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Barbarossa!

by My Imaginary Folk Singer

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1.
Himmler's Battle Speech 01:57
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NARRATOR: Himmler addresses officers of the Waffen SS, he promises them glory or death. HIMMLER: Firstly…we must show no sense of sympathy! You must show no sense of warmth! You might say that this is our Germanic destiny… Every Bolshevik town & village you must put to the torch! Let your heart be at war! Hearts at war! As Death’s Head soldiers we are, of course, the brave upholders Of the noble tradition of the Teutonic Order! And what is it Comrades, that Nietzsche does teach us? That, for every true German soldier…emotion is weakness! Let your heart be at war! Hearts at war! We must save our ancient European culture From this marauding pack of degenerate, Asiatic vultures! As usual…the Freemasons & the Jews…will stab us in the back! So forward my S.S. Comrades! Attack! Attack! Attack! Let your heart be at war! Hearts at war!
2.
Stalin Awakes 02:31
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NARRATOR: Stalin is awake, he orders that the front must not break. STALIN: There are cold fascist eyes staring from my skies! Across an expanding front 1,000 kilometres wide! Our former partners from the non-aggression pact… I dismissed intelligence warnings… But now it’s an awful, undeniable, fact! Field-grey panzers are crashing through my trees! The stench of death & combat carries on the breeze! On the road to Smolensk a collapsing defence! In the Baltic’s & the Ukraine… Traitors curse my name! All retreating commanders are immediately to be shot! Immediately! Whether guilt has been established or not! I must send off to Voroshilov, a telex at once… You must hold the North at all costs! Or the general situation…well Comrade…everything will be lost! On the Byelorussian Plain those jackals stake their claim! Oh the anguish! Oh the pain! To Timoshenko! The Pripet bridges you must blow! To Budenny! Do everything! Stem that Rumanian flow! If you fail, comrades! Then to Kolyma you must go! Soon our comrade, Winter shall arrive… Perhaps he’ll save us in the nick of time?
3.
Achtung Panzer! 01:45
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PANZER COMMANDER: Our hate cries! Yeah! The first Howitzer fires! rhapsody! Ecstatic scenes! glorious heroic dream! The voice of our Leader screams! Barbarossa! Wehrmacht! Attack! Now! The horizon on fire! Towards the distant spires! Flames leap higher & higher! Our spirit shall never tire! The voice of our Leader cries! Barbarossa! Wehrmacht! Attack! Now! Blood lust in our eyes! Our first true comrade dies! We shall honour his warrior soul! Like the Germanic warriors of old! Our leader screams out loud! Barbarossa! Wehrmacht! Attack! Now!
4.
Stalin in Crisis 04:15
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NARRATOR: Stalin experiences a loss of confidence, high ranking comrades arrive and ask him to assume command of the defence. STALIN: Well Comrades it will soon be cold out there, cold enough for an icicle to form upon a tear, I’ve been expecting a stab in the back… MOLOTOV: Chief we’ve come from the General Staff… The situation is rather black…they urge you: lead us in the counter-attack! BERIA: The fascists head for Moscow‘s gate! Their rabid jaws froth with hate! MOLOTOV & BERIA: Only these things can save Russia now: Stalin! And the ice & snow! STALIN: Our proletariat are in shock, paralysed by fear…that’s the grim situation boys that we’re looking at here… BERIA: But Comrade, this situation, we can turn it around…we’ll build a partisan underground! MOLOTOV: A diplomatic mission to U.S.A.? The NKVD, they’ll save the day! We must stand together as comrades & brothers! The workers & peasants are with us! MOLOTOV & BERIA: But these things can save Russia now! And Stalin! And the ice & snow! STALIN: Comrade Lenin created this workers state, have we served it up to the fascists on a dinner plate? MOLOTOV: These fish-eyed devils we shall beat! Our brave boys, their marching feet! BERIA: Our Ilyushins will liberate the skies! The Bolshevik spirit it will survive! The workers & peasants will make their stand in defence of our holy motherland! MOLOTOV & BERIA: These things will save Russia now! And Stalin! And the ice & snow!
5.
Hitler's Table Talk 01:58
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NARRATOR: Hitler’s thoughts turn at dinner to philosophy, his general’s learn of their leader’s views on humanity. HITLER: The most beautiful sight that I ever did see Was a machine gun firing into a forest Ecstasy gentleman! I’m sure you’ll agree, exquisite…a metal poem. Oh, the weakling & the intellectual they can never understand How death & beauty walk hand in hand. The highest duty of a civilised race Is to wage death & destruction in a foreign place, The strong shall prevail & the weak shall perish as it must be! The verdict of history! Now our youths, it is true, are dying by the score But don’t be too sad gentlemen…that’s what young people are for! The peace that I shall deliver shall yield to beautiful new war The weakling must die: naturlich, of course… This, fine gentlemen, my gift to the world & yet they say I am a failed artist! So you see fine gentlemen I have made this beautiful war Because the weak must perish …this is natures law.
6.
Stalingrad Love Song 01:55
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NARRATOR: A lovesick panzer grenadier writes a letter & he sheds a tear. GERMAN INFANTRYMAN: That cold moon that shines across our bleak front lines, my love, It also shines on you Won’t you Write! Tell me it’s true! That if we gaze at that moon on high That as we look above We’ll see the light of our shining love. Here in Stalingrad I dream of your laugh As lonely moonbeams sigh And that bleak Siberian wind cries Yes! we’re separated by a thousand miles! But as we look above We’ll see the light of our shining love. In this world full of hate! If death should to be my fate! You’ll know that as I marched along, on my lips I sang a Stalingrad love song! Cries of pain split the sky Another poor boy dies Oh I feel, my love, that I could cry But still I gaze at that moon on high And as I look above I’ll see the light of our shining love.
7.
The God Givers Up 02:25
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NARRATOR: Xmas in Auschwitz, an officer of the SS explains why Christ would’ve condemned the Jews to death. SS MAN: Yeah! It's Christmas in the slaughterhouse & the boys are having fun! The Special-Action Commando! Smoke blacks out the sun! Blocking out the sun! Blocking out the sun! The boys are in the slaughterhouse! Smoke blacks out the sun! SS OFFICER: Now Jesus was a judge boys…a judge of mortal men The Jew sinned against the Son of Man so we cast him into Hell! They crucified our Messiah! The Jew said it serves him right! And we his avenging angels! Vengeance for his plight! SS MAN: Blocking out the sun! Blocking out the sun! The God-Givers-Up rejoicing! Smoke blacks out the sun! SS OFFICER: Let’s read from the book of forgiveness boys… from the darnel in the field… That rich, symbolic burning crop…what fruit that smoke did yield! The example of our Leader! The re-born Aryan Christ! Now do your duty bravely my boys! Although I know it’s not very nice! SS MAN: Blocking out the sun! Blocking out the sun! The Special-Action Commando! Smoke blacks out the sun! SS OFFICER: His flesh he cried was weak but his soul as hard as stone! For he cast the unclean into the flame & burned them to the bone! And we our Leaders servants…stand at the gates of Hell Our duty is our passion! But, of this tale we can never tell! SS MAN: Blocking out the sun! Blocking out the sun! The boys are in the slaughterhouse! Smoke blacks out the sun!
8.
The White Rose 01:45
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NARRATOR: Two student lovers consider joining the White Rose, what the future holds for them god only knows. GIRL: We must take a stand before it’s too late For very soon the Red Army shall be at the gate. BOY: Yes my darling child but can’t you see that would spell the end for you & for me! GIRL: As vengeance filled enemies towards our fatherland creep Our people slumber like dull, stupid sheep! BOY: They’ll call it filthy Jewish lies… Then they’ll give us a short back & sides! Dressed in paper underwear your little white body trembling with fear! They’d punish us barbarically we’d end up with our heads between our knees! GIRL: A people deserves the regime that it is willing to endure… Do the folk of Goethe & Schiller deserve this world of intellectual manure? BOY: Do you think that these words of fire will bring down the Hitlerite state? The Edelweiss Pirates, have you forgotten their terrible fate? GIRL: This spineless herd of hangers on! They’ll destroy our fatherland before too long! BOY: But what can we really do? A leaflet cannot save a single Jew! Now look! You’ve brought me to tears…can’t you see I’m consumed by fear? Oh when I think of what they can do! Oh my pretty one especially to you! GIRL: But don’t you think; an end in terror is better than terror without end?
