Original 1943 German Handwritten “Die Polenhochzeit” Polish Wedding Folk Song Manuscript

Offered here is a fascinating original handwritten German manuscript dated 1943, titled:

“Die Polenhochzeit!” — “The Polish Wedding!”

Written across both sides of a large folded sheet, the manuscript contains an extensive 35-verse version of a German comic folk/parody song concerning the wedding of Katinka and Stanislaus.

This is particularly interesting because Die Polenhochzeit circulated in numerous regional and oral versions rather than as one fixed text. The LWL Volkskundearchiv preserves later-collected versions under the same title and classifies the material as a Scherzlied / parody with a secular background. Its recorded versions contain many of the same characters, wedding scenes, drinking, dancing, fighting and comic ending found in this manuscript.

The manuscript begins with Katinka and Stanislaus celebrating their wedding and continues through the procession, church ceremony, pastor, organist, wedding feast, music and dancing. Later verses describe herring, beer, schnapps, musicians, the wedding dance and an increasingly chaotic celebration that develops into a fight before the wedding finally ends.

Of special importance is the handwritten “1943” date at the top, placing this particular copy firmly in the WWII period.

The reverse contains the final verses as well as an additional handwritten note indicating that the writer was passing along this Polenhochzeit because it was quite interesting and that it had been obtained from a girl.

The sheet shows extensive genuine use, having been repeatedly folded and apparently carried or stored for a long period. Several old repairs with tape are present along the folds, together with separation/tears, edge losses, toning, stains and general handling wear. Despite this, the extensive handwritten text remains remarkably legible.

An unusual piece of WWII-era German folk culture and handwritten social history, especially interesting because surviving examples of informal songs and verses often existed outside formally printed publications.

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