Coordinates	29°25′″N98°30′″N
Unit name	German Army ''Deutsches Heer''
Country	Federal Republic of Germany
Role	Land force
Dates	1955–present
Size	76,500 professionals and conscripts
Current commander	Lieutenant General Werner Freers
Decorations	Badge of Honour of the BundeswehrMilitary Proficiency BadgeBadge of MarksmanshipService MedalFlood Service Medal
Motto	To protect, help, moderate, and fight ''Schützen, helfen, vermitteln, kämpfen''
Colors	Blue, Grey and White
Battles	United Nations Operations in Somalia Aftermath of the Balkan Wars 1995-1999Kosovo War War in Afghanistan
Notable commanders	General Ulrich de Maizière General Ernst Ferber, COMAFCENT 1973–1975 Lieutenant General Jörg Schönbohm, later Undersecretary of Defense
Anniversaries	November 12, 1955 }}

The German Army (, ''Heer'' pronounced ) is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the ''Wehrmacht'' after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the ''Bundesheer'', part of the newly-formed West German ''Bundeswehr'' along with the Navy and the Air Force. In the aftermath of the German reunification of 1990, the National People's Army of the former German Democratic Republic was integrated into the (West) German Army.

History

Overview

Since Germany first became a modern unified state in 1871, previous names of German unified ground forces have included:

1871–1919 ''Kaiserlich Deutsches Heer'' or Imperial German Army, part of Imperial Forces (''Reichsheer'' was also used)

1921-1935 ''Reichsheer'' or National Army, part of the ''Reichswehr''

1935–1945 ''Heer'' or Army, part of the ''Wehrmacht''

1956–1990 ''Landstreitkräfte'', ground forces of East German ''Nationale Volksarmee''

1955–present ''Deutsches Heer'' or German Army, part of the ''Bundeswehr''

Pre-1914

After the reform movement of the Prussian Army following a series of disastrous defeats at the hands of her enemies in the 18th century, internal analysis of the lessons learned had informed Prussian civilian and military leadership that, while individual soldiers were first rate, command structures, staff organisation and generalship was a hit-and-miss affair, more dependent on the martial skills of the King and the individual members of the German nobility who dominated the military profession. Too often, military talent was brought together only after the Nation faced a crisis. There was little effective organizational work in between wars. The rise of the German General Staff, an institution that sought to institutionalize military excellence, brought the German Army back from years of atrophy and the humiliation of Napoleon's capture of Berlin. With membership in the officer corps extended to all qualified German-speaking men via national examinations, the improved education of the military schools, and selection from the top 1% graduates of the Kriegsakademie, a new class of top-notch leaders arose, and the German Army was set on a course for near-total dominance in Europe.

Following the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo the Prussian Kingdom had years of military successes in the 19th and 20th centuries. Every able bodied man between the ages of 17 and 45 was liable for military service. There were 4 classes of service - Active (Aktiv), Reserve, Landwehr and Landsturm. The ''Landwehr'' and ''Landsturm'' were only called up at times of war. The basic unit of the army at this time was the Regiment. Regiments were typically raised and supported by a specific city or region. Each regiment was then stationed near its home city. The Reserve regiment was often made up of past members of the local regiment. The ''Landwehr'' and ''Landsturm'' units were also organized the same way. An individual could spend all 22 years of military service surrounded by friends and family. While this system created close ties within regiments, it also meant that the entire population of young men from a city or region could be wiped out in one battle.

===World War I 1914–1918===

The German Army that fought in World War I was not a truly single, unified army. Before unification, each monarchy (for example, the Great Dukedoms of Hesse and Baden) had its own army. The unification of Germany in January 1871 and the formation of the German Empire brought most of them under the command of the Prussian army, which became the nucleus of the Armies of the German Empire (''Deutsches Reichsheer''), though each continued to wear its own uniforms and insignias. Furthermore, the four German kingdoms that existed after the Napoleonic era - Bavaria, Prussia, Saxony and Württemberg - kept their own armies until the end of WWI. The peacetime commander-in-chief of each army was its king. After the declaration of war, the emperor (''Kaiser'') became the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces.

In 1914 the German army fielded 50 active divisions and 48 in reserve. By 1918, the number of divisions had risen to a total of 251.

Reichswehr 1918–1935

Following the end of World War I and the collapse of the German Empire, most of the German Army (''Heer'') was demobilized or simply dissolved. Many former soldiers drifted into small paramilitary groups known as Free Corps (''Freikorps''). The Free Corps were generally groups of 100 men or fewer that protected a neighbourhood or town.

On 6 March 1919 an army known as the Provisional German Defence Force (''Vorläufige Reichswehr'') was formed with about 400,000 men, many drawn from the Free Corps. On 30 September that same year, the Transitional Army (''Übergangsheer'') was created from the Defence Force and the Free Corps.

Finally, on 1 January 1921 the 100,000 man Army of the Weimar Republic (''Reichswehr'') was formed with seven Infantry Divisions and three Cavalry Divisions. It was troops from the Army of the Weimar Republic who crushed Adolf Hitler's Munich Beer Hall Putsch in November 1923.

Heer 1935–1945

Under the Treaty of Versailles, the ''Reichswehr'' was only allowed 100,000 men split between the Army and the Navy. Following the 1932 German elections the Nazi Party came to power and began to abrogate the treaty. The Army was made part of the ''Wehrmacht'' in May 1935 with the passing of the "Law for the Reconstruction of the National Defence Forces". The ''Wehrmacht'' included not just the Army and Navy but also a third branch known as the ''Luftwaffe''. Initially, the Army was expanded to 21 divisional-sized units and smaller formations. Between 1935 and 1945 this force grew to consist of hundreds of divisions and thousands of smaller supporting units. Between 1939 and 1945 close to 16 million served in the Army. Over 3 million were killed and over 4.1 million were wounded. Of the 7,361 men awarded the initial grade of the highest German combat honor of World War II, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, 4,777 were from the Army, making up 65% of the total awarded. The Allies dissolved the German Army on 20 August 1946.

