Der Füsilier II

Kanonenfieber's song "Der Füsilier II" paints a harrowing picture of the brutal realities faced by soldiers during wartime, specifically in the context of World War I. The lyrics describe the dire conditions in Przemysl, where troops are already lost, and thousands have frozen to death. The imagery of soldiers allowing themselves to be snowed in, never to awaken, or exposing themselves to enemy fire to end their suffering, underscores the extreme desperation and hopelessness experienced on the front lines.

The song vividly portrays the agony of wounded comrades who perish slowly in the ice, their bodies eventually claimed by wolves. The notions of pride and honor are shattered in the harsh environment of mountain warfare. The recurring theme of marching forward through the storm, step by step, deep in the snow, highlights the relentless struggle for survival. Each man tries to escape the madness in his own way, but the frost ultimately provides the final escort for the dead, encasing them in an icy shroud.

The lyrics also touch on the devastating tactics of scorched earth, leaving nothing but ash and rubble in their wake. The soldiers, deprived of refuge and sustenance, are left to scavenge for frozen turnips, their nails broken from desperate digging. The protagonist's longing for home, for his wife and child, is a poignant reminder of the personal sacrifices made by those on the battlefield. Despite the cold seeping into their very bones, they press on, driven by a sense of duty and the faint hope of returning home. The song concludes with the soldier dreaming of his family, frozen in the ice, a tragic symbol of the ultimate cost of war.