A German naval vessel sailed into London on the River Thames this week, playing the iconic “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader’s “The Imperial March,” although the country’s military branch claims there is “no deeper message” behind the ship’s commander’s choice of music.
A passerby captured the spectacle on video Monday, before sharing the video clip on social media.
While the song selection could be interpreted negatively, the German navy quickly attempted to clarify the situation.
“The commander is free to choose the music,” the German navy stated in a statement Thursday. “The choice of music has no deeper message.”
The warship Braunschweig was in the region for training and docked to take on supplies, according to the German navy.
Another video of the Braunschweig captured the Clash song “London Calling,” playing as it cruised into port.
The 1979 song’s title originates from the BBC World Service station identification in World War II and its lyrics include the lines, “London calling to the zombies of death. Quit holding out and draw another breath.”
When the ship departed, a tugboat reportedly escorted it down the river near Tower Bridge as sailors stood on deck, without lightsabers.
The Braunschweig was named for a German city in Lower Saxony, which is, as the crow flies, about 420 miles away from London. The ship was also named for Germany’s newest class of ocean-going corvettes.
This was the second time the Braunschweig visited the British capital, according to a post on X from the German Embassy in London.
Embassy officials also mentioned that the commander of the ship “is a big ‘Star Wars’ fan and an admirer of the legendary musical scores of John Williams.”
“He chooses a different Williams tune whenever his ship is visiting a foreign harbor,” the embassy wrote.