Education
Upon finishing school in 1902, Niel completed his apprenticeship with the Genthin choirmaster Adolf Büchner.
composer conductor musicologist oboist
Upon finishing school in 1902, Niel completed his apprenticeship with the Genthin choirmaster Adolf Büchner.
In October 1906 he was admitted as a trombonist and oboist in the 1st Regiment of the Guard in Potsdam. During the First World War, he was band director of the 423rd German Infantry Regiment. In 1918, after the war, he retired from the army and worked as an official in the administration until 1927.
That same year, he co-founded in Potsdam the Ritterschaftsorchester, where he worked as a composer and lyricