Der Hohenfriedberger
Encyclopedia
The Hohenfriedberger also called Hohenfriedberger March, is one of the best known German military marches. It takes its name from the victory of the Prussia
ns over the allied Austria
ns and Saxons
on June 4th, 1745 during the Second Silesian War at the Battle of Hohenfriedberg
, near Striegau.
There are many legends surrounding the origins of the march. Supposedly, the Bayreuther dragoon regiment, which was crucial in securing a Prussian victory, reported to its quarters the day after the battle while the march was played. Whether the march was actually played then is just as questionable as the claim that Frederick II of Prussia
was the composer of the piece. It is understood that the king issued to the Bayreuther dragoon regiment a "Gnadenbrief", or letter of grace, that authorized it to play both grenadier marches of the foot soldiers (with flutes and drums) and the cuirassier marches of the cavalry (with kettledrums and trumpet fanfare).
The first outline (piano rendition) was written in 1795. For the first time in 1845, in celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the battle, the march was given lyrics, "Auf, Ansbach-Dragoner! Auf, Ansbach-Bayreuth!...." because the regiment by then had been renamed "Ansbach-Bayreuth". In the time of the German Kaiser the title "Hohenfriedberger" was symbolic both on the basis of its connection with the great military victories of Friedrich II and because of the authorship of the House of Hohenzollern
.
In the year 1866, in commemoration of the victories of Friedrich II against the Austrians, Johann Gottfried Piefke
added Der Hohenfriedberger as a trio to his "Königgrätzer Marsch
" after the victorious battle of Königgrätz
.
1st Stanza:
Refrain (2x):
2nd Stanza:
Refrain (2x):
3rd Stanza:
Refrain:
Analogous translation in English:
1st Stanza:
Refrain (2x):
2nd Stanza:
Refrain (2x):
3rd Stanza
Refrain:
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
ns over the allied Austria
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
ns and Saxons
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
on June 4th, 1745 during the Second Silesian War at the Battle of Hohenfriedberg
Battle of Hohenfriedberg
The Battle of Hohenfriedberg or Hohenfriedeberg, also known as the battle of Striegau, now Dobromierz, was one of the crowning achievements of Frederick the Great...
, near Striegau.
There are many legends surrounding the origins of the march. Supposedly, the Bayreuther dragoon regiment, which was crucial in securing a Prussian victory, reported to its quarters the day after the battle while the march was played. Whether the march was actually played then is just as questionable as the claim that Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
was the composer of the piece. It is understood that the king issued to the Bayreuther dragoon regiment a "Gnadenbrief", or letter of grace, that authorized it to play both grenadier marches of the foot soldiers (with flutes and drums) and the cuirassier marches of the cavalry (with kettledrums and trumpet fanfare).
The first outline (piano rendition) was written in 1795. For the first time in 1845, in celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the battle, the march was given lyrics, "Auf, Ansbach-Dragoner! Auf, Ansbach-Bayreuth!...." because the regiment by then had been renamed "Ansbach-Bayreuth". In the time of the German Kaiser the title "Hohenfriedberger" was symbolic both on the basis of its connection with the great military victories of Friedrich II and because of the authorship of the House of Hohenzollern
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
.
In the year 1866, in commemoration of the victories of Friedrich II against the Austrians, Johann Gottfried Piefke
Johann Gottfried Piefke
Johann Gottfried Piefke was a German conductor, Kapellmeister and composer of military music....
added Der Hohenfriedberger as a trio to his "Königgrätzer Marsch
Königgrätzer Marsch
The Königgrätzer Marsch is a famous German military march composed by Johann Gottfried Piefke after the Battle of Königgrätz, 1866, the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire.It was one of Adolf Hitler's favorite marches and was...
" after the victorious battle of Königgrätz
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
.
Lyrics
Original German lyrics:1st Stanza:
- Auf, Ansbach-Dragoner!
- Auf, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
- Schnall um deinen Säbel
- und rüste dich zum Streit!
- Prinz Karl ist erschienen
- auf Friedbergs Höh'n,
- Sich das preußische Heer
- mal anzusehen.
Refrain (2x):
- Drum, Kinder, seid lustig
- und allesamt bereit:
- Auf, Ansbach-Dragoner!
- Auf, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
- Drum, Kinder, seid lustig
- und allesamt bereit:
- Auf, Ansbach-Dragoner!
- Auf, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
2nd Stanza:
- Hab'n Sie keine Angst,
- Herr Oberst von Schwerin,
- Ein preuß'scher Dragoner
- tut niemals nicht flieh'n!
- Und stünd'n sie auch noch
- so dicht auf Friedbergs Höh'n,
- Wir reiten sie zusammen
- wie Frühlingsschnee.
- Ob Säbel, ob Kanon',
- ob Kleingewehr uns dräut:
Refrain (2x):
- Drum, Kinder, seid lustig
- und allesamt bereit:
- Auf, Ansbach-Dragoner!
- Auf, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
- Drum, Kinder, seid lustig
- und allesamt bereit:
- Auf, Ansbach-Dragoner!
- Auf, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
3rd Stanza:
- Halt, Ansbach-Dragoner!
- Halt, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
- Wisch ab deinen Säbel
- und laß vom Streit;
- Denn ringsumher
- auf Friedbergs Höh'n
- Ist weit und breit
- kein Feind mehr zu seh'n.
- Und ruft unser König,
- zur Stelle sind wir heut':
- Auf, Ansbach-Dragoner!
- Auf, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
Refrain:
- Drum, Kinder, seid lustig
- und allesamt bereit:
- Auf, Ansbach-Dragoner!
- Auf, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
Analogous translation in English:
1st Stanza:
- Up, Ansbach-Dragoons!
- Up, AnsbachPrincipality of AnsbachThe Principality of Ansbach or Brandenburg-Ansbach was a reichsfrei principality in the Holy Roman Empire centered on the Bavarian city of Ansbach...
-BayreuthPrincipality of BayreuthThe Principality of Bayreuth or Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a reichsfrei principality in the Holy Roman Empire centered on the Bavarian city of Bayreuth. Until 1604 its capital city was Kulmbach; then the margraves used their palaces in Bayreuth as their residence...
! - Buckle on your sabre
- and brace yourself for battle!
- Prince CharlesPrince Charles Alexander of LorrainePrince Charles Alexander of Lorraine was a Lorraine-born Austrian soldier.-Background:Charles was the son of Leopold Joseph, Duke of Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans...
has appeared - on Friedberg's heights
- to compare himself with us, the Prussian Army.
Refrain (2x):
- So, boys, be jolly
- and all ready to go.
- Up, Ansbach Dragoons!
- Up, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
- So, boys, be jolly
- and all ready to go.
- Up, Ansbach Dragoons!
- Up, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
2nd Stanza:
- Have no worries,
- Colonel von Schwerin,
- A Prussian Dragoon
- does not flee, never!
- And they also still stand
- so close together on Friedberg's height,
- We could ride them down
- like spring snow.
- Whether sabers, whether cannons,
- whether muskets, threaten us:
Refrain (2x):
- So, boys, be jolly
- and all ready to go:
- Up, Ansbach Dragoons!
- Up, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
- So, boys, be jolly
- and all ready to go:
- Up, Ansbach Dragoons!
- Up, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
3rd Stanza
- Maintenance, Ansbach Dragoons!
- Maintenance, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
- Wipe your saber
- and leave the battle;
- For all around
- on Friedberg's heights
- Is far and wide
- seen no more of our Enemy
- And calls our King,
- to the place we are today:
Refrain:
- So, boys, be jolly
- and all ready to go:
- To the Ansbach Dragoons!
- To Ansbach-Bayreuth!
- So, boys, be jolly
- and all ready to go:
- Up, Ansbach Dragoons!
- Up, Ansbach-Bayreuth!
In popular culture
- The march was used at the beginning of the film StalingradStalingrad (film)Stalingrad is a 1993 war drama film directed by Joseph Vilsmaier. It depicts combat on the Eastern Front of World War II, specifically the Battle of Stalingrad and showing the German Wehrmacht in a sympathetic light....
and in Barry LyndonBarry LyndonBarry Lyndon is a 1975 British-American period romantic war film produced, written, and directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray which recounts the exploits of an 18th century Irish adventurer...
depicting the Prussian army during the Seven Years War. Since it is used in parts of the Königgrätzer MarschKöniggrätzer MarschThe Königgrätzer Marsch is a famous German military march composed by Johann Gottfried Piefke after the Battle of Königgrätz, 1866, the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire.It was one of Adolf Hitler's favorite marches and was...
, it can be heard in Indiana Jones and the Last CrusadeIndiana Jones and the Last CrusadeIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, from a story co-written by executive producer George Lucas. It is the third film in the Indiana Jones franchise. Harrison Ford reprises the title role and Sean Connery plays Indiana's father, Henry...
during parts of the book burning scene.