Oath of Loyalty

Every Soldat took this oath when he began his service to the Reich. It marked the true beginning of his service and time as a soldier. At the bottom of the page is a translation into English, so that you may see just what the oath says.

Included also, is a .wav file recording of the oath--simply click to play! Then you may follow along with the text.

A note on the recording: It says "Wilhelm dem Ersten," i.e. Wilhelm I, but other than that, the oath is the same. The file is not very big, so it shouldn't take long to play--well worth it!

Wortlaut des Fahneneides
Der Eid lautet für Preußen:

Ich (Vor- und Zunahme) schwöre zu Gott dem Allwissenden und Allmächtigen einen leiblichen Eid, daß ich Seiner Majestät dem Könige von Preußen, Wilhelm dem Zweiten, meinem Allergnädigsten Landesherrn, in allen und jeden Vorfällen, zu Lande und zu Wasser, in Kriegs- und Friedenszeiten, und an welchen Orten es immer sei, getreu und redlich dienen, Allerhöchstdero Nutzen und Bestes befördern, Schaden und Nachteil aber abwenden, die mir vorgelesenen Kriegsartikel und die mir erteilten Vorschriften und Befehle genau befolgen und mich so betragen will, wie es einem rechtschaffenen, unverzagten, pflicht- und ehrliebenden Soldaten eignet und gebührt.«

Christen schließen: »So wahr mir Gott helfe und sein heiliges Evangelium.«

Israeliten: »So wahr mir Gott helfe.«

Translation of the
Oath of Loyalty
For Prussians*, the oath is as follows:

"I (first and last name) swear to God the omniscient and omnipotent a corporal oath to the effect that I will loyally and forthrightly serve His Majesty Wilhelm the Second, King of Prussia, in every and any instance, at land and at sea, in war and in peace, and at any location; that I will promote His Exalted Majesty's advantage and interests, but deflect harm and detriment; that I will follow to the letter the articles of war read to me and the regulations and orders issued to me; and that I will deport myself as suits and befits an upright, dauntless, duty- and honor-loving soldier."

Christian Soldaten close as follows: "With the help of God and His holy gospel."

Jewish Soldaten: "With the help of God."

* The oath is sworn not to the German Kaiser, but rather to the swearer's territorial sovereign or commander-in-chief (for example, Bavarians would swear to the King of Bavaria, not to the King of Prussia).
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This page last updated: Montag, 21. April 2008/01:53:44
©1997-2008, M. Wise--Please just ASK before using anything on this site.
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