Music plays an important role during wartime. 

The reason for this is that music can instill a certain “spirit” within soldiers and civilians.  This spirit serves both to motivate and to provide therapy during times when they need it most.  It is not surprising then that music played an important role during World War II in both America and Germany.  However, the role that music played differed drastically between these two countries. American music was centered around ideals of romance and strength.  Their songs encouraged soldiers to remain strong because their lovers awaited them on the home front.  The specific genre of music popularized throughout America was Swing and Jazz music. 

A cheerful and danceable beat characterized this music.  Big bands adopted these styles.  These big bands would have multiple “sections” of instruments contributing to the rhythm and the melody.  Because the American music promulgated during this time differed from the traditionally accepted musical art forms, the music laid the cultural foundation for the music that was to come during the Civil Rights and Women’s Liberation movements.  Conversely, the music of the Germans was dramatically different.  While the Americans focused on romantic ideals, the Germans focused on ideals of nationalism, patriotism, and ethnocentrism.  Hitler applied stringent rules that dictated the music that Germans would listen to.  Such rules included the exclusion of any music by Jewish composers and the denouncement of songs that did not contribute to German ideals.

American music 

American music was centered on ideals of romance and strength as opposed to morale and patriotism.  The public rejected songs that were based solely on morale and patriotism.  Due to the horrendous battle conditions, many soldiers faced depression in the seemingly hopeless situations they found themselves in.  Therefore, the ideals of romance and strength appealed to the weary soldiers.  Many of them had left behind wives and sweethearts.  Romantic songs such as “I’ll Be Seeing You” by Doris Day and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, by Bing Crosby instilled a courageous spirit and encouraged the soldiers not to capitulate.  These songs enabled them to see the war to the end.  

The most notable American musician of the World War II era was Glen Miller.  Miller was a man of extraordinary musical talent.  He was a composer, bandleader, trombonist, and recording artist.  His music was arguably the most listened to by soldiers and civilians during the war.  It was joyous, energetic, and encouraging.  Additionally, his band was the producer of the bestselling records during that time.  His band’s songs were played vehemently on the radio.  He was so passionate about encouraging soldiers that in 1942, he volunteered to join the army to entertain soldiers with his music.  It was during this time that his songs “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “In The Mood”, and “Moonlight Serenade” became bestselling hits.  Miller has been credited as being the father of the modern US military big band.  His ministry of music to soldiers and civilians alike remains undisputed.

American soldiers and civilians listened to music that mocked the Axis powers.  Such songs include “We’ll Knock the Japs Right into the Laps of the Nazis”, “Yankee Doodle Ain’t Doodlin’ Now”, “You’re a Sap, Mr. Jap”, and “De Fuehrer’s Face”.  “De Fuehrer’s Face’’ was the motivating force behind the production of a 1943 Walt Disney cartoon starring Donald Duck.  Songs that were aimed at the European Axis powers focused not on German civilians but solely on Hitler and his regime.  However, songs that were aimed at the Japanese exhibited extreme anger, revenge, and racist sentiment towards both the Japanese regime and civilians.  Some believe the reason for the disparity in hatred was that the Germans did not directly assault American soil while the Japanese directly attacked American soil at Pearl Harbor.

American Swing was developed during the 1920s and 1930s but became prominent during World War II.  The music was notable for its strong groove and its emphasis on the off-beat.  Swing music was centered around both instrumental and vocal arrangements.  A swing song would have a solid rhythm section that acted as an anchor.  The audience could then expect melodic improvisation over the rhythm.  The introduction of the song would clearly state the theme and the arrangements for soloists. 

The majority of these songs were compiled in a work called the Great American Songbook.  It is interesting to note that this music was not looked upon favorably by the older generation because it diverged from the norm.  However, the youth embraced it.  The musical freedom that emerged during this time laid the foundation for the songs that would pave the way for the Civil Rights and Women’s Liberation Movement. 

German music

Music in Germany was heavily regulated and controlled by the Nazi regime.  Adolf Hitler established propaganda ministers such as Joseph Goebbels and Alfred Rosenberg to head control organizations.  These organizations had two main objectives.  The first objective was to eliminate any music composed or performed by Jews.  The second objective was to showcase the musical works of Germans.  These two objectives were put in place to add favorable cultural achievements to the “Volksgemeinschaft”.  The “Volksgemeinschaft” was the German community.

The advent of industrialization in Germany enabled musicians to purchase musical instruments, sheet music, and music lessons.  The result was a vibrant musical scene.  Musical culture exploded with multiple social clubs, concert halls, and orchestras.  This caused many German and Jewish composers to become prominent.  Hitler’s rise to power as the Fuhrer put an end to the creative freedom of musical composers.  He established stringent stipulations on these composers.  Hitler’s perspectives and opinions laid the groundwork for these stipulations. 

The music of German Classical Composers such as Richard Wagner was heralded as culturally and ethnically sound.  However, contemporary music was banned.  The German regime viewed contemporary music as atonal and dissonant with troubling rhythms.  Hitler denounced this music as “degenerate”.  The music of Jewish Composers such as Felix Mendelssohn, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Jacques Offenbach, George Gershwin, and Irving Berlin were prohibited from being played. 

Much of the music in America such as Swing and Jazz became popular in Germany.  This occurred much to the Nazi Regime’s chagrin.  Swing and Jazz originated from African–American artists.  The Nazi regime was opposed to diverse nationalities.  Therefore, they banned radio stations from playing American music.  The Nazi’s hate for such American music was so strong that a bandleader who wrote a jazz version of the German National Anthem was required to leave Germany.  They even gave musicians strict instructions on how to hold their musical instruments so they would not look like black jazz musicians.   All this backfired as German youth and young adults began meeting in secret locations to listen to American music on Allied radio stations.  This spread throughout Europe as musicians in Paris began playing jazz music in French as opposed to English to escape the Nazi jazz music ban.  

Aside from classical music, the Germans used military marches to instill a sense of coldness and ruthlessness in their listeners.  The songs were written with a slow, repetitive, and pulsating beat devoid of emotion.  Sentiments such as romance were completely rejected in these German military marches while sentiments of patriotism, nationalism, and ethnocentrism were heralded.  The lyrics encouraged soldiers to be willing to die for the motherland and to be assured of their duty of “cleansing” Germany from the negative influence of those deemed unfit.