|
“Fester Schritt” has a confusing pedigree. The original melody
was created for a different camp anthem, “Buchenwaldlied,” written in Buchenwald
in 1938 by Hermann Leopoldi (1888-1959). This song spread to other camps; the
former Treblinka functionary Franz Suchomel testifies in Lanzmann’s film that
deputy Kommandant Kurt Franz brought it to Treblinka from Buchenwald. Suchomel
also states that Franz himself wrote the new text for Treblinka; other sources
however attribute the text to Walter Hirsch. I accept Hirsch as the author, and
also believe Artur Gold’s contribution was limited to arranging the song for the
Treblinka orchestra. (As you know, non-musicians often confuse arranger,
performer and composer.) My sources are Suchomel’s testimony in “Shoah” (he
sings the song in the film, and afterwards claims “No Jew knows that today!”)
The USHMM also has a music manuscript of this song from a survivor; again, the
melody is identical to “Buchenwaldlied,” and, again, this manuscript credits the
words to Walter Hirsch.
Finally, I’d neglected to mention earlier that the
survivor (and memoirist) who had sent us the written-out melody was Samuel
Willenberg.
I’d call
these text-variants rather than separate or additional verses. (But if I had to
choose, I’d take version 1 which better fits the “Buchenwaldlied” melody.) The
most complete version I’ve seen was collected by Aleksander Kulisiewicz for a
chapter on Treblinka that was mysteriously dropped from the final draft of his
unpublished book.
Here it is,
for your files (source: USHMM Kulisiewicz Collection, Treblinka Folder,
RG-55.003*107):
Note:
Kulisiewicz lays out the text as 4 verses; I’ve reformatted these to correspond
to the source Buchenwald poem. (Also note that the two long stanzas appear to
be alternative versions, or variants of each other!)
Fester Schritt und Tritt, und der Blick g’rade aus,
Immer mutig und treu, in der Welt geschaut.
Marschieren Kolonen zur Arbeit.
D’rum sind wir in Treblinka
Dass unser Schicksal ist ta-ra-ra!
D’rum sind wir in Treblinka
Und gestellt in kurzer Frist.
Wir hören auf den Ton des Kommandanten
Und folgen ihm auf den Winkt
Wir gehen jeden Tritt und Schritt zusammen
Für alles was die Pflicht von uns verlangt. (x2)
D’rum sind wir in Treblinka
Dass unser Schicksal ist ta-ra-ra!
D’rum sind wir in Treblinka
Und gestellt in kurzer Frist.
Die Arbeit soll alles hier bedeuten
Und auch Gehorsamkeit un Pflicht
Bis das keine Blick gibt einmal ein Wink. Ho, ha! (x2)
Bret Werb, USHMM, to the curator of an exhibition on "Music in
Occupied Poland" |
Karsten Troyke's CD contains not yet published Yiddish songs, kept by Sara
Bialas-Tenenberg. The songs are inspired with Polish-Russian soul and a
touch of Kletzmer. The Treblinka song is told and sung by Sara Stefania
Sliwka, today Sara Bialas-Tenenberg.