Sieg Heil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sieg Heil is a German phrase, which literally means "Hail [to] Victory." During the Nazi era, it was a common chant at political rallies. When meeting someone, it was customary in Nazi Germany to give the Hitler salute and say the words "Heil Hitler". "Sieg Heil" was reserved for mass meetings such as the ones at Nuremberg where "Sieg Heil" was shouted in unison by thousands. Often a Nazi official would shout into a microphone "Sieg" and the crowd would answer with "Heil," and there might be several repetitions of this at times in ever-increasing volume. At such rallies there was often a display of banners carrying the slogan "Sieg Heil" along with the swastika. The NSDAP (Nazi Party) made a pin badge in 1933 displaying a victory wreath, the Swastika, and the words "Sieg Heil".
The expression itself was born during a party meeting, when Joseph Goebbels said "Sieg heil" and all supported the phrase (however an early associate of Hitler, Ernst Hanfstaengl, claimed to have devised it). Since Nazism argued that war was a way to determine the superior race and that Germans were that superior race, hailing war was to hail the struggle that would eliminate all others and establish, in a social Darwinist manner, the "New Order."
Saying the phrase in Germany today is a criminal offence punishable by up to three years of prison (StGB, section 86a). The same is true for expressions that might be mistaken for "Sieg Heil". Usage for art, teaching and science purposes is exempt from punishment.
[edit] Cultural references
- "Carry on England", one of the lines is "Sieg Heil Smelly!" insulting Cpt. S. Melly
- Der Fuehrer's Face, a Disney propaganda film, mocks this Nazi slogan.
- In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the corrupt merchant who has been spying on Indiana Jones raises his hand and shouts the slogan to reassure Gestapo debriefers who suddenly appear in his premises. His pet monkey does likewise.
- In the anime Mobile Suit Gundam, the Principality of Zeon, the style of which reflects Nazi inspiration, uses the phrase "Sieg Zeon," though in some English translations this has been changed to "Hail Zeon."
- In the manga Hellsing, the neo-Nazi organization Millennium shouts "Sieg Heil" when saluting their dying comrade Rip Van Winkle.
- In the Sealab 2021 episode "Frozen Dinner" the German submarine commander shouts "Sieg Heil" and fires his Luger. The subtitles translate this into "Victory Welfare" (SIC!).
- In the first track (Overture) of the Über Alles album by Hanzel und gretyl a sample of "Zieg Heil" is heard against a highly distorted speech. The whole album is a satire of totalitarian regimes with a strong use of Nazi symbols.
- On Green Day's album "American Idiot" the song "Holiday" contains the line, "Zieg [sic] heil to the President Gasman / Bombs away is your punishment."
- The Sun newspaper reported that Millwall F.C. sung 'Sieg Heil', during a Millwall v Brighton Match at The New Den. Millwall denied this, and said they were mocking Brighton's chant of "Seagulls".
- The Demoniac song 'Myths of Metal' contains the line 'Hitler Metal, Sieg Heil!'. The interpretation of the lyrics is questionable.
- At some midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, "Sieg Heil" is yelled by members of the audience upon hearing Frank's say "or should I say, Dr. Von Scott?" The next callback, in response to Brad's line: "Just what exactly are you implying?" is "He's a fucking Nazi! But it's okay, he got cleared at Nuremberg."[citation needed]
- Reagan Youth's self-titled song's chorus is "We are Reagan Youth, Heil! Heil! Heil! Reagan Youth, Heil! Heil! Heil! Reagan Youth, Sieg Heil!". Their intention was to draw the audience's attention to the perceived parallels between the policies of Ronald Reagan and those of the extreme right-wing.
- "Sieg Howdy" Is the name of a collaborative album between Jello Biafra and The Melvins.
- In Transamerica featuring Felcity Huffman and Kevin Zegers, Huffman's character, Bree Osbourne's sister, who is apparently Jewish, says Sieg Heil as a reference to the overpowering, hypocritical nature of Bree's mother.
[edit] Imitations
- Other regimes modelled on Nazi-Germany had similar salutes, such as the Ustaše's "Za dom - spremni!" or Hlinka Guard's "Na stráž!".
- The New Zealand Mongrel Mob - a criminal gang - mis-spelled the phrase as "Seig Heil", now adopting the incorrectly spelled phrase for their gang slogan.