9.
My Murdered Mind 01:52
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NARRATOR: A Soviet soldier reflects on the burden that he has been obliged to shoulder. SOVIET INFANTRYMAN: I want to lay down my murdered mind, Murdered by these callous times… Yes, I realise Comrade that the fate of our sweet motherland Lays within our hands, But…oh, I want to lay down my murdered mind. That boy who deserted, he had such a difficult time! Yes, of course Comrade we must be stern, While our motherland still burns. But…oh, I want to lay down my murdered mind, Unburdened? Oh please! Sometimes I think I’ll awake from a dream And all those terrible scenes! If only it could be, that they have never been I want to awake from this dream And now… I want to lay down my murdered mind.
10.
Special Transport 02:24
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NARRATOR: A train driver delivers a transport of Jews to their destination, he ponders on the overall military situation. GERMAN TRAIN DRIVER: Wheels roll until the final victory! The Reichsbahn shall earn it’s place in history! Where our lads go the Reichsbahn shall also go! 2,000 enemies tomorrow to Chelmno! Oh our cause to us is dear! And our brave boys know no fear! A special transport from the Donetz Basin! Oh engine steam towards your destination! Let nothing stop the proud Reichsbahn rolling stock! Special transport…Lublin! Bialystok! A technical problem: control rod seizure… But we made it through…the Warthegau to Riga! We salute the Bismark’s proud wreck! 2,000 enemies on Wednesday to Belzec! But comrades be aware…there are terrorists in our rear! A special transport from the Donetz Basin! Oh engine steam towards your destination! Let nothing stop the proud Reichsbahn rolling stock! Special transport…Lublin! Bialystok! Reichsbahn…life-line, to the pigs in the field! The shield of Europe! They’ll never yield! Blonde youths dead, I wince & bite my lip… 2,000 next week to some place called Auschwitz! And if Stormoviks should appear? Let’s hope our fly-boys are somewhere near! A special transport from the Donetz Basin! Oh engine steam towards your destination! Let nothing stop the proud Reichsbahn rolling stock! Special transport…Lublin! Bialystok!
11.
The Winter Crisis is Over 01:11
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NARRATOR: A radio address by Dr. Goebbels, he hopes that his audience will be entranced by the story that he tells. GOEBBELS: The winter crisis is over for the Mother & the German soldier, The winter crisis is over, but there are many perils we have yet to face! Potatoes & vegetables are now in better supply And the German fighter is still ready to spit in the face of Jewish lies! It says in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion That Europa must fall if a Jew, the crown of Europe, should try on. Which do you prefer…capitalism? A bullet in the neck in the Forest of Katyn? The joys of ‘Worker-Collectivism’? Then stand up National-Socialism! The winter crisis is over for the Mother & the German soldier, The winter crisis is over, but there are many perils we have yet to face!
12.
Adios Kamerad! 01:37
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NARRATOR: An angry officer of the Spanish Blue Division explains that Franco has made a shameful decision. SPANISH BLUE DIVISION OFFICER: We Falangists have made it our business To destroy the world of Bolshevismus! But the fortunes of war would seem to be changing, we must withdraw without delaying! Yes my Comrades, I hear what you’re saying: 4000 dead on the shores of Lake Ilmen! Well I hear there is talk of a Death’s Head Legion… To continue our crusade for European freedom! Franco has spoken & his decision is final… We must abandon the battle for European survival! Treachery! As Europe turns Bolshevik red! The betrayal of our brothers under the valiant Death’s Head! But what can you expect from that mischling Franco? If Spain is to arise that schwein must go! For we the Falange this is truly horrendous… The Blue Division is dead! Farewell! Los Endos!
13.
Escape From Sobibor 01:01
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NARRATOR: The Jews plan a revolt at Sobibor, they will suffer this indignity no more. SOBIBOR INMATE: And these scenes, that we perceive Burn our insides! But now the Special Commando! The Death Commando! Arise! Comrades! Revolt! They call us the boys, on leave from death! But soon they’ll feel, our burning breath! But now the Special Commando! The Death Commando! Arise! Comrades! Revolt! We are the shepherds, on the road to Heaven! Our time has come… no quarter to be given! But now the Special Commando! The Death Commando! Arise! Comrades! Revolt!
14.
Our Road of Agony 00:59
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NARRATOR: A Soviet soldier tells his tale, he knows that the revolution will not fail. SOVIET INFANTRYMAN: Our road of agony has been very hard & very long… But are we down? No! We sing as we march along! Sacrifice at Kharkov & also at Kursk! Just like in a novel by Ilya Ehrenburg! Our road of agony has been very hard & very long… Red flows the Dneiper! And red flowed the Don! Against Hausser at Kharkov! Under Zhukov at Kursk! And I tell you my comrades, I’m not sure which was worse! Our road of agony has been very hard & very long… Many died, many died as they bravely marched along! And if you ask us was it worth it? We’ll shout: of course! for thanks to us the working man will soon inherit the earth!
15.
The Vbra-Wetzler Report 02:18
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NARRATOR: A Jewish concentration camp escapee prepares a report, he struggles to find the words to his anxiety. FRED WETZLER: No one was saved this we have ascertained, This report that we submit is true… We beg you do everything that you can do. Their hate filled words have now become deeds, A place called ‘The Birch Trees’ where death hangs on the breeze No birds sing amongst those trees… And here in our Valleys, here amongst these fields, All is lost…and all shall be revealed. Camps at Sobibor, Belzec, elsewhere The objective should now be clear… All Jews live in fear! A Jew-Free Europe is their aim… You must believe what we claim or it will be too your eternal shame… Our skies are filled with pain… And here in our Valleys, here amongst these fields, All is lost…and all shall be revealed.
16.
Stauffenberg Dreams 02:10
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NARRATOR: Count von Stauffenberg prays that his fellow plotters will keep their nerve. STAUFFENBERG: What is it they say…soldiers, girls & flowers… The sky burns, the clock ticks away the hours... Oh when you & your eagles were in flight! In ecstasy you growled across the night! But the clock now, the clock it ticks for you… For you & your reckless crew! That now that clock it ticks for you! Because at Valkyrie we’ll arise! At Valkyrie we’ll arise! Your folk were supine at your knees, The worship of false idols & of trees! But this Christian army will decide your fate… And the aristocratic class that you hate! But the clock now, the clock it ticks for you… For you & your reckless crew! That now that clock it ticks for you! Because at Valkyrie we’ll arise! At Valkyrie we’ll arise!
17.
Stormovik Attack! 01:57
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NARRATOR: A squadron of Stormoviks scream through the air, the Commander’s voice betrays no fear. STORMOVIK SQUADRON LEADER: The fascist beasts are on the ground! In retreat all around! They thought they’d cooked our goose! But now they’ve placed their heads within our noose! My Comrades in flight, we must kill with all our might! Stormoviks Attack! The fascist swine he trembles with fear! We’ve tracked this beast to his lair! See that mad look in their eyes! Kill now! My Spartakists of the skies! My Comrades in flight, we must kill with all our might! Stormoviks Attack!
18.
Lunch With Schellenberg 01:53
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NARRATOR: Himmler & Schellenberg have a tet-at-tete, neither man will admit that it is now too late. HIMMLER: You really must come & stay with me at Hohenlychen , There are many things that there are yet to do, I feel that my burden you could lighten. I’m fairly keen to ensure that negotiations should start right away And that we should aim to…consolidate, at least before the beginning of May. Who do you think holds the key to power…Norbert Masur or that Sephardic Jew? Don’t you think that this business with FDR has come as a bolt from the blue? Did I tell you about my visit from His Excellency Herr von Ribbentrop? His suggestion in regard to the remaining Jews: that we should bargain away all we have got! I feel that he may be well aware of my meetings with Count Folke Bernadotte… Make it clear to Kaltenbrunner: no Special Jews to be beaten or shot. The wider world might now conclude that we fellows have some unusual habits For example, my S.S. doctors & their experimental rabbits… So in my future dealings with the Count I should be gentle, sphinx-like Here’s an idea Schellenberg…invite the fellow for tea, if you’d like? Let us pray that this pact between Capital & the Reds will soon fall apart… In the meantime, all German soldiers must be brave & stout of heart! But right now, I’m feeling a little dyspeptic & might retire to bed, Oh you know my dear Schellenberg…the future’s something that I really do dread.
19.
The Golden Pheasant 01:51
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NARRATOR: A high ranking Nazi enjoys a final glass of champagne, his loaded Luger will soon end his pain. HIGH RANKING NAZI PARTY MEMBER: A badly soiled baby gets angry; A small cat catches a fly, The situation in the Situation Room looks gloomy One can barely suppress a mad cry… So, farewell to this careless existence! Oh a 1000 years, they’ve swept right on by And now fat Golden Pheasants are flying Across that fiery, flak splattered sky. The elephants have been toasted & eaten, The sound of the flak towers drove them mad. La Division Charlemagne is burning; I shall never take my library books back! Oh, farewell to this careless existence! Oh a 1000 years, they’ve swept right on by And now fat Golden Pheasants are flying Across a pale & rather badly pummelled sky. And now that big old fat grey sky is rumbling As the temperature of the Chief becomes quite hot, The Norwegian Ski Legion seems uncertain! Ha! Ha! Ha! The brother-in-law of the bride has been shot. So, farewell to this careless existence! Oh a 1000 years, they’ve swept right on by And now fat Golden Pheasants are flying Across that fiery, flak splattered sky.
20.
Chewin' the Carpet 01:26
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NARRATOR: The Fuhrer demands news of the counter attack, he suspects that he has been stabbed in the back. HITLER: Where the hell is Felix Steiner? STAFF OFFICER: He’d have moved if the weather had been finer. HITLER: What’s this I hear about General Wenck? SECOND STAFF OFFICER: It appears Sir, he has lost several Tiger Tanks HITLER: And where the hell are my SS Life Guards! Are they advancing? Or are they playing cards? FIRST STAFF OFFICER: Sir, Spring Awakening is well underway, Of its objectives…we cannot say… Don’t say a word about the poor 9th Army…the Chief could go completely barmy! SECOND STAFF OFFICER: Sir…the Munchenburgers seem to be falling back with no possibility of a counter-attack! Oh & rather bad news from Terboven in Norway…the Red Army thrust is well under way. FIRST STAFF OFFICER: Perhaps a telex to Grand Admiral Doenitz… on your shoulders the fate of Germany sits! HITLER: Frau Reitsch & Ritter von Greim? They’ll sweep by in the nick of time! Goering? A capital crime, the fellow is a treacherous swine! FIRST STAFF OFFICER: No…nothing yet from, Kesselring The Southern Command we’re still trying to ring… SECOND STAFF OFFICER: Oh & Reichsfuhrer Himmler may be feeling unwell, Of his Replacement Army we cannot tell… HITLER: Oh these fine Zossen gentlemen! They’ll hang on at all costs! Lies! Betrayal! Everything is lost! The flower of our youth are all already dead! The Fatherland soil must turns Bolshevik red!

about

On June 22nd 1941 Hitler’s armies invaded the Soviet Union, the offensive operation was codenamed ‘Barbarossa’.

The twenty tracks here present an episodic view of the conflict seen from the view points of different participants, some real others fictionalized. It begins with the SS chief Himmler delivering an address to his commanders prior to the attack & it ends with Hitler ranting & raving in the bunker.

Barbarossa failed to achieve its objectives, further German operational campaigns such as 1943’s Operation Citadel were not technically part of ‘Barbarossa’ but following a now established convention this album invokes that name in order to define the conflict that began in the summer of 1941 & ended in the spring of 1945.

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released March 9, 2014

Words and Music © Copyright 2014 Neil G. Everitt.

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My Imaginary Folk Singer London, UK

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