# Erika (song)

"Erika" is a German marching song. Although its lyrics have no political content, the song was picked up by the Wehrmacht during World War II and is now associated with Nazi Germany. It was written by Herms Niel in 1930 and published in 1938. The song was then soon used as a soldier song by the Wehrmacht. According to British soldier, historian, and author Major General Michael Tillotson, it was the most popular marching song of any country during the Second World War.

## Origins

"Erika" is both a common German female name and the German word for heather. The lyrics and melody of the song were written by Herms Niel, a German composer of marches. The exact year of the song's origin is not known; often the date is given as "about 1930", but this has never been substantiated. The song was originally published in 1938 by the publishing firm Carl Louis Oertel [de] in Großburgwedel, but it had been popular prior to that.

## Music

The song begins with the line "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein" (On the heath a little flower blooms), the theme of a flower (Erika) bearing the name of a soldier's sweetheart. After each line, and after each time the name "Erika" is sung, there is a three-beat pause, which is filled by the timpani or stamping feet (e.g. of marching soldiers).

## Lyrics

| German original | English translation |
| I Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein 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! 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! 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! | I On the heath there blooms a little flower 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. II 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 she's called Erika! III In my room there also blooms a little flower and she's called Erika! Already in the grey of dawn as it does at dusk it looks at me, Erika! And then it seems to me, as if it's saying aloud: "Are you thinking of your little bride?" Back at home a maiden weeps for you and she's called Erika! |

## In politics and culture

* Hell Let Loose (2021), a tactical first-person shooter based in WW2 that uses the song when the Axis (German) side wins a round.
* Girls und Panzer, a Japanese anime series about WW2-era tanks being maintained and used as a school sport for girls includes the song (used without lyrics) for the school (Kuromorimine Girls Academy) that uses tanks of Nazi Germany. The schools vice commander, Erika Itsumi, gets her name from the song whilst the name "Erika" is both a German and Japanese name.
* Strike Witches, another Japanese anime series includes the song as an OST with Japanese lyrics.
* In June 2024, members of the University of Warwick Conservative Association were allegedly reported to have sung and danced to the song during an annual event. University of Warwick representatives condemned the actions of the students. The association stressed that it was requested by a single member who was "no longer welcome", and apologised for any offence caused.