Großes Tanzorchester Adalbert Lutter - Adua ("Schön ist´s bei den Soldaten"), Germany 1937

Telefunken A 2419
In 1896, Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II inflicted a crushing defeat on an Italian invasion army under General Baratieri near the northern Ethiopian city of Adua, securing Ethiopian independence for the next 40 years - Ethiopia was one of only three African countries then, along with Liberia and Morocco, that were not subject to any kind of colonial regime at that time. For the aspiring colonial power Italy, this defeat was morally devastating and as a result there were repeated calls for “revenge for Adua”. So when, right in the beginning of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, Mussolini´s troops occupied the (barely defended) city on October 6, 1935, this was celebrated with a major propaganda campaign in Italy. On this occasion, the composer Dino Olivieri wrote a marching song with the title "Adua". A German-language version was soon released under the title "Schön ist´s bei den Soldaten" ("It's beautiful with the soldiers"), which, funnily, became a big dance hit in Germany in a foxtrot version, without the somewhat stupid text. In fact, the melody is quite a catchy tune, and even though its purpose was originally to celebrate a brutal, racist colonial war that was partly even fought with mustard gas, I have to admit that I just like the piece for its musical qualities.