User:UltimaGecko/gruss an kiel

Gruss an Kiel (Alternative German: Gruß an Kiel; English: Greetings to Kiel) is a German military marching song. Due to its title Gruss an Kiel became a popular naval marching song, since Kiel has long functioned as a major naval port in Germany.

The march was composed in 1864 by Saxon military musician Friedrich Spohr. During the Second Schleswig War Saxony had sent a contingent to the north to take part in the campaign. During the soldiers' entrance into Kiel the march was played publically for the first time. The song quickly increased in popularity--particularly from 1890 onwards, when Emperor Wilhelm II began a massive expansion of the German fleet.

In Switzerland the same music accompanied by tambourines is knows as the Zofinger Marsch (named after the city of Zofingen).