The only other time I have heard a reference to this song was in Bernard Fall's account of the battle of Dien Bien Phu between the French forces in the valley and the Viet-Minh on the heights. Some German French Foreign Legionnaires had been captured by the Viet-Minh, and to ease the terms of their captivity and get themselves some privileges, they began to cheer whenever the Viet-Minh reported another advance made or strongpoint taken from the French. Then the Viet-Minh told of a group of Legionnaires that had been wiped out. The Germans fell into silence. When the Viet cadre leader screamed at them to cheer, they began slowly to sing, "Ich Hatt' ein'Kamerade". They were stripped of all privileges and returned to hard usage.

Perhaps there is more to the song than the words relate. And that makes it more than a song.