The island of Borkum

Borkum, located in the Leer District of Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany, is both an island and a municipality. Positioned to the east of Rottumeroog and west of Juist, Borkum was historically known for its exclusionary policies towards Jewish visitors. The island proudly declared itself as "the one spot on earth from which Jews are banished." This discriminatory stance was a result of a concerted effort by German locals to maintain Borkum as a destination free from Jewish presence. 

The Lied has lines like this:

On Borkum's beach only Germanness applies.
Only German is the standard.
We keep the Germania shield of honor for and for!
But anyone who approaches you with flat feet,
with a crooked nose and curled hair,
should not Enjoy your beach, he has to go out! He has to go out!
Out!"

This anti-Semitic sentiment became widely recognized, thanks in part to the infamous "Borkum Lied" (Borkum song), particularly its concluding verse. This verse disparagingly stated that individuals with "flat feet, crooked noses, and curly hair" (mit platten Füßen, mit Nasen krumm und Haaren kraus) were unwelcome on the beach and should be told to leave (der muß hinaus! der muß hinaus! Hinaus!).

A disturbing tradition developed on the island where the local orchestra would play this song at the conclusion of their performances, and the audience would enthusiastically join in. Postcards featuring depictions of Germans singing with raised hands and glasses in hand, while Jews with "Nasen krumm und Haaren kraus" were turned away at the gate, further propagated this hateful message.

 

In the midst of this controversy, in mid-1924, the island and its divisive song became the epicenter of a political dispute. The Prussian socialist Minister of the Interior, Severing, prohibited the band from playing the song. The regional chief magistrate in Emden, Socialist Bobert, issued an ordinance enforcing the minister's decision. However, in response, the regional court of Emden ruled that anyone obstructing the performance of the song would face hefty fines of 100,000 Goldmarks. 

 
Subsequently, as the performances continued, the chief magistrate removed a hotel manager from his position. The Prussian government, in turn, announced its intention to take action against the regional court. Defiantly, the local authorities in Borkum appointed Nazi Reichstag member Henning, who enjoyed parliamentary immunity, as the new Kurverwalter. Henning's first order was to instruct the band to continue playing the controversial song.

 
While Henning remained immune from arrest, other officials and band members were bound by official directives. Interior Minister Severing further imposed fines of 100 Goldmarks on the local council of Borkum each time the song was played. In a defiant response, a new composition called the "Borkum Trutz Lied" was introduced. This song was played instead of the banned "Borkum Lied," followed by the crowd singing the forbidden song itself without the accompaniment of the band.

 
It was later reported that a local pro-Nazi preacher named Münchmeyer organized a group of children, aged nine to fourteen, who roamed the streets playing and singing the prohibited song. Due to their age, the children could not be arrested. They also staged performances in local restaurants but were turned away from the train station, an official government installation.

 
In May 1925, the higher court of Prussia, led by a former minister of the nationalist DVP party, overturned the minister's decision regarding the fines. Consequently, the band was allowed to play the original song, although singing its words remained prohibited. This, however, did not deter the crowd, as they continued to defiantly sing the song themselves, unperturbed by official restrictions.