Wildgänse rauschen durch die Nacht [German war poem][+English translation]

Wildgänse rauschen durch die Nacht (Wild geese rush through the night) is a war poem by Walter Flex. It was published in 1917 in his poem book Im Felde zwischen Nacht und Tag (In the (battle) field between day and night). The poem was also part of his 1916 novel Der Wanderer zwischen beiden Welten (The wanderer between both worlds). The lyrics got popular through an adaption in a song created by Robert Götz. Götz tune did exist as early as 1916 but the Wild Geese song found a widespread recognition by usage in the Wandervogel movement / Bündische Jugend society during the late 1920s. The tragic lyrics pose an interesting contrast to the marching tune which found adoption in other societies as well. Apart from national Studentenverbindung fraternities it is a traditional song in the Austrian and German army. The song is also popular in the French army in its French version “Les Oies Sauvages“. The version of the French Foreign Legion has also overtaken the first stan