On Monday (22 December 2025), the German army announced that the commander of the Non-Commissioned Officers’ School in Delitzsch, Saxony, had stepped down after the first verse of the German national anthem was played during a Christmas celebration at the barracks – a verse historically linked to Nazi propaganda.
The commander expressed deep regret, stating that failing to address the incident properly did not reflect the Bundeswehr’s leadership culture. He resigned to prevent further damage. His deputy will take over temporarily from 5 January.
The incident occurred during a celebration attended by more than a thousand people, when a civilian DJ played the controversial verse, sparking widespread criticism.
The first verse of the “Song of the Germans,” written in 1841 by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, begins with “Germany, Germany above all” and was misused for propaganda during the Nazi era. Today, only the third verse, with the words “Unity and justice and freedom,” is recognized as the official national anthem. The other verses are not banned but remain historically sensitive and controversial when used publicly.
Sources - Agencies