Cold War and the 1990s

The ''Heer'' was founded in 1955 as the army of West Germany. After 1990, it absorbed the army of socialist East Germany, a part of the Nationale Volksarmee. The former East German forces were initially commanded by the Bunderwehr Command East under command of Lieutenant General Jörg Schönbohm and disbanded on 30 June 1991. In the aftermath of the merger, the German Army consisted of four Corps with a manpower of 360,000 men. It was continuously downsized from this point. In 1996, an airborne brigade was converted into a new command leading the Army's special forces, known as the Kommando Spezialkräfte.

The 2001 onwards restructuring of the German Army saw it move to a seven division structure – 5 mechanized (each with two mechanized brigades), 1 special forces, and one airmobile.

In 2003, three Corps still existed, each including various combat formations and a maintenance brigade. I. German/Dutch Corps, a joint German-Netherlands organization, used to control in peacetime the 1st Panzer and 7th Panzer Divisions as well as Dutch formations. The 1st Panzer would have reported to the corps in wartime while the 7th would be posted to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. II Corps was German in peacetime but would have exchanged a division with the V U.S. Corps in time of war (the 5th Panzer). 5 Pz Division disbanded as of 30 June 2001. In peacetime it also commanded the 10th Panzer Division, which was allocated to Eurocorps and which parents the German half of the Franco-German Brigade. The 1st Mountain Division at Munich was also under this headquarters.

The IV Corps was headquartered at Potsdam in eastern Germany and controlled two Panzer-Grenadier Divisions, the 13th and 14th. The 14th Panzer-Grenadier Division also took control of units in Western Germany re-subordinated from the 6th Division when it lost its command function. It would have made up the German contribution to the Multinational Corps Northeast in time of war. IV Corps also used to have under its command the Military District Command I, the 1st Air Mechanised Brigade, and the Berlin Command ('Standortkommando').

Current army

All corps have now been disbanded or transferred to a multinational level such as Multinational Corps North East. IV. Corps was reorganized and became an overseas deployment command like the British Permanent Joint Headquarters.

Personnel

A total of 76,000 soldiers are currently on active service in the German Army. Of these, approximately are 15,000 - 20,000 are conscripts.

Current structure of the German Army

The German Army is commanded by the Chief of Staff, Army (Inspekteur des Heeres) based at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Berlin and Bonn. The major commands are the German Army Office in Cologne and the German Army Forces Command in Koblenz. In 2002 a number of army units and their personnel were transferred to the newly-formed Joint Support Service (''Streitkräftebasis'') and Joint Medical Service branches.

Chief of Staff, German Army

Lieutenant General Werner Freers

Army Staff at the Federal Ministry of Defence

German Army Office

The German Army Office in Cologne (Heeresamt) is the superior authority for all supporting elements of the Army, such as schools and education centres. It is commanded by a Major General, currently MajGen Joachim Clauß.

NBC Defence and Self-Protection School in Sonthofen

Military Police and Headquarters Services School in Sonthofen

Artillery School in Idar-Oberstein

Three Officer Candidate Battalions in Idar-Oberstein, Munster and Hammelburg

Special Operations Training Centre (formerly International Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol School) in Pfullendorf

Army Warfighting Simulation Centre in Wildflecken

Army Combat Training Centre in Letzlingen

Army Aviation School in Bückeburg

Training Centre Munster for

* Army Air Defence

* Armour

* Reconnaissance

Mountain and Winter Combat School in Mittenwald

Infantry School in Hammelburg

Airborne Operations and Air Transport School in Altenstadt

Army Officers' Academy in Dresden with Army Tactics Centre

Army NCO Academies (three at different locations)

Engineer School and Army School of Structural Engineering in Ingolstadt (formerly in Munich)

Army Maintenance School and Army School of Engineering in Aachen

German Army Forces Command

The German Army Forces Command in Koblenz (Heeresführungskommando) exercises command and control over all combat units. It is commanded by a Lieutenant General. These units include two armour divisions, two mechanized infantry divisions, the Division for Specialized Operations and the Airmobile Division. Depending on their size and role, brigades can be commanded either by a Brigadier General alike or a Colonel. Unlike other European armies such of neighbouring Netherlands and France, regiments are not a common form of organization and are thus rare in the German army. Battalions are most likely directly subordinate to brigades or to divisions as divisional troops.

40px Division Intervention Forces/ 1st Armoured Division (Hannover)

* Divisional troops

* 9th Armoured Brigade

* 21st Armoured Brigade "Lipperland"

40px 10th Armoured Division (Sigmaringen)

* Divisional troops

* 12th Armoured Brigade "Oberpfalz"

* 23rd Mountain Infantry Brigade "Bayern"

40px 13th Mechanized Infantry Division (Leipzig)

* Divisional troops

* 37th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Freistaat Sachsen"

* 41st Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Vorpommern"

40px Special Operations Division (Regensburg)

* Divisional troops

* Special Forces Command (brigade-equivalent)

* 26th Airborne Brigade "Saarland"

* 31st Airborne Brigade "Oldenburg"

40px Airmobile Operations Division (Veitshöchheim)

* Divisional troops

* Airmobile Brigade 1

* Army Combat Support Brigade

40px Eurocorps (Straßburg)

* ''Command Support Brigade''

* German elements in two permanent battalions and one staff company

40px 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps (Münster)

* German elements in two permanent battalions and one staff company

40px Multinational Corps North East (Stettin)

* 610th Signal Battalion

* German elements

Truppengattungen

The German Army has eleven different branches of troops, designated as ''Truppengattungen''. Each ''Truppengattung'' is responsible for training and readiness of its units and disposes of its own schools and centres of excellence for doing so. Optically this distinction can be made by the branch colour, called ''Waffenfarbe'' which is displayed by a cord attached to the rank insignia, and the colour of their beret with a specific badge attached to it.

Beret Colour (Army only)

Black: Armoured Corps, Reconnaissance Corps

Green: Mechanized Infantry and Rifles Corps

Dark Red: Aviation Corps, Airborne Corps, Special Forces, formations assigned to airborne division

Light Red: Combat Support Corps and Military Police

Dark Blue: Medical Corps

Navy Blue: Multinational Units, Officer Cadet Battalions, Navy and Air Force Security Units

Bright Blue: Troops with United Nations Missions

Waffenfarbe (Army and army support branch only)

Bright Red:General ranks (only "Kragenspiegel", not "Litze"),

Crimson: General Staff

Rank structure

The rank structure of the German army is adjusted to the rank structure of the NATO. Unlike its predecessors, the modern German Army does not use the rank of Colonel General. The highest rank for an army officer is Lieutenant General, as the rank of Full General is reserved for the Armed Forces chief of staff or officers serving as NATO officers. Officer cadets do not pass through all enlisted ranks, but are directly promoted to Lieutenant after 36 months of service. Equivalent US Army ranks are shown below according to "STANAG 2116 NSA MC LO (EDITION 6) – NATO CODES FOR GRADES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL":

Officers of the German Army
General (''General'') Gen	Lieutenant General (''Generalleutnant'') GenLt/GL	Major General (''Generalmajor'') GenMaj/GM	Brigadier General (''Brigadegeneral'') BrigGen/BG	Colonel (''Oberst'') Oberst/O	Lieutenant Colonel (''Oberstleutnant'') Oberstlt/OTL
!OF-9	!OF-8	!OF-7	!OF-6	!OF-5	!OF-4

Officers of the German Army
Major (''Major'') Maj/M	! style="width:20%;"	! style="width:20%;"	1st Lieutenant (''Oberleutnant'') OLt /OL	2nd Lieutenant (''Leutnant'') Lt/L
!OF-3	!OF-2	!OF-2	!OF-1	!OF-1

Non-Commissioned Officers of the German Army
Sergeant Major (''Oberstabsfeldwebel'') OStFw/OSF	First Sergeant (''Stabsfeldwebel'') StFw/SF	Master Sergeant (officer cadet) (''Oberfähnrich'') OFähnr/OFR	Master Sergeant (''Hauptfeldwebel'') HptFw/HF	Sergeant 1st Class (''Oberfeldwebel'') OFw/OF
!OR-9	!OR-8	!OR-8	!OR-7	!OR-6

Non-Commissioned Officers of the German Army
Staff Sergeant (officer cadet) (''Fähnrich'') Fähnr/FR	Staff Sergeant (''Feldwebel'') Fw/F	Sergeant (''Stabsunteroffizier'') StUffz/SU	! style="width:20%;"	Corporal (''Unteroffizier'') Uffz/U
!OR-6	!OR-6	!OR-5	!OR-5	!OR-5

Enlisted Ranks of the German Army
Specialist (''Oberstabsgefreiter'') OStGefr/OSG	Specialist (''Stabsgefreiter'') StGefr/SG	Lance Corporal (''Hauptgefreiter'') HptGefr/HG	Private 1st Class (NCO cadet) (''Obergefreiter UA'') OGefr/OG	Private 1st Class (''Obergefreiter'') OGefr/OG
!OR-4	!OR-4	!OR-3	!OR-3	!OR-3

Enlisted Ranks of the German Army
Private 1st Class (officer cadet) (''Gefreiter OA'') Gefr/G	Private 1st Class (Sergeant cadet) (''Gefreiter FA'') Gefr/G	Private 1st Class (NCO cadet)(''Gefreiter UA'') Gefr/G	Private 1st Class(''Gefreiter'') Gefr/G	Private (Soldat) S
!OR-2	!OR-2	!OR-2	!OR-2	!OR-1

Weapons

Standard light weapons

Heckler & Koch G36—5.56 mm x 45 assault rifle (Version G36K and G36C for several branches including Special Forces)

Heckler & Koch MG4—5.56 mm light machine gun

MG3—7.62 mm x 51 machine gun

G8—7.62 mm x 51 automatic rifle, only used by special forces

HK21E—7.62 mm x 51 machine gun, only used by special forces

M3M-12.7 mm x 99 heavy machine gun, used on armored vehicles and CH-53 helicopters

Heckler & Koch MP7—4.6 mm x 30 submachine gun, replacing the MP2

MP2—9 x 19 mm submachine gun

Heckler & Koch MP5—9 x 19 mm submachine gun, used by various units like the Feldjäger and special forces

Heckler & Koch P8—9 x 19 mm pistol

Remington 870 - shotgun, used in small numbers by special forces and the military police (Feldjäger)

G22—7.62 mm x 66.5B sniper rifle

G24—sniper rifle, only used by special forces

G82—sniper rifle

HK MSG3—7.62 mm x 51 designated marksman rifle

Dynamit Nobel Panzerfaust 3—anti-tank rocket launcher

Raytheon Fliegerfaust 2 (FIM-92 Stinger)—infrared homing surface-to-air missile

MILAN—anti-tank guided missile system

Granatpistole 40mm—grenade launcher

HK GMG—grenade autocannon

AG36—grenade launcher

KM2000—172 mm tantō style blade standard combat knife

Reconnaissance systems

Fennek (wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicle), replacing the Spähpanzer Luchs

Luna X 2000 (reconnaissance drone system)

KZO (reconnaissance drone system)

Aladin (reconnaissance drone system)

Camcopter S-100 (VTOL reconnaissance drone system, procurement planned)

MIKADO (mini reconnaissance drone system)

Fancopter (mini reconnaissance drone system)

RASIT (radar system), being phased out

BÜR (ground surveillance radar system, based on Dingo 2)

Combat vehicles

Statistics

Leopard 2 (Main Battle Tank)

* A4, being phased out

* A5

* A6

Marder 1 A3/A5 (infantry fighting vehicle)

Spz Puma (infantry fighting vehicle), replaces the Marder in the Mechanized Infantry, being delivered

Wiesel 1/2 (armoured weapons carrier)

* as a reconnaissance vehicle for the airborne troops

* with autocannon 20 mm

* with TOW anti-tank guided missile

* with mortar 120 mm

* as a radar vehicle for the light air defence system (LeFlaSys)

* as a command vehicle for the LeFlaSys

* as an engineer reconnaissance vehicle

* with Stinger equipped for the LeFlaSys

* as a medical vehicle for the airborne troops

M113 A2 (multirole armoured vehicle) being phased out (594)

GTK Boxer (multirole armoured fighting vehicle) to replace M113 and TPz Fuchs (planned)

IAI Harop (unmanned combat aerial vehicle), loitering munition in combination with Rheinmetall KZO, ordered

Dingo 1/2 (armoured wheeled vehicle)

Eagle IV (armoured wheeled vehicle)

LAPV Enok (light armoured patrol vehicle)

Grizzly (armoured wheeled vehicle)

AGF Serval (reconnaissance and combat vehicle)

DURO III (armoured wheeled vehicle)

YAK (armoured wheeled vehicle), based on DURO III

Mungo ESK (armoured transport vehicle)

TPz Fuchs (multirole armoured vehicle)

BV 206 S (tracked armoured transport vehicle)

Artillery

M270 MLRS (227 mm multiple rocket launcher)

PzH 2000 (155 mm self-propelled howitzer)

Wiesel 2 lePzMrs, advanced mortar system

ABRA (artillery radar system), being phased out

Mortar TAMPELLA (120 mm)

Mortar "R" (120 mm)

COBRA (counter artillery radar system)

ATMAS (artillery weather measure system)

SMA (artillery sound measure system)

Air defence systems

Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard 1 A2 (self-propelled anti air gun), will be formally phased out in late 2010 and then replaced by SysFla in the upcoming years.

LeFlaSys (light anti-aircraft missile system), based on Wiesel 2

MANTIS (stationary counter rocket, artillery, and mortar system for base protection), to be delivered in 2011

SysFla (system air defence – mobile and stationary platforms using the LFK NG and MANTIS), under development

LÜR (radar system), being phased out

Engineer equipment

Dachs (tracked engineer tank)

Büffel (tracked salvage tank)

Biber (bridge layer)

Panzerschnellbrücke 2 (bridge layer), replacing the Biber

Skorpion (mine layer)

Keiler (mine breaker)

M3 Amphibious Rig (amphibious vehicle)

Motorboot 3 (motorboat)

Medium Girder Bridge (bridge system)

Faltfestbrücke (solid bridge system)

Faltschwimmbrücke (swimming bridge system)

Pontoon bridge

Faltstraßensystem (mobile roadway system)

Aircraft inventory

The German Army operates more than 320 helicopters. Nearly all were built in Germany while nearly 40% are indigenous designs. 80 Eurocopter Tiger and 80 NH90 helicopters have been ordered.

Logistic equipment

SLT 50-3 Elefant (heavy tractor trailer, tank transporter)

Berge- und Kranfahrzeug, BKF 30.40 (salvage vehicle)

Non-combat vehicles

Mercedes-Benz 250 GD "Wolf"

KTM LC4 Military 27 PS, motorcycle

ATV Yamaha Kodiak 400, Quad

LKW 2t mil gl, 4x4 (Unimog)

LKW 5t mil gl, 4x4

LKW 5t mil, 4x4

LKW 7t mil gl, 6x6

LKW 7t mil, 6x6

LKW 10t mil gl, 8x8

LKW 15t mil gl, 8x8

LKW 15t mil gl MULTI, 8x8

Volkswagen T platform (T3/T4)

Snowmobile Ski-Doo

See also

Bundeswehr

History of Germany during World War II

Infantryman of the Future

Prussian Army

Reichswehr

Tank Battalions of the German Army 1956 - 2008

References

Further reading

External links

Official Homepage of the German Army (Heer) in German

Historical links

German Armed Forces 1918-1945

German Army pre 1914

German Army 1914-1918

German Army Organization 1914

German Infantry Photographs from World War II - Colour photographs of German infantry during World War II

Gebirgsjaeger - German Mountain Troops

Axis History - Axis History site including German troops.

Category:Bundeswehr Category:German Army

de:Heer (Bundeswehr) es:Heer fr:Heer (armée) gl:Heer ko:독일 육군 it:Heer (Bundeswehr) mk:Германска армија nl:Heer (Bundeswehr) ja:ドイツ陸軍 no:Deutsches Heer pt:Deutsches Heer ru:Сухопутные войска Германии sv:Heer tr:Alman Kara Kuvvetleri uk:Сухопутні війська Німеччини vi:Lục quân Đức zh:德國陸軍

Coordinates	29°25′″N98°30′″N
name	Waris Shah وارث شاہ
birth date	1722
birth place	Jandiala Sher Khan, Sheikhupura, Punjab
death date	1798
death place	Malka Hans, Pakpattan, Punjab
occupation	Poet
genre	Sufi poetry
notableworks	Heer Ranjha
influenced	}}

Waris Shah (Punjabi: , ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ) (1722–1798) was a Punjabi Sufi poet, renowned for his contribution to Punjabi literature. He is best-known for his seminal work ''Heer Ranjha'', based on the traditional folk tale of Heer and her lover Ranjha. ''Heer'' is considered one of the quintessential works of classical Punjabi literature. The story of Heer was also told by several other writers—including notable versions by Damodar Das, Mukbal, and Ahmed Gujjar—but Waris Shah's version is by far the most popular today.

Background

Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab into a reputed Syed family who claimed descent from prophet Muhammad. His father's name was Gulshar Shah. Waris Shah acknowledged himself as a disciple of Pir Makhdum of Kasur. Waris Shah's parents are said to have died when he was young, and he probably received his education at the shrine of his preceptor. After completing his education in Kasur, he moved to Malka Hans, a village twelve kilometers north of Pakpattan. Here he resided in a small room, adjacent to a historic mosque, now called Mosque Waris Shah. His mausoleum is a place of pilgrimage today, especially for those in love.

Shakespeare of Punjabi language

Waris Shah is also called Shakespeare of the Punjabi language because of his great poetic love story, Heer Ranjha. Some critics say that through this story of romantic love, he tried to portray the love of man for God (the quintessential subject of Sufi literature).

He was a consummate artiste, deeply learned in Sufi and domestic cultural lore. His verse is a treasure-trove of Punjabi phrases, idioms and sayings. His minute and realistic depiction of each detail of Punjabi life and the political situation in the 18th century, remains unique. Waris Shah also sublimated his own unrequited love for a girl (''Bhag Bhari'') in writing romance.

Many verses of Waris Shah are widely used in Punjab in a moral context. One of the more popular is

"Waris Shah; Naa adataan jaandiyan ne, Bhavein katiye poriyan poriyan ji"

(Waris Shah says: A man never abandons his habits, even if he is hacked to pieces)

Excerpt from ''Heer Waris Shah''

These are the opening lines from Waris Shah's rendering of Heer:

Translation: ''"First of all let us acknowledge God, who has made love the worth of the world, Sir,''
''It was God Himself that first loved, and the prophet (Muhammad) is His beloved, Sir "''

See also

Punjabi language

Punjabi people

List of Punjabi language poets

India

Pakistan

References

# From the book ''Heer Waris Shah'' (Chatur Singh Jeevan Singh) in Gurmukhi.

External links

Punjabi Literature and Poetry Punjabi Culture and Traditions

Article on Waris Shah

About Waris Shah

Heer Complete

Heer Complete

Further reading

"Great Sufi Poets of The Punjab" by R. M. Chopra, 1999.

Category:1722 births Category:1798 deaths Category:Punjabi poets Category:Punjabi-language poets Category:People from Sheikhupura District Category:Sufi poets

pnb:وارث شاہ ur:وارث شاہ

Coordinates	29°25′″N98°30′″N
Name	Gurdas Maan
Background	solo_singer
Born	January 04, 1957 Giddarbaha, Muktsar, Punjab, India
Genre	Punjabi BhangraHindustani
Occupation	Singer-songwriterActorMusician
Years active	1980 – present
Website	http://www.gurdasmaan.com }}

Gurdas Maan (, '''') is an Indian singer, songwriter, choreographer, and actor. He is considered one of the most notable figures in the world of Punjabi music. He was born on 4 January 1957 in Giddarbaha, Muktsar, Punjab, India. He gained national attention in India in 1980 with the song "Dil Da Mamla Hai." Since then, he has gone on to record over 27 albums and has written over 200 songs.

Early life

Gurdas Maan was born on 4 January 1957 in a Jatt Sikh family in Giddarbaha Muktsar, Punjab (India). His parents are Tej Kaur and Sardar Gurdev Singh Maan. Maan was formally educated in Malout. After completing his education there, his parents enrolled him in a further education institute in Patiala. As a keen sports enthusiast Maan was fascinated by the National Institute of Sports in the city; this prompted him to join the N.I.S. and gain a Masters degree in physical education.

He took part in youth festivals organized by universities and won several awards for his singing and acting, always supported by his friends. He competed in many athletic events and won medals including a bronze at the National Championship as well as achieving a black belt in judo.

Career

1980s

In one of his stage plays, he performed a song he had written called "Dil Da Mamla Hai." The play was seen by a producer for Doordarshan Kendra Jalandhar, the producer who thought the song to have potential approached Maan with a proposition for a TV performance of the song to which Maan agreed. When the song was aired on 31 December 1980 it gained national attention and Gurdas Maan became a national figure. The success of the song attracted the attention of HMV who wanted to record and release it. With HMV Maan eventually released his debut album a year later in 1981. When Maan began his career as a solo performer in India, the music industry was dominated by duet artists and he reportedly declined many offers to become part of a duet as he wished to perform and become a successful solo artist.

During his early career he also wrote and directed TV programs such as POP Time for the Doordarshan Network in Delhi.

1990s and 2000s

Gurdas Maan is often credited with raising Punjabi folk music from a regional level mostly in the Punjab to gain international recognition. His album ''Apna Punjab'' won Best Album at the 1998 Asian Pop and Media Awards held in Birmingham. Maan won Best Song for the title track and Best International Artist the same year. In addition to these awards, Maan more recently won three music awards of Best Lyrics ("Kudiye"), Best Song ("Heer"), as well as Best Singer of the Year at the ETC Channel Punjabi Music Awards on 6 March 2005.

Awards and honours

Gurdas Maan received an honorary degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Wolverhampton on 7 Sept 2010. Maan performed at the Royal Albert Hall for two nights in April 2011 as part of his UK tour. This was the first time Maan performed at the Royal Albert Hall, an opportunity that very few artists come across.

On other fronts, Maan has starred in blockbuster Bollywood films and has received numerous awards, including the Jury’s Award, presented to him by the president of India in 2005.

In 2009 he won "Best International Album" at the UK Asian Music Awards for ''Boot Polishan''.

In 2007 he won the National Award for Best Male playback singer for his songs titled "Couplets of Heer" for the movie ''Waris Shah - Ishq da Waris''.

Film

Gurdas Maan is best known as an actor for his performances in two films: ''Waris Shah-Ishq Da Waaris'' (2006), which was nominated as India's selection for the Academy Awards, and ''Shaheed-E-Mohabbat'' (1999), the film which tells the real-life story of Boota Singh.

Gurdas appeared in the hit film ''Shaheed Udham Singh'' (2000), in which he played the role of Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary, with no prejudices based on religion, caste or creed. As a singer Maan has worked with music directors such as Laxmikant Pyarelal, Bappi Lahiri, Anu Malik, Nadeem Sharvan, Amar Haidipur, Charanjeet Ahuja, and Jaswant Bhanyra.

He starred alongside Juhi Chawla in the epic ''Des Hoyaa Pardes'' (2004), an emotional film illustrating the tragedies faced by the people of Punjab in the 1980s. He adopted the role of a son of a well-respected Jatt (bilingual separatist) Gurdev Singh Somal. He falls in love with a high-ranking police officer’s daughter. Before the wedding, the father is murdered by separatists. This tale soon twists in to the inevitable demise of Gurshaan (Gurdas Maan). This movie was based on actual events.

Aside from singing in Punjabi, he is fluent in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Haryanvi and Rajasthani. As an actor he has performed in Punjabi, Hindi and Tamil movies, but he is best known for his starring role in ''Waris Shah-Ishq Da Waaris'', a depiction of the Punjabi poet Waris Shah during the creation of his epic poem Heer Ranjha, again co-starring Juhi Chawla and Divya Dutta. He made a special appearance in ''Veer-Zaara'' with Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta.

He has appeared in ''Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da'' (1982), ''Mamla Garbar Hai'' (1984), ''Long Da Lishkara'' (1986), ''Qurbani Jatt Di'' (1990), ''Pratigya'' (1990), ''Roohani Taaqat'' (1991), ''Saali Adhi Ghar Waali'' (1992), ''Wanted: Gurdas Maan Dead or Alive'' (1994), ''Kachehri'' (1994), and ''Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai'' (2002).

Personal life

Maan is married to Manjit and has one son Gurikk who has done his schooling at Yadavindra Public School and Mayo College. He also studied at Eton College.

In Karnal, Haryana, India on 20 January 2007 Maan was involved in a car accident in which his Range Rover was hit and severely damaged by a truck near the town of Madhuban. Maan escaped with minor injuries on his face, hands and chest. His driver Ganesh was injured seriously but recovered soon after.

This was the second car accident of two that Gurdas Maan was involved in. The first accident was a head-on collision between Maan's vehicle and a truck on 9 January 2001 at a village near Rupnagar, Punjab. In this accident Maan's driver Tejpal was killed. Maan later admitted that his driver asked him to wear his seat belt minutes before the accident. Maan believes that if it had not been for his driver's advice, he would have been dead as well. Later he wrote and performed a song "Baithi sade naal savari utter gayi" dedicated to his driver, who was also his good friend.

**There was a third road accident where Mann was seriously injured. Please get details of that and add it as well.***

During a radio interview Maan revealed to the host, Gagan Grewal, that he is an avid supporter of Manchester United football club.

Controversy and accusations of plagiarism

In 2011, Gurdas Mann released an album called ''Jogiya''. The song "ਸਾਡੀ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਲੱਗੀ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਲੱਗੀ ਰਹਿਣ ਦੇ" spurred controversy among Sikhs as it was promoting derawad. Harmandar Kang has written a detailed article about Mann's controversial songs and his relationship with other religious entities.

Discography

2011: ''Jogiya'' (Sai Productions)

2008: ''Boot Polishan'' (Sai Creations/UK BOX OFFICE)

2005: ''Vilayatan'' (T-Series/MovieBox)

2004: ''Heer'' (T-Series)

2003: ''Punjeeri'' (T-Series/MovieBox/Music Waves)

2001: ''Pyar Kar Lai'' (Tips)

1999: ''Jaadugarian'' (Venus)

1998: ''Dil Hona Chahida Jawaan'' (Venus)

1997: ''Yaar Mera Pyar'' (T-Series)

1996: ''Chaklo Chaklo'' (T-Series)

1995: ''Ishq Na Dekhe Zaat''

1994: ''Aaja Sajna''

1994: ''Ishq Da Giddha'' (Tips)

1993: ''Ghar Bhulgi Morh Te Ake''

1993: ''Than Than Gopal'' (RMI)

1993: ''Aakarh Aa Hi Jaandi-E'''(Music Bank)

1992: ''Larh Geya Pecha''

1991: ''Dil Da Badshah''

1990: ''Mohabbat Zindabad''

1989: ''Akhiyaan Udeek Dian''

1988* ''Raat Suhani'

1988: ''Chugliyaan''

1988: ''Wah Ni Jawaniye''

1987: ''Geetan Bhari Patari''

1986: ''Nacho Babeyo''

1985: ''Kurian Ne Judo Sikh Lai''

1984: ''Chakkar'

1984: ''Peer Tere Jaan Di''

1983: ''Masti''

1982: ''Dil Saaf Hona Chahida''

1982: ''Disco Vichari''

1981: ''Dil Da Mamla Hai''

Filmography

2011: ''truck Driver''

2010: ''Chak Jawana''

2010: ''Sukhmani Hope for life''

2009: ''Mini Punjab'' (Speed OXL Films)

2008: ''Yaariyan'' (Universal)

2007: ''Mummy-Ji'' (special appearance) (Universal)

2006: ''Waris Shah-Ishq Da Waaris'' (MovieBox)

2004: ''Des Hoyaa Pardes'' (Universal)

2004: ''Veer Zaara'' (special appearance)(Yash Raj Films)

2002: ''Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai''

2000: ''Shaheed Udham Singh'' (MovieBox) ...Shaheed Udham Singh

1999: ''Shaheed-E-Mohabbat'' ...Boota Singh

1999 ''Sirf Tum'' (special appearance)

1995: ''Subedaar''

1995: ''Bagawat'' ...Gurjeet

1994: ''Kachehri''

1994: ''Wanted: Gurdas Maan Dead or Alive''

1992: ''Saali Adhi Ghar Waali''

1991: ''Roohani Taaqat''

1990: ''Pratigya'' ...Billa

1990: ''Qurbani Jatt Di'' ...Karma

1990: ''Dushmani Di Aag''

1988: ''Baghavaat''

1987: ''Chhora Haryana Da''

1986: ''Ki Banu Duniyan Da''

1986: Gabhroo Punjab Da ...Shera

1986: ''Laung Da Lashkara''

1985: ''Patthar Dil''

1984: ''Mamla Garbar Hai''

1982: ''Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da''

References

Category:Bhangra Category:Jat people Category:People from Punjab (India) Category:Punjwood film actors Category:Indian Sikhs Category:Punjabi-language singers Category:People from Faridkot Category:Living people Category:1957 births

pnb:گرداس مان

Coordinates	29°25′″N98°30′″N
name	Harshdeep Kaur
background	solo_singer
birth date	December 16, 1986
occupation	Playback singer
years active	2003-present
label	siddharth
notable instruments	}}

Harshdeep Kaur (Punjabi/Gurmukhi: ਹਰਸ਼ਦੀਪ ਕੌਰ) is an Indian playback singer known for her Sufi songs.

Biography

Harshdeep Kaur was born on 16 December 1986 in a Sikh family in Delhi and inherited music from her father, Savinder Singh, who owns a factory of musical instruments. Apart from studying, she started learning music at the tender age of six. She learnt Indian Classical Music from Mr. Tejpal Singh, popularly known as the Singh Brothers, and Western Classical Music from George Pullinkala, Delhi Music Theatre. Later, at the age of twelve, in order to explore the world of music, she joined the Delhi School of Music to learn piano. She is famous for her Sufi genre songs.

Awards and competitions

Kaur is the first female to win two reality show titles.

Sufi Ki Sulatana

Kaur (see also: Kaur) won the singing competition ''Junoon - Kuch Kar Dikhaane Ka'' on NDTV Imagine in September 2008. She competed from the Sufi Ke Sultan genre with Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as her mentor. She was declared the Sufi Ki Sultana by Amitabh Bachchan who was the chief guest in the Grand Finale.

The show was a competition between three genres - Sufi, Folk and Bollywood. Singers from India and Pakistan participated in the show. Kaur wore Sufi attire, especially while performing Sufi songs.

MTV Video GAGA Winner

Kaur also won the MTV Video Gaga Contest in 2001.

Filmography

''Baari Barsi'' - ''Band Baaja Baaraat'' (2010)

''Chand Ki Katori'' - ''Guzaarish'' (2010)

''Aafreen'' and ''Woh Lamha Phir Se Jeena Hai'' - ''Kajraare'' (2010)

''Lut Jaaon'' - ''Karzzzz'' (2008)

''Is Pal Ki Soch''- ''Halla Bol'' (2008)

''Saajana'' - ''1971'' (2007)

''Dil Ne Ye Na Jaana'' - ''Red: The Dark Side'' (2007)

''Ik Onkar'' - ''Rang De Basanti'' (2006)

''Leja'' - ''Karam'' (2005)

''Udne Do'' - ''Taxi 9211'' (2006)

''Ul Jalul'' - ''Oops'' (2003)

''Alag Alag'' - ''Oops'' (2003)

''Sajna Main Haari'' - ''Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai'' (2003)

Gallery

khatta meetha 2010

References

http://interviews.indianetzone.com/1/2.htm

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1305136/

http://www.movietalkies.com/artists/index.asp?ArtistId=48144

Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Indian female singers Category:Indian playback singers

Coordinates	29°25′″N98°30′″N
name	Alam Lohar
background	solo_singer
birth name	Muhammad Alam Lohar
born	1928
died	July 3, 1979
origin	Pakistan
instrument	Chimta
genre	Punjabi folk
occupation	Vocalist, musician
years active	1936–1979
label	EMI (Pakistan), Oriental Star Agency
notable instruments	chimta }}

Muhammad Alam Lohar (Urdu: محمد عالم لوہار) was a prominent Punjabi folk music singer of Pakistan.He died in 1979 in an accident. He is also credited with popularizing the term and song Jugni.

Early life

Alam Lohar was born in the small village Achh in Gujrat District, in Punjab, British India into a family of blacksmiths. He was gifted with a melodious voice and began singing as a child.

Career

Alam Lohar developed a new style of singing the Punjabi Vaar, an epic or folk tale. He is famous for his rendition of Waris Shah’s Heer, which he has memorized in 36 styles and forms. He recorded his first album at the age of 13 and has outsold all other singers in Pakistan (Verified in records kept with HMV Pakistan 1979)

In his childhood he used to read sufiana kalaams, Punjabi stories and participate as a young child in local elderly gatherings expressing a vocal only art form in reading passages of great poets. From many of the gatherings out of the rural background rose a great singer that could influence his audience with elements of joy peace, happiness and sadness. Further on: he started going to festivals and gatherings on a regular basis and within these performances he rose to become one of the most listened to singers in South Asia. In the 1970s it was the Queen's Jubilee event in the UK and there was a singing competition between all Commonwealth Countries and after all performances: Alam Lohar won the award as the best performance and was handed a gold medal for his unique and God given voice.

Throughout the period of 1930's and until his passing away in 1979 he has dominated Folk singing in Pakistan and been a major singer in Punjabi and Sufi singing throughout the entire World. In many rural villages the local traditional people have called him 'Sher-e-Punjab' or 'Heerah' meaning diamond.

Alongside his God given voice and singing in difficult high and low pitches he had a unique style of singing with his Chimta. Now the Chimta has been around for centuries as it was a tool used in gathering livestock in rural settings or used as a aid in other activities, but Alam Lohar has the unique credit that he single handedly popularised this instrument globally and modified its use and changed its outlook.

Other than being a famous singer, Alam lohar was also a great poet writing his own songs and kalaams and also had another quality that he used old books of Sufi saints and stories and brought them in a song format: which gave his songs overwhelming great lyrical content which could make people cry and express joy at the same time. The word "Jugni" was his creation(the word Jugni is also attributed to some runaway poet- singer duo name unknown, who followed the Jubilee flame in the British raj -and sang satires showing pitiable condition and sufferings of common Indians outside programme grounds, drawing huge crowds and later captured and killed by brits the incident times back to twenties in 20th century when Silver jubilee of the then btitish kings ascention of throne was being celebrated in all cities arount British India - Jubilee parks in many cities of India & Pakistan are proof) and he created this term from reading many Sufi writings and represented this word as a spiritual feeling of ones experience of the world. Furthermore he was the pioneer of introducing the writings of Saif Ul Mulook and Mirza Shabaan in a song format.

Alam Lohar had another quality that he had overwhelming singing stamina - he was renowned to sing all night and sometimes without the music technology we have with PA systems now-nevertheless his strong voice could be heard in large gatherings. In rural punjab he used to sing from village to village and without any modern music technology: his voice reflected with the background of the natural echo caused by the stillness of the night.

In essence, later on Alam Lohar organised a full-fledged theatre with a complete orchestra. His troupe toured all over Punjab for religious and seasonal festivals and was one of the first Pakistani as well as South Asian singers to sing internationally in almost all countries that had people from the South Asian region.

Alam Lohar died in an accident near ''Sham ki Bhaitiyan'' on July 3, 1979. He was laid to rest in Lala Musa, Punjab, Pakistan. He was given the Pride of Performance award in 1979 by General Zia Ul Haq in Islamabad and has received numerous awards within his lifetime. He is a pioneer in cultural and Folk styled singing and has in his own right become a folk story. He set a bench mark and many Punjabi and other folk singers have greatly been influenced. Therefore he has left a great legacy of a unique style of singing which is still followed in Pakistan by Punjabi as well as other folk singers. One of the greatest singers of all time: he is seen and remembered through his son Arif Lohar who has continued in the same tradition.

May he rest in Peace - & May God grant him Peace -

Discography

''His famous songs are;

''Dharti Panj Daryavan Di''

''Dil wala dukhra nahin kisse noon sunayee da''

''Saiful Malook''

''Qissa Hazrat Yousaf''

''Mar ke modha hauly jaye sorry akh gaye''

''Bol mitti diya bawiya''

''Jugni''

Mirza

''Qissa Karbala''

''Kalam baba Bulle shah''

Sohni Mahiwal

Sassi ~Pannu

Wajan mariayan bullayah

England di Jugni

Maa da Pyar (maa da qissa)

Assan hun Tur Jaa naa

Layee beqadran naal yaarey

Qissa Hirni

Qissa Puran Bhagat

Rahee Khushay daa malka

Me neel kariyan neelka

36 style formats of Heer Ranjha

Kohee tu paneey motiyar nee

Gabrro jat punjab daa

Allah hoo haq Allah hoo

Mohammed miah kee tarifan sunavaa

Ghamaa vich jind mukh gaye

Sutee rahgee nee maa patt dee phulegey

kee dassa me kaun teh kidhroo sharher terey vich ayyah

Jis din merah viah hohay gaa

mee tee viah kar ke pachtayah

mee vakh daa hee rehgeyah me vakh daa hee rehgayaa

many versions of Dullah Bhatti

too merey mohabbatein daa bootah putt gaye

Thousands to name-is a true Folk Singer and a bench mark for Punjabi Folk Singing and Modern day Bhangra.''

''''

References

Also thousands to name...His songs are still rewritten and reproduced by many artists and music directors in India, Pakistan and the World. The above was written by a UK based Journalist Imran Mehmood in 1975.

External links

Alam Lohar Profile - Folk Punjab

Alam Lohar website

Category:1928 births Category:1979 deaths Category:Punjabi people Category:People from Gujrat District Category:Pakistani singers Category:Pakistani folk singers Category:Punjabi-language singers Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance award

pnb:عالم لوہار