German Warship Blasts Star Wars Imperial March
In a time that was not too long ago in a country kind of far, far away… a Star Wars-loving German warship commander with a sense of humor made some waves with one little viral moment that created a stir in London. In August 2024, the German warship Braunschweig cruised down the River Thames while blasting the iconic Star Wars song, “The Imperial March,” by John Williams and London Symphony Orchestra, used as the infamous and iconic theme of Darth Vader, perhaps one of the greatest movie villains of all-time. Although loudly playing a song that is synonymous with the Galactic Empire, a regime that is hellbent on ruling with an iron fist and squashing any resistance, Germany has assured everyone that it was all in good fun.
On August 19, the Braunschweig was traveling along the River Thames in the heart of London while on a standard training and resupply mission, on a route that the German Navy had only used once before throughout its storied history, when a bystander happened to film the German warship playing the famous Star Wars theme through the ship’s speaker. First introduced in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader’s theme song, “The Imperial March,” has since become a part of pop culture, often referring to an ominous event or person.
When the bystander’s video of the German warship blasting Star Wars music hit the internet, it quickly became viral, spreading throughout much of Europe before Germany was forced to issue a brief statement regarding the matter.
With a warship playing a theme song that is often interpreted as a harbinger of bad news, it was only a matter of time before context was sorely needed to prevent any unwarranted panic from starting. When the bystander’s video of the German warship blasting Star Wars music hit the internet, it quickly became viral, spreading throughout much of Europe before Germany was forced to issue a brief statement regarding the matter. “The commander can choose the music freely,” the German Navy said in an August 22 statement. “The choice of music has no deeper message.”
The design of the stormtroopers and their functions draw heavy inspiration from Hitler’s military, especially his own bodyguards, which were referred to as Sturmabteilung, or storm department.
Attempting to further explain the situation, the German embassy briefly detailed the history of the German warship commander, who just so happened to be a big Star Wars and John Williams fan. “He chooses a different Williams tune whenever his ship is visiting a foreign harbor,” the embassy said in its statement. Despite its somewhat boisterous entry into London, the Braunschweig made a much more subdued exit when it was pulled down the River Thames by a tugboat.
Coincidentally, Star Wars creator George Lucas modeled the look and theme of the Galactic Empire to closely resemble fascist regimes such as Nazi Germany. According to Star Wars and History by Nancy R. Reagin and Janice Leidl, the relationship between Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine was based on the real life relationship of SS leader Heinrich Himmler’s relationship with Adolf Hitler. Additionally, the overall mission of the Empire closely resembles the goals and even style of the Nazi regime.
Although loudly playing a song that is synonymous with the Galactic Empire, a regime that is hellbent on ruling with an iron fist and squashing any resistance, Germany has assured everyone that it was all in good fun.
Much of the aesthetic choices of the Galactic Empire closely resemble the Nazi regime. The design of the stormtroopers and their functions draw heavy inspiration from Hitler’s military, especially his own bodyguards, which were referred to as Sturmabteilung, or storm department. With the similarities between the Nazi regime and the Galactic Empire, it makes perfect sense as to why Germany wished to clear to air regarding the German warship’s Star Wars style entry, even if it was all in good fun.
