Wildgänse rauschen durch die Nacht [German war poem][+English translation]

Wildgänse rauschen durch die Nacht (Wild geese rush through the night) is a war poem by Walter Flex. It was published in 1917 in his poem book Im Felde zwischen Nacht und Tag (In the (battle) field between day and night). The poem was also part of his 1916 novel Der Wanderer zwischen beiden Welten (The wanderer between both worlds).

The lyrics got popular through an adaption in a song created by Robert Götz. Götz tune did exist as early as 1916 but the Wild Geese song found a widespread recognition by usage in the Wandervogel movement / Bündische Jugend society during the late 1920s. The tragic lyrics pose an interesting contrast to the marching tune which found adoption in other societies as well. Apart from national Studentenverbindung fraternities it is a traditional song in the Austrian and German army.

The song is also popular in the French army in its French version "Les Oies Sauvages". The version of the French Foreign Legion has also overtaken the first stanza of the German lyrics as its fourth stanza. Furthermore the topic of wild geese rushing through the night has become a symbol of airborne troops though there is no widespread English translation so far.

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Wildgänse rauschen durch die Nacht
Mit schrillem Schrei nach Norden –
Unstäte Fahrt! Habt acht, habt acht!
Die Welt ist voller Morden.
Fahrt durch die nachtdurchwogte Welt,
Graureisige Geschwader!
Fahlhelle zuckt, und Schlachtruf gellt,
Weit wallt und wogt der Hader.
Rausch' zu, fahr' zu, du graues Heer!
Rauscht zu, fahrt zu nach Norden!
Fahrt ihr nach Süden übers Meer –
Was ist aus uns geworden!
Wir sind wie ihr ein graues Heer
Und fahr'n in Kaisers Namen,
Und fahr'n wir ohne Wiederkehr,
Rauscht uns im Herbst ein Amen!

#wildgänse #botholucaschor #germany #drludwig