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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

German Last Post. Is there one?


Jon Haslock

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Can someone tell me if there is a German equivalent of the Last Post and, if so, where can I get a copy of the score. Is it likely to be available online? Thanks in advance, folks.

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Jon,

I don't know about bugle tunes, though the Germans had ample buglers. However, I have often read that a tune called I had a comrade was often played or sung at the funeral of German soldiers in the Great War. Hopefully, more information will be forthcoming.

Hope this is of use

Aye

Tom McC

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Made on Langemark cemetery in July 2008

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The last time I heard Ich hatte ein Kamarad, it was at 5.30 a.m. or so on December 15th 1994, when standing in a field in the front line of one of the first assaults of the Battle of the Bulge.

There were three survivors of this assault who had been brought over the river they had to wade and swim on that day, and when they reached a small sign giving details of what happened in the field they started to sing, with the church bells tolling in the background (the church bells were rung right the way down the front line). Some 400 of their comrades were mown down by two US machine guns in the field.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house. The US ambassador who happened to be there was so moved he rang Clinton to tell him all about it, and Clinton sent a message to all those of us who had spent the night in the front line (and cold beyond belief, it was). Some night.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi all. Thanks for the input. Ich Hatte Einen Kameraden was just the job and was played at Fricourt German Cemetery on the morning of the 11th.

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It will be played of course at all Volkstrauertag (German Remembrance Day) events in Belgium and France German military cemeteries on 16 November

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Jon, I have posted all locations and exact dates yesterday in the "cemetery and memorial" subforum. The thread titles are:

"Here are all 2008 dates for German Remembrance Day in Belgium"

"Here are all 2008 dates for German Remembrance Day in France"

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