Vorwärts! Vorwärts! schmettern die hellen Fanfaren (Forward! Forward! blare the bright fanfares) was a marching song of the Hitler Youth, which was also known as their banner song. The song is also known by its chorus Unsere Fahne flattert uns voran (Our flag flutters before us).
The text of the song published in 1933 comes from Baldur von Schirach, on a melody by UFA composer Hans-Otto Borgmann which had originally been used in a documentary on Svalbard island. The marching song was first performed in the 1933 propaganda film Hitlerjunge Quex. Motifs from the song are used throughout the film, underlying representations of the Hitler Youth, in contrast to The Internationale and jazz motifs underlying scenes from the socialist "commune".[1]
During the Second World War the refrain of the song was integrated into the march of the SS-Panzer Division Hitler Youth.
The song is prohibited in Germany under section 86a of the Strafgesetzbuch.
In Austria, similar provisions apply pursuant to Section 3 of the Prohibition Act 1947.