The June 2007 Issue of Mit Klingendem Spiel (Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Militärmusik e. V.) declares...
“The productions of Brandenburg Historica are always something special. Often, they cover terrain upon which we in Germany do not dare to venture…. Like those before it, this release is distinguished by solid research [and is] Illustrated in exemplary fashion…. A focused and outstanding musical compilation.”
INCLUDES TWENTY TRACKS! NEARLY SIXTY-FIVE MINUTES PLAYING TIME!
This FIRST-EVER Compilation Presents the Marches and Songs of the Premier Formation of the German Army of the Second World War!
Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps takes the listener on a musical excursion through the history of the Regiment-, Division- and Panzerkorps- Grossdeutschland, presenting military marches and soldiers’ songs (originally recorded from 1928 to 1943) in a compilation that chronicles this elite unit’s evolution from the Wachtruppe - the guard detachment stationed in Weimar-era Berlin - to the mighty combined arms force of the late war years.
Brandenburg Historica has searched the globe to assemble the priceless 78rpm records that at we have transcribed for this unique compilation. Eighteen of this album’s TWENTY tracks feature marches and soldiers’ songs performed by the unit’s own choruses and/or Musikkorps under the direction of its bandmasters Friedrich Ahlers and Guido Grosch, while the remaining selections highlight central aspects of Grossdeutschland’s history and career. These extremely rare source recordings have been painstakingly restored for maximum fidelity while faithfully preserving their unique period ambience.
Included in this collection are not only Grossdeutschland’s parade march (the Defilermarsch of Carl Faust) and its presentation march (presented here in a rarely-heard “honor guard” arrangement with the German national anthem), but also a rare transcription of Grossdeutsche Grenadiere, the “regimental song” of GD that features music by GD Obergefreiter Hans-Martin Majewski and lyrics by Infanterie Regiment Grossdeutschland’s commander in the French Campaign, Oberst Gerhard Graf von Schwerin.
Of particular interest is this album’s stirring 1940 performance of the Panzerlied, sung by a GD soldiers’ chorus with accompaniment by the unit’s 2. Musikkorps under Obermusikmeister Guido Grosch. Also presented is a selection of the parade marches and songs of the German mechanized forces of the Second World War, as well as those traditional marches played during guard changing ceremonies and parades in which Grossdeutschland (as the Wachtruppe and Wachregiment Berlin) was a regular participant. Even Grossdeutschland’s rigorous training in the Westerwald in 1939-40 is recalled by this album's rousing rendition of the Westerwaldlied, performed by the 1. Musikkorps of the Wachregiment Berlin under the direction of Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers!
Painstakingly researched and produced, Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps is accompanied by a lavishly illustrated, 24-page booklet that presents a detailed overview of Grossdeutschland’s origins and traditions, its service in the Second World War, the history of its two bands and the careers of their conductors (with emphasis on Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers and Obermusikmeister Guido Grosch), as well as detailed background information on the featured musical selections.
Produced with the assistance of the Grossdeutschland Veterans' Association, Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps tells the story of one of history’s great warrior elites and captures in sound the spirit and élan of the premier formation of the German Wehrmacht.
Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps features the following marches, songs and ceremonies:
1) Präsentiermarsch mit Deutschlandhymne (Friedrich Wilhelm III v. Preussen-Haydn) 2:46
Musikkorps der Kommandantur Berlin (Wachtruppe)
Obermusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1931
2) Defiliermarsch AM II, 168 (Faust) 2:20
Musikkorps der Kommandantur Berlin (Wachtruppe)
Obermusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1932
3) Grossdeutsche Grenadiere - Marsch und Lied (Majewski-Schwerin) 2:51
1. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Grossdeutschland mit Chor
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1940
4) Regimentsgruss - Marsch (Steinbeck) 3:04
Musik- und Trommlerkorps des Wachregiments Berlin
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1938
5) Parademarsch der Kraftfahr-Kampftruppe (Schmidt) 2:59
Musikkorps der Wachtruppe Berlin
Obermusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1935
6) Marsch nach Motiven aus Quadrillen AM II, 126 (Strauss the Elder) 2:51
Musikkorps der Kommandantur Berlin (Wachtruppe)
Musikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1929
7) Grand Changing of the Guard with Drill Commands - Potpourri (Becker, arr.) 5:55
Blasorchester
Musikmeister a. D. Adolf Becker / Rec. Date: 1928
8) Soldatenlieder-Potpourri (v. Lützow, arr.) 6:10
Soldatenchor der 7. (Bayrische) Wachkompanie, Berlin
Unnamed Conductor / Rec. Date: 1931
9) Oberst von Tippelskirch - Marsch (Bauerfeld) 2:30
2. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Grossdeutschland
Obermusikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1941
10) Westerwald - Marschlied (Trad.-Neuhäuser) 3:27
1. Musikkorps des Wachregiments Berlin mit der
Kradschützen-Singschar der Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3, Berlin-Stahnsdorf
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1938
11) Pariser Einzugsmarsch AM II, 38 (Walch) 2:39
2. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Grossdeutschland
Obermusikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1939
12) Lied der Infanterie (Kuntzen-Werth) 3:12
2. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Grossdeutschland mit Chor
Obermusikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1940
13) Panzerlied (Gröschel-Wiehle) 2:54 (Compressed)
2. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Grossdeutschland mit Chor
Obermusikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1940
14) Marsch nach Motiven der Oper "Indra" AM II, 155 (Flotow-Neumann) 2:49
Musikkorps des Wachregiments Berlin
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1939
15) Marschlied der Panzergrenadiere (Schultze-Seeger) 3:05
1. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Grossdeutschland mit Chor
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1943
16) Lied der Sturmartillerie (Pfeffer) 2:44
Ein Musikkorps der Flak-Artillerie und ein Soldatenchor
Victor Heidersberger / Rec. Date: 1942
17) Landser und Panzer - Marschlied (Majewski-Widmayr) 3:22
1. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Grossdeutschland mit Chor
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1940
18) Soldaten, Kameraden - Marsch (Küssel) 3:05
Musikkorps der Wachtruppe Berlin
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1936
19) Alte Garde - Marschlied (Heuser-Schaumburg Lippe) 2:45
2. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Grossdeutschland mit Chor
Obermusikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1941
20) Zapfenstreich Marsch (Trad.-Wieprecht) 2:54
Musikkorps der Kommandantur Berlin (Wachtruppe)
Obermusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1931
Total Time: 64:50
