Reminds me of a German 'Lied' (art song), a poem by Heinrich Heine set to music by Carl Loewe (???). It has the same starting line
'Nach Frankreich zogen zwei Grenadier'
Die waren in Ruáland gefangen
Und als sie kamen ins deutsche Quartier ...
It's from the Napoleonic Wars, the two guys lament the capture of Napoleon ('mein Kaiser, mein Kaiser gefangen ...')
Any help? I can type the German words out for you if that's any good. Just let me know. - Susanne