Johann Gottfried Piefke

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Johann Gottfried Piefke (pronounced "peefke") (* September 9, 1817 in Schwerin an der Warthe; † January 25, 1884 in Frankfurt (Oder)) was a German conductor, Kapellmeister and composer of military music. His famous marches include "Preußens Gloria" ("Prussia's Glory") and the "Königgrätzer Marsch" (composed after the Battle of Königgratz, 1866, the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War).

Reportedly, during a parade near Vienna on July 31, 1866 held by the victorious Prussians, Piefke and his brother Rudolf were conducting a marching band, to which the defeated Austrians responded by shouting, "The Piefkes are coming!" Subsequently, the word Piefke became a synonym for a German (excluding German citizens of the Southern Bundesländer such as Bavaria). See also: Kraut.

The term is still widely used by Austrians to express their love-hate relationship with the Germans, who are an important factor in tourism. In 1990, Austrian playwright Felix Mitterer wrote and co-directed a TV mini-series, Die Piefke-Saga, about Germans on holiday in Tirol.

Piefke's "Königgrätzer Marsch" can be heard playing during the book burning scene in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It was known as Hitler's favorite march and was often played during his public appearances.

Download "Königgrätzer Marsch" http://www.liedertafel.business.t-online.de/Koeniggraetzer_Marsch.htm

Download "Preußens Gloria" http://www.liedertafel.business.t-online.de/Preussens_Gloria.htm