Who Was Nazi Horst Wessel?

Horst Wessel was the son of a Lutheran minister. He was bright, did well in school but did drop out of law school due to the influence of National Socialism and was soon, against his mother’s wishes, a member of a military group. These were the Brownshirts, a paramilitary organization dedicated to protect and defend members of the Nazi Party. This would pit them against those defending the principles of the Communist Party. There was turmoil and chaos in the streets as these groups fought for power. Wessel was popular with party members. He was musical and often wrote music.

Wessel soon caught the eye of Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels who sent the young man to Vienna to learn Nazi methods of organization and leadership. Wessel did well and was soon leader of his own group, SA-Troop 34 in 1929.

Wessel had a violent nature and believed strongly in the ideas of his chosen political party. In short, he was a good Nazi. During one street brawl, a young communist was killed and his comrades looked for revenge. This may have been the motive for the murder of Horst Wessel on January 14, 1930 when he answered a knock on the door and was shot in the head. He would die a few weeks later. There are other reasons given for his murder. Some say it was a dispute he was having with his landlady that resulted in his death. At the time, Wessel was living with an 18-year-old prostitute named Erna Janicke. The landlady was upset with the arrangement and attempted to raise Wessle’s rent. He would not pay and he would not leave. At a bar where local members of the Communist Party hung out, she complained openly to all who would listen. Two men that night went to the apartment and shot Wessel, the arrogant Nazi. One of the men, Albrecht Hohler, was arrested and sent to prison. The Gestapo later killed him when Hitler came into power. Communists called Wessel a pimp and the Nazis called him a hero, saying he was merely coming to the girl’s aid and saving her with the values and ideas of the Nazi Party. He would soon become an icon, the symbol of the dedication and love all youth should hold dear as members of a new Germany.

Horst Wessel wrote the words to the song “Rise The Flag “which soon became the “Horst Wessel Song.” It was sung at his funeral and when Joseph Goebbels spoke at the event, it became a media affair. There were soon stories glorifying Wessel and books along with movies added to the legend of a youth sacrificing himself for the glory of Germany and the Nazi movement. A memorial was erected and it became the site of many pilgrimages.

After the war, the memorial was destroyed, as were his remains. A training ship, Horst Wessel, was named after him. But after the war, it was captured by the United States. It now serves in the U.S. Coast Guard as the USCGC Eagle.

World War II Germans were noted for their marching songs. The “Horst Wessel Song” was second only to the nation’s anthem, “Deutschland Uber Alles.” It should be remembered that evil comes in many guises. It very often arrives wrapped in a coating of good will and love. Evil almost always appeals to our deepest emotions. The Nazi Party, under the direction of Goebbels, had a profound impact on the emotions. It appealed to the image of who the Germans were after the humiliating conditions placed on them after World War I. They were uplifted and made proud by the harangues of Hitler. Torchlight parades, men marching in crisp formation, and a growing economy raised their expectations, gave them hope. Not only was there a future but also it was a glorious future!

The “Horst Wessel Song” was part of this.Its rhythm, its cadence along with the drumbeat resonate in the young soul. Intellect has no part in the transformation of a young German boy or girl from one who wants to do good and be a positive influence to one who accepts and is willing to follow a horrendous path to these goals. One is forced to admit that evil has its own peculiar beauty and has always had an attraction for all-- no matter age, intellect, or generation.

I apologize to any offended by posting this song but each nuance of evil must be examined.