Afrika Korps Song

Just got finished watching an episode of 'The World At War' on the History Channel this evening, and the segment was on the desert battle between the Desert Army (later the British 8th Army) and the German Afrika Korps.

The Afrika Korps apparently had a song of their own (unknown title), which they must have had as a song of espirit de corps or camaraderie. It starts out 'Wir sind das Deutsches Afrika Korps' (we are the German Afrika Korps), which perhaps is the title of the song. Anybody know the words to this song in German? I'm curious, as the song probably gives insight as to what kind of expectations the average German soldier had when he landed in North Africa in February of 1941.

Thanks in advance for the fill-in.

Tim Watkins

'Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man - landing is the

Perhaps it is the same one as I have on an old LP. Does 'Panzer Rollen Im Afrika Vor' sound right? My turntable is KIA, so I can't verify the song at this time.

Wir das deutsche Afrikacorps

Hoch über Deutschlands Afrikacorps die Sonne brennt. Hört ihr nicht die Panzermotoren sie singen im Wind. Deutsche Panzer im Sonnenbrand stehen im Kampf gegen Engeland. Es rasseln die Ketten es dröhnt der Motor. Deutsche Panzer gehen in Afrika vor.

Ob es mehr Strophen gibt weiss ich leider nicht. War das einzigste was ich in meinen Unterlagen gefunden habe.

Grüße Michael Krause

I saw the World at War episode that the original post discussed... that song was 'Unser Rommel' (correction to my earlier post claiming the name was 'Vorwaerts mit unserem Rommel'... first stanza goes

Wir sind das Deutsche Afrikacorps des Fuehrers verwegene Truppe Wir stuermen wie die Teufel hervor Versalzen den Tommys die Suppe Wir fuerchten nicht Hitze und Wuestensand Wir trotzen dem Durst und dem Sonnenbrand Marschieren beim Takt unsrer Trommel Vorwaerts Vorwaerts Vorwarts mit unserem Rommel

(Verdammte page deleted my last post!)

The "DAK anthem" was "Unser Rommel," or "Vorwärts mit unserem Rommel" also known by the first line "Wir sind das Deutsches Afrikakorps." Curiously even after Rommel left the men of Armeegruppe Afrika sang it, even those not under Rommel's command, so that gives an idea of how much Rommel symbolised the German effort in Africa. "Panzer rollen in Afrika vor" is a different song and "hei Safari" another.

I don't have a good reference for the lyrics, but the songs are available (free) from the New Swabian Archives: http://nsl-archiv.com/Tontraeger/Musik/Bis-1945/ heil.php
(The page is a great resource, but you will need the search button on your browser - it is long!)

The song doesn't cover expectation of the "African" stereotype, rather the "Afrikaner." (Excuse the word play - Rommel and his staff referred to the men as "Rommel's Afrikaners." The song presents a propaganda image: the fiercest troops overcoming the heat and thirst and outnumbered on all sides - and there's a snide little remark which I can't quite make out on my version but is along the lines of "even Churchill and Roosevelt think we're the best." In a sense the song describes the ideal soldier there (Rommel!) and that the new recruit will turn into a "model Rommel" like the rest of the army.

I hope this helps! You may find something on the AANA page: www.afrikakorps.org