Nazi propaganda in the songbooks of the NSDAP's storm troops

Identificator

EDN: BIIQSY ; УДК: 940(130):784

Authors

Pchelkina Anastasiya Konstantinovna, postgraduate student of Department of the World History, Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University n. a. K. D. Ushinsky. Russia, Yaroslavl. ORCID: 0009‑0004‑4911‑1294. E‑mail: p4elkina.nas@yandex.ru

Journal

HERALD OF HUMANITARIAN EDUCATION №1 (42), 2026

Section

GENERAL HISTORY

Pages

64-70

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the songbooks of the Nazi storm troops (SA). Historians most often use the songs of various organizations of the NSDAP and the Third Reich as an example of Nazi propaganda, while the songbook is a complex source that requires separate study. The lyrics contained in the songbooks not only inspired Nazi ideas, but also contributed to the cohesion of society and members of Nazi organizations. The purpose of the article is a source‑based analysis of the SA songbook. The collections were investigated both as a material medium and as a means of Nazi propaganda, developed specifically for assault troops. As part of the study, several songbooks of the assault troops were reviewed, their content was analy­zed – texts and visuals. The performance of songs by members of National Socialist organizations is considered in the context of the formation of the Nazi propaganda apparatus. The characteristics of the first songbooks are given, their content is revealed. The SA and SS songbooks are compared. It showed the presence of common texts, which is due to the specifics of the SS. During the analysis of the visual series presented in the songbooks, the educational component of this publication was revealed. Several elements of the text component have been identified: the lyrics themselves, notes about the Nazi "heroes" and instructions from the "Fuhrers" (Adolf Hitler, Ernst Röhm, Victor Lutze, Edmund Heines). The method of content analysis was used to study the songs. According to the results of the content analysis, marker words were found that characterize the organization of the SA, the model of behavior of stormtroopers inspired by Nazi propaganda, and describe the image of the enemy. The results of the study may be significant for historians in the study of Nazi propaganda, in comparative studies of 20th century dictatorships.

Keywords

storm troopers Nazi's propaganda Nazi's ideology songbook Horst Wessel

Recieved

26.12.2025

Published

03.06.2026

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