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German composer, musician, and bandmaster, best known for composing popular military marches and propaganda songs during the Nazi era.Born in 1888 near Nordhausen, Herms Niel served in the German Army during World War I. He became a prolific composer of marching songs and military music, rising to prominence after the Nazi Party came to power. He held the rank of Hauptfeldwebel and served as the bandmaster of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service). Despite the ban on Nazi-associated cultural figures after World War II, some of his melodies, particularly 'Erika', gained unexpected international recognition decades later.

• Niel served as a military musician during World War I, laying the foundation for his career composing martial music.
• He became one of the most prominent composers for Nazi propaganda efforts. His catchy marches, like 'Erika', 'Es ist so schön, Soldat zu sein' ('It's So Nice to Be a Soldier'), and 'Heimat, deine Sterne' ('Homeland, Your Stars'), were widely used in radio broadcasts, films, and troop morale activities.
• He held the position of Musikmeister (Bandmaster) for the Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service), composing its official march, 'Arbeitsmaenner' ('Working Men').
• After World War II, due to his close association with the Nazi regime, his music was banned in Germany. Despite this official ban and the controversial nature of his work's origins, some melodies, especially 'Erika', experienced a surprising resurgence in global popularity, often detached from their original context, appearing in memes, video games, and unexpected cultural references decades later.
• He died relatively obscure in 1954 in Vlotho, West Germany.