Lots of black, red and gold: Heino cheered after anthem dispute

Vocal version of Heino from the 70s leads to expulsion

What was behind the Heino concert after the dispute about the fireman? In August 2025, the historically controversial first verse of the Deutschlandlied ("Deutschland, Deutschland über alles") was sung instead of the national anthem at the German Firefighting Championships in Torgau in northern Saxony. It was the controversial version of Heino's song that he recorded in the 1970s with all three verses - at the request of Baden-Württemberg's Minister President and former Nazi naval judge Hans Filbinger (CDU).

Firefighter speaks of "right-wing extremism stamp"

Firefighter competition judge Münder says he found the version on YouTube as the first hit and downloaded it for the opening of the championship. After the mistake, he feels he was treated unfairly and discredited by the sanctions imposed by the firefighters' association. "They tried to put a right-wing extremist stamp on me," says Münder. He rejects such suspicions.

"I regret that this misunderstanding has come about," says Münder, who is wearing the T-shirt from the firefighting championships in Torgau 2025 at the concert. But he refuses to accept that he alone is to blame for this, "because other organizational elements are also involved".

Heino's manager explains to dpa: "It wasn't right for us that this Germany song was played at this federal firefighting competition." Later on stage, he also says to the celebrating concertgoers that the Deutschlandlied has not been banned to this day.

An anthem with a dark past

The "Song of the Germans" was written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1841. However, it was misused by the National Socialists as propaganda for their claim to great power. In 1952, at the request of Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (CDU), the then Federal President Theodor Heuss (FDP) agreed to recognize part of the Deutschlandlied as the national anthem. This consists solely of the third verse with the words "Unity and justice and freedom".

A lot of black, red and gold on and off stage is part of the concert by Heino, who sings "Schwarzbraun ist die Haselnuss" as an encore. Some of the men in Bad Belzig also chanted "East Germany, East Germany" several times.

Heino manager speaks of "clueless illiterates"

In response to questions about accusations that Heino is right-wing, his manager argued that Heino had spoken out in favor of a ban on the AfD, had previously been an SPD voter and had then campaigned for the CDU in election campaigns. "What does Heino have to do with the right? Just because he sings folk songs? I think these people who say that are clueless illiterates."

Dispute between firefighter and association continues

Firefighter Münder waves a German flag at the end of the concert. His name rings out in loud chants as he is presented with Heino merchandise in front of the stage. "I think that about half the audience here today is made up of fellow firefighters from the German firefighting sports scene who support me," says Münder.

In future, the competition judge wants to organize annual championships in a new firefighting sports community that he co-founded - to the displeasure of the state firefighting association. The president fears that this will divide the firefighting world.

Even Heino does not meet with enthusiasm everywhere in Bad Belzig, southwest of Berlin. Under the motto "Brightly colored is the hazelnut", some people are celebrating a "party for diversity" that evening.

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