Scope and Content Note
Although these materials date from as early as the 1840s, most of them were published between the late 1920s and the late 1940s, roughly analogous to the years of the Third Reich. The bulk of the songs seem to have been written for members of the armed forces, the Nazi party, or the general public and were probably distributed on an official or semi-official basis. Much of this music is associated with the Nationalsozialistiche Deutsche Arbeiter-Partei (NSDAP), its subsidiary organizations including the Schutzstaffel (SS), Sturmabteliung (SA), and Hitler Jugend (HJ); and the armed forces of the Third Reich (1933-1945).
Researchers should be aware that the collection includes a copy of a small song book titled Liederbuch der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiter Partei, autographed by Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer of the SS. In all likelihood this was Himmler’s personal copy. In addition, there are a number of pieces of manuscript music and typed or hand-written music sheets. These seem to have been submitted to party officials in the hope that they would be published. Some of the works have accompanying correspondence.
Some works depict Nazi insignia, symbols, or imagery.