In the tough years immediately following the Great War, Herms Niel earned a living as a civilian band-master and composer, until the dawning of the Third Reich when he joined the Sturm Abteilung in 1934 as a troop-leader before gaining promotion to Musikmeister of the famous Reichsarbeitsdienst training establishment at Potsdam.
Becoming a Professor of Music in 1941, his prolific musical composition output was unmatched throughout World War Two and he very soon became Nazi Germany's best loved and most famous composer of military marching songs, known as the unofficial "March King" of the Third Reich. Some of his most famous compositions include "Erika", "Edelweiß", "Fallschirmjägerlied" and "Kamerad, wir marschieren im Westen" (also known as the Frankreich Lied). Herms Niel died in 1954 in Berlin.
Erika
Herms Niel Lyrics
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und das heißt: Erika.
Heiß von hunderttausend kleinen Bienelein
wird umschwärmt Erika
denn ihr Herz ist voller Süßigkeit,
zarter Duft entströmt dem Blütenkleid.
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika
and it's called Erika.
Eagerly a hundred thousand little bees,
swarm around Erika.
For her heart is full of sweetness,
a tender scent escapes her blossom-gown.
On the heath, there blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika
In der Heimat wohnt ein kleines Mägdelein
und das heißt: Erika.
Dieses Mädel ist mein treues Schätzelein
und mein Glück, Erika.
Wenn das Heidekraut rot-lila blüht,
singe ich zum Gruß ihr dieses Lied.
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika
Back at home, there lives a little maiden
and she's called Erika.
That girl is my faithful little darling
and my joy, Erika!
When the heather blooms in a reddish purple,
I sing her this song in greeting.
On the heath, there blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika
In mein'm Kämmerlein blüht auch ein Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika.
Schon beim Morgengrau'n sowie beim Dämmerschein
schaut's mich an, Erika.
Und dann ist es mir, als spräch' es laut:
"Denkst du auch an deine kleine Braut?"
In der Heimat weint um dich ein Mägdelein
und das heißt: Erika
In my room, there also blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika.
Already In the grey of dawn, as it does at dusk,
It looks at me, Erika!
And it is as if it spoke aloud:
"Are you thinking of your fiancée?"
Back at home, a maiden weeps for you
and she's called Erika
The song "Erika" by Herms Niel is a romantic, sentimental ode to the beauty of the heath and a young woman named Erika. The first verse describes the small flower that blooms on the heath, called Erika, which is surrounded by buzzing bees drawn to the sweet nectar and delicate scent of the bloom. The second verse introduces the listener to a young woman named Erika, back in the singer's hometown, who is his faithful and beloved girlfriend. He sings of his devotion to her, and how he always sings this song to her when the heather blooms. The final verse brings the listener back into the singer's room, where he has a flower of his own called Erika, and he feels as though it speaks to him, reminding him of his sweet and faithful girlfriend. He concludes by saying that she is weeping back in his hometown, reminding him of the love and devotion they share.
Line by Line Meaning
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika.
A little flower called Erika blooms on the heath.
Heiß von hunderttausend kleinen Bienelein
wird umschwärmt Erika
denn ihr Herz ist voller Süßigkeit,
zarter Duft entströmt dem Blütenkleid.
Erika is swarmed by a hundred thousand bees, as her heart is full of sweetness and her blossom-gown emits a tender scent.
In der Heimat wohnt ein kleines Mägdelein
und das heißt: Erika.
Dieses Mädel ist mein treues Schätzelein
und mein Glück, Erika.
Wenn das Heidekraut rot-lila blüht,
singe ich zum Gruß ihr dieses Lied.
Back at home lives a maiden named Erika, who is the singer's faithful darling and his joy. When the heather blooms in a reddish-purple hue, he sings her this song in greeting.
In mein'm Kämmerlein blüht auch ein Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika.
Schon beim Morgengrau'n sowie beim Dämmerschein
schaut's mich an, Erika.
Und dann ist es mir, als spräch' es laut:
"Denkst du auch an deine kleine Braut?"
In der Heimat weint um dich ein Mägdelein
und das heißt: Erika
A little flower called Erika also blooms in the singer's room, and it looks at him both at dawn and dusk. He feels as if it speaks aloud, asking if he thinks of his fiancée. Back at home, a maiden named Erika weeps for him.
Contributed by Lucas L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@edwardfreddy601
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines blumelein
On the Heath there was a flower that stood fine
Und Das Heißt, Erika!
That was called, Erica!
Heiß von hunderttausend kleinen Bienelein
There was a hundred thousand bees
Wird umschwärmt, Erika!
That’s swarmed around, Erica!
@rudypost1949
It must have been around my 16th year of life, ca. 1967, that I first heard this soldier's song.
In my hometown of Diepenheim NL, my parents ran the shop annex repair company for electricity, brown and white goods, including photo trade. The latter was mainly responsible for my maternal grandfather, who had once started the shop.
As it was then, social life was strongly linked and partly because of this, my father was associated with our local Theater Association 'Ons Genoegen'.
He did not act himself (they have sometimes asked them: “Gerrit why don't you play along for once?”
But he seems to have said; “Don't have to, I have to acting every day”.
Anyway; My father Gerrit took care of the lighting and sound at Ons Genoegen, which did have a significant impact on most theater performances.
I have been passionate about technology all my life and as a hobby I also built radios, secret transmitters, amplifiers and so on. (Incredibly interesting).
At one point my father asked me if I wanted help to organise 'the sound' for the WW2 play; 'De Stormbal hangt uit'. Several sounds and fragments had to be recorded and played back, of bombers flying over, the bombing, flashes of explosions, chatter of the firing of machine guns, and, now it comes; The passing of marching German troops.
My father had borrowed a record, as I later learned, from someone in our street. I think it was a 'Polydor' label.
This LP was full of German soldier songs, including; "Auf der Heide bluht ein kleines Blumelein" and "Westerwald".
Because I had no idea at the time of what WW2 meant for our (grand)parents and with them, for all of us or what impact it (still) has on all of us, only one thing was clear to me; "These marching music and singing made a crushing impression on me at the time."
And…..still I find it extremely inspiring to listen to.
Should I be ashamed of that, because "The Germans were our enemies and we supposedly "were on the right side"?
No, I'm not ashamed of it. This is partly because I am convinced that every person who finds something beautiful or gets a good feeling when he/she sees or hears something that 'resonates' in him/her has the right to enjoy it.
Whether what triggers that resonance is good or bad can only determine the one to whom we owe our life, c.q. the one who made us and is responsable for who you and I are now.
@ErikFellon
On the heath, there blooms a little floret
And it's called Erika
Eagerly, hundred thousand little beelets
Swarm around Erika
For her heart is full of sweetness
A tender scent escapes her blossom-gown
On the heath, there blooms a little floret
And it's called Erika
Back at home, there lives a young maiden
And she's called Erika
That girl is my faithful little darling
And my joy, Erika
When the heather blooms in a reddish purple
I sing her this song in greeting
On thе heath, there blooms a littlе floret
And it's called Erika
In my room, there also blooms a little floret
And she's called Erika
Already in the grey of dawn, as it does at dusk
It looks at me, Erika
And then it's to me as if it's saying aloud
Are you thinking of your little bride?
Back at home, a young maiden weeps for you
And she's called Erika
@sklaventreiber6932
I played this Song in my Fiat. Now its a Volkswagen
@austrianchad6673
Aha
@Heisenberg5501
XD Than u have Nice Car
@adam632
Ahh Kubelwagen
@iamthehype478
We have a saying in germany that goes :FIAT , Fehler in allen Teilen, which translates to: mistakes in every part , jeez its not funny at all in English
@ililolg_4760
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣Ich sterbe😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@Javier_Escuella
When your grandpa gives you Mein Kampf instead of Minecraft.
@_neishi0859
Love that video
@johnnymeister5246
Geil
@leodoxlp
*MeinKampf