Title: Großdeutschland
Description: Includes 20 tracks! Nearly 65 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 Panzerkorpstakes 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 78 rpm records that at we have transcribed for this unique compilation. Eighteen of this album's 20 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 vital 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 by 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 Musikkorps of Wachbataillon Berlin under Musikmeister Guido Grosch. Also presented is a selection of the chief 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 warrior elites and captures in sound the spirit and élan of the premier formation of the German Wehrmacht. - Publisher.