Schlager singer Heino performed a solidarity concert in Bad Belzig for firefighter Richard Münder, who was dismissed over a dispute about playing the first stanza of the Deutschlandlied. Around 800 cheering spectators attended the 87-year-old's show as part of his «Made in Germany» tour.
Heino performed on Saturday before around 800 spectators in the spa town of Bad Belzig, Brandenburg. The additional concert supported Richard Münder, a local firefighter dismissed by the fire brigade association. The incident occurred at last year's German Firefighting Sports Championships in Torgau, Saxony, where the first stanza of the Deutschlandlied was played.
Heino's manager Helmut Werner said the show aimed to highlight Münder's need for a second chance. He rejected claims of Heino's right-wing leanings: «Heino has called for an AfD ban, was formerly an SPD voter, and campaigned for the CDU. What does Heino have to do with the right? Just because he sings folk songs?»
The stage featured a large eagle and Germany's flag colors. The audience danced to hits like «Rosamunde», «Karambo Karacho», «Blau blüht der Enzian», and the controversial «Layla». Many waved German flags or wore black-red-gold scarves, chanting «Heino».
Münder regretted the misunderstanding: «I refuse to be portrayed as solely responsible, as other organizational elements were also involved.» The disputed recording is Heino's 1970s version with all three stanzas, requested by then-Baden-Württemberg premier Hans Filbinger (CDU).
The Deutschlandlied was penned in 1841 by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, misused propagandistically by the Nazis, and recognized officially in its third stanza as the national anthem since 1952.
