Piece image

The Story of the Peat Bog Soldiers

From: Arndt Peltner
Length: 00:38:37

The most important anti-fascist and protest song of the 20th century Read the full description.

Rgbutton_small This feature about the Moorsoldaten or Peat Bog Soldiers is the story of a song written in the early days of the Third Reich in the concentration camp Boergermoor in northern Germany. The song went around the world and became one of the most important anti-fascist and protest songs of the century. You will hear the story and many versions in several languages. This feature was awarded with a Silver Reel at the NFCB conference in Albuquerque.

To hear the full audio, sign up for a free PRX account or log in.

More from Arndt Peltner

Piece image

Smithsonian Folkways (01:57:53)
From: Arndt Peltner

An amazing treasure chest of music, sounds and spoken word of the 20th century from around the world
Piece image

Cassette Music Scene in San Francisco (00:04:06)
From: Arndt Peltner

San Francisco is a centre of Noise, Industrial and experimental music. And this scene of musicians and music enthusiasts goes back in time to release and share on cassette tapes.
Piece image

The Rwandan Genocide (00:14:39)
From: Arndt Peltner

In the evening of April 6th 1994 the plane of the Rwandan president was shot down. This sparked the genocide that nearly killed one million people
Piece image

African Roots Music (01:59:31)
From: Arndt Peltner

SWP Records in Holland has released the amazing recordings of Hugh Tracey
Caption: Prison Gitarama, Credit: Peltner

Visit to Rwanda (00:12:53)
From: Arndt Peltner

A country in change, that is still hold back by its recent past
Piece image

Nuremberg - from Nazi-Rallies to the city of Human Rights (00:26:26)
From: Arndt Peltner

An interview with Arno Hamburger, city council member and president of the Jewish community in Nuremberg.
Piece image

German Internment in the US (00:29:52)
From: Arndt Peltner

During WWII about 11.000 German immigrants living in the US were interned. Still today, they are waiting for a recognition of this injustice.
Piece image

Gudrun Gut - Berlin Music Scene (00:30:05)
From: Arndt Peltner

Gudrun Gut is coming to the US for a couple of concerts - an interview
Piece image

Visit to Afghanistan (00:28:27)
From: Arndt Peltner

Visiting the German troops in the north of Afghanistan
Caption: Arndt Peltner

Preparing for Iraq (00:21:29)
From: Arndt Peltner

The National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, prepares the troops

Piece Description

This feature about the Moorsoldaten or Peat Bog Soldiers is the story of a song written in the early days of the Third Reich in the concentration camp Boergermoor in northern Germany. The song went around the world and became one of the most important anti-fascist and protest songs of the century. You will hear the story and many versions in several languages. This feature was awarded with a Silver Reel at the NFCB conference in Albuquerque.

4 Comments Atom Feed

Caption: PRX default User image

Review of The Story of the Peat Bog Soldiers

As a Holocaust survivor's daughter, I was introduced to this powerful resistance song in the U.S. by Pete Seeger. I sang it throughout my teens, and now find that I'm teaching it to my 7th grade class studying the Holocaust. I was fascinated by the travels this song made, and was inspired by clips of people interviewed by it. I feel better informed about the song and ready to share with my students now. Thank you!

Caption: PRX default User image

Review of The Story of the Peat Bog Soldiers

A controversial discussion of this haunting song has been on webpages and newsgroups for many years.

For example http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=14088

This authoritative report should satisfy all future discussions.

Fascinating piece; well done

User image

Review of The Story of the Peat Bog Soldiers

Great production values and creative use of music, archival sound and actualities. Difficult subject to pull off - the story of one song written in the concentration camp era and its impact on the world. But several obstacles here to getting airplay in America. The narrator has a strong accent that I found difficult to follow while listening in the car. Not so hard to follow on the internet but a good majority of people listen in their cars or kitchen radios and that has to be considered. The piece is at an odd length - 38 minutes - and might be a challenge to program. But the material is just not that accessible for American audiences. The significance of this song is just that clear here. I doubt if most people have heard of it. That would be difficult to program and to promote.

See all 4 comments >>

Broadcast History

This feature is timeless and can be used at any point. It was first aired on Radio Goethe in March 2003 and i was awarded with a Silver Reel by the NFCB.

Related Website

http://www.radiogoethe.de