The ‘Horst Wessel Song’ was the theme song of the Nazi party. According to §86a of the German penal code, the song falls under ‘emblems of unconstitutional organizations’ and must not be disseminated in the Federal Republic of Germany. The law applies not only to the voiced song but also to the melody. It is a little known fact that singing the melody was also punishable, in some cases, as early as in the Third Reich. In 1933 Mauthe produced this musical alarm clock that played the melody of the ‘Horst Wessel Song’. However, because of the law for the ‘protection of national symbols’, the Trade Board in Stuttgart prohibited the sale of the clock. The ‘Horst Wessel Song’ was not to be downgraded to an alarm tone.
The swastika that was originally atop this alarm clock was later removed. However, the tones of the music box remained.
Are they at all capable of expressing the mentality within?
Alarm clock with musical movement, Mauthe, Schwenningen, likely 1933, Inv. 2016-50