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FAMOUS SONGS |
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C H A P T E R VII
" DIE WACHT AM RHEIN," " DIE SCHWERTLIED," " KUTSCHKE LIED," AND OTHER GERMAN SONGS
MOST of the National (historical) German songs date from the time during which the German States were under the heel of the great Napo-leon, or had just emancipated themselves—that is, from 1805 to 1814. As is well known, from the earliest ages Germany was cut up into many provinces ruled by different princes and barons, and subject to varying and far from satisfactory laws. These separate states were constantly at war with each other, and con-sequently dissensions were ever rife. There were to be considered the conflicting and mighty powers of Austria and Prussia, and the lesser ones of Bavaria, Wurtemberg, and Saxony. Then followed Westphalia, Hesse-Darmstadt, Mecklenburg, and a vast number of other principalities more or less turbulent, and dissatisfied with the ruling of the petty princes and the controlling of the Great Powers. And it was not until the repulse of Napoleon
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