History
The lyrics changed as the war went on. Originally they referred to the shores of the river Volga in Russia, later to those of the river Oder on the German-Polish border, where heavy fighting took place in 1945. The lyrics openly declared that the SS would destroy the "Red plague".
As the Waffen SS gradually developed into a multi-ethnic and multi-national force, translated and modified versions were sung by SS men from other countries. Among these were a French version, used by SS Division Charlemagne, and a Norwegian version called "På Vikingtog", while members of the Estonian 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS used it as "Pataljon Narwa Laul" ("The Song of Battalion Narwa"). It was also the marching song for the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian).
After the end of the Second World War, the song also found its way into the French Foreign Legion and is still sung today in a version with slightly different and translated lyrics as "La Legion marche vers le front". A Brazilian version is also known.
Read more about this topic: SS Marschiert
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