Old comrades (Alte Kameraden)
Old comrades (Alte Kameraden) [1] was the title of a military march written in Germany in late 19 century and Alte Kameraden has become the most popular march in the world [2], ironically in every other countries except in Germany. It is banned in Germany [2]. This ban seems real: I checked on my German CDs, where it should be there but there is no such a march.
My father once told me, when he was in his high school “Peking high-school #2” (北京二中), Alte Kameraden (旧友) was his school song.
Fortunately， we could still find it in youtube：
With lyrics in both German and English:
[1]. From Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alte_Kameraden)
"Alte Kameraden" ("Old Comrades") is the title of a popular German military march.[1] It is included in the Armeemarschsammlung as HM II, 150.
History
Carl Teike in 1895
The march was written around 1889 in Ulm, Germany, by military music composer Carl Teike.[2] Teike wrote many pieces for the marching band of Grenadier-Regiment König Karl (5. Württembergisches) No. 123. When bringing his newly composed march to the regiment, the Kapellmeister Oelte simply told him: "We've got plenty enough of musical marches, put this one in the stove!"[2] This episode eventually led to Teike taking his leave of the band and naming the march as "Alte Kameraden". A publisher purchased the song from him for 25 German Goldmark.[3] In 1895, the Nowaweser Kapelle Fritz Köhler premiered the march.[3] Alte Kameraden later became one of the most popular marches in the world.[3] It was played in 1937 at the coronation ceremony for English King George VI.[3] The march can also be heard in the film Der blaue Engel.[3] Teike later worked as a police officer but also continued composing military marches.[3]
Due to its militaristic connotations, the march was banned in Germany after both World War I and World War II. According to one source, the march became popular among Finnish amateur photography clubs after "kameraden" was mistranslated to "cameramen" in Finnish.[4]
It is the official parade march for the Chilean Air Force's Non Commissioned Officers School ("Escuela de Especialidades Sargento 1.º Adolfo Menadier Rojas [es]").
Lyrics:
| Alte Kameraden auf dem Marsch durchs Land | Old comrades on the march through the country |
| Zur Attacke geht es Schlag auf Schlag, | During the attack, things happen fast, |
| Im Manöver zog das ganze Regiment | During maneuvers, the whole regiment |
| Lachen scherzen, lachen scherzen, heute ist ja heut' | Laughing joking, laughing joking, today is today |
| Alter Wein gibt Jugendkraft; | Old wine gives the strength of youth, |
| Ob in Freude, ob in Not, | Whether in joy, whether in need, |
| Sind wir alt, das Herz bleibt jung, | Even if we are old, the heart stays young, |
[2]. Ibid.
