Protestgesang und verbotener Klang. „Alsang“ und „Lili Marleen“ in Kopenhagen 1940-1943

Abstract

Singing was a means of protest in Second World War Copenhagen after the German occupation in 1940. On the one hand public common singing in masses (Alsang) was used in the process of creating identity and strengthening Danish nationality. On the other hand protest against the Nazis was articulated directly in songs and their parodies, which were transmitted by underground movements. One of them was “Lili Marleen” which turned from a hit song of comfort into a satirical song against the German leading politicians. Alsang and “Lili Marleen” arose especially from war, control, and the loss of freedom. Both had different musical sounds which fulfilled Copenhagen temporarily with music as a means to cope with the situation.