Controversial Christmas Party in the German Army. Investigation after the Nazi-era version of Germany's national anthem was sung
German soldiers in Saarland, Saarbrücken, November 10, 2025, at a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the Bundeswehr. PHOTO: Laszlo Pinter / DPA / Profimedia
The German Ministry of Defense has opened an investigation after the first stanza of the song in which the national anthem of Germany is found was sung at a Christmas party of the German army, namely the stanza with the line “Deutschland, Deutschland über alles” (Germany, Germany above all), which no longer exists in the current anthem, as it was used during the Nazi period, the DPA agency reports on Friday, taken over by Agerpres.
A spokesman for the German army told this news agency that “an extensive disciplinary investigation” had been launched, also concerning a civilian service provider who organized the party, which was attended by about a thousand people. “The musical interpretation of the first stanza of the German national anthem is in no way compatible with our values,” indicated the same spokesperson.
The lyrics to “The Song of the Germans” were written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1841. The lyrics of the first stanza were used for propaganda purposes by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s. Today, only the third stanza, which contains the verse “Unity and justice and freedom” is used in the national anthem of Germany. However, the other stanzas of the song, although not used in the anthem, are not legally prohibited.
The incident took place on December 11 at the barracks of an NCO school in the city of Delitzsch, in the eastern part of Germany. Although the usual third verse of the national anthem was to be played, a civilian DJ played the controversial first verse. The commander of the military unit then ordered the usual national anthem to be played and reported the incident to his superiors the same evening.
