Heino supports firefighters: concert in Bad Belzig on March 28th!

Heino supports firefighters: concert in Bad Belzig on March 28th!

What's going on in Bad Belzig? The popular folk musician Heino has announced an additional concert in the Albert Baur multi-purpose hall for March 28, 2026, and not without reason. He is standing up for firefighter Richard Münder, who was dismissed from his position because of a scandal during the German Fire Brigade Championships in Torgau in August 2023. During this incident, the first verse of the Deutschlandlied was played, which is historically charged and has no longer been considered the national anthem since 1991. Heino sympathizes with Münder and calls for a “second chance” for the dismissed firefighter, who comes from Bad Belzig in Brandenburg, and thus a clear statement against the excessive punishment of the German Fire Brigade Association.

The championships in Torgau were accompanied by a huge outcry when the first verse of the song was played instead of the third verse, which is officially considered the national anthem. This resulted in Münder, the main competition judge, being relieved of his functions. He himself described the circumstances as an organizational failure and said he felt he was being treated unfairly. He had previously downloaded the audio recording that he chose to play from YouTube and assumed that it would not violate applicable law.

Heino sets an example

Heino, who recorded the complete version of the Deutschlandlied for school purposes in 1978, sees the reaction to the incident as a “constructed scandal”. In his Instagram post, the 86-year-old called for a reassessment of the situation and invited Münder to his concert. Heino's manager emphasized that the punishment was excessive and that the firefighter deserved a second chance. Heino is supported in this view by many firefighters who support his opinion.

The concert itself will be part of Heino's “Made in Germany” tour. In addition to the third verse of the national anthem, which he will present that evening, Heino also plans to sing the Brandenburg anthem “Märkische Heide”. Tickets are available on the websites heino.de and reservix.de and promise to be a highlight in local music culture.

A look at the background

Although the other verses of the Deutschlandlied are not officially banned, they are subject to great reservations due to their use during the Nazi era. Heino changed his musical direction to present only the third verse as part of his tour, which is accepted for today's use. It remains to be seen what the reactions to the concert and the accompanying discussions about the Deutschlandlied and the role of the fireman will be.

Preparations for the concert in Bad Belzig are in full swing, and both Heino and his fans are optimistic. “It is time to set an example for solidarity and fair treatment of one another,” said Heino in another statement. This means that the situation remains in the foreground and ensures lively discussions among the residents and beyond.

Local supporters see this concert not only as a musical highlight, but also as a social opportunity to raise an important issue. Rumors of further surprises at the performance persist. Perhaps Bad Belzig is on its way to becoming the center of attention not only geographically but also culturally.