Translation
On viking raids to foreign lands went men of Nordic lineage, on royal ships stood man by man of the hird ready for battle. To Greenland and Iceland and Shetland, the journey with longships went west, in France, Ireland and England, the Norwegian was an uninvited guest. Now we raise a new hird of Vidkun Quisling's men. And here in the old town of Oslo the viking corps stands forth. See the beacons glowing from the mountain, they bear tidings of the new age. And the glow of the beacons shall tell of hirdmen that readies to fight.Latvian version
Zem mūsu kājām lielceļš balts Uz Latviju tas ved. Uz Latviju, kur naidnieks baigs, Pār laukiem nāvi sēj Mums viena doma sirdī kvēl – Par tēvu zemi stāt! Un nežēlīgam naidniekam likt visu atmaksāt!Translation :
Beneath our feet white high road stands To Latvia it leads To Latvia where enemy fierce Over the fields is sowing death One thought is burning in our hearts – For fatherland to stand! And to ruthless enemy, Revenge all what he has done!French version
Title: "Le Chant du Diable" (The Devil's Song)
SS marchons vers l'ennemi, Chantant le chant du diable. Car dans les coeurs, des gars hardis, Souffle un vent formidable. Qu'importe que l'on nous acclame, Ou nous damne le monde entier: Nous l'entraînerons dans les flammes, Et nous en rions volontiers! SS nous marchons au combat Chantant le chant du diable: Nos gars sont embusqués là-bas Pour l'assaut formidable. Les blindés nous attaquent en grondant, Mugissante vague d'acier, Mais notre fureur les attend Et nous en rions volontiers! SS nous rentrerons en France, Chantant le chant du diable. Bourgeois craignez notre colère, Et nos poings formidables. Nous couvrirons de nos chants ardents, Vos cris et vos plaintes angoissées. Avec nous hurle Satan Et nous en rions volontiers.Translation :
SS marching towards the enemy, Singing the Devil's Song. For in the hearts of bold guys, Blows a formidable wind No matter that we are cheered, Or damned by the entire world, We will drag it into the flames, And we'll laugh heartily. SS we march into combat, Singing the devil's song Our guys are waiting over there For the formidable assault. Tanks attack us growling, Roaring wave of steel But our fury await them And we laugh heartily. SS we will return to France, Singing the Devil's Song. Bourgeois, fear our wrath And our formidable fists! We will cover, with our ardents songs, Your cries and your anxious complaints. Satan roars with us, And we laugh heartily.French Foreign Legion
"The "Devil's Song", once used by the French SS Division Charlemagne, was modified for use by the French Foreign Legion and called "La Légion marche vers le front".
La Légion marche vers le front, En chantant nous vaincrons, Héritiers de ses traditions, Nous aussi nous marchons. Pour ce destin de chevalier Honneur fidélité. Nous sommes fiers d'appartenir A ceux qui vont mourir Fidélité est notre loi, Lutter pour notre foi. Notre fierté de chevaliers, Notre honneur de soldats.Translation
The Legion marches towards the front, And singing we follow, Heirs of its traditions, We (all do the) same (and/so) we march. (it may be easier to understand this as, "we march together, all doing the same") For this destiny of Chivalry, Honor and loyalty, We are proud to belong to those that might (go) fall (others of the 2e REP) Honor is our law. Combat is our creed. We have the pride of knights, and we have the honor of soldiers.Version of Ukrainian patriots
Version used by Ukrainian Kharkiv patriotic organisation, however written in Russian:
В набеге орд на стан врага идёт степной народ, В Вальгаллу держит длинный путь славян великий Род, Мы дрались с востока на запад, и где только не были мы, Весь мир покоряется нам, арийским детям войны. В сражении пасть – награда нам, в Вальгаллу путь един, Руси родной ни шагу мы врагу не отдадим, На стяге нашем гордом – великий коловрат, И с ним враг нас увидеть совсем не будет рад.Version of Kharkiv ultranationalist organisation "The Book of Wotan" (however, this organisation is not active now):
СС іде в ворожий стан, За нами йде Сатан. Не знаємо ми жалості — Не треба грошей нам. Московія проклятая Здригається, тремтить — Європа нам священная Повстала лиш за мить. Ми самі собі правосуддя — І Нюрнберг нам не указ. За волю ми усі. "Вперед" — Для нас звучить наказ. Не жахають нас вороги Бо ми в бою проти них. Червоні, білі та жиди — Зупинимо їх всіх!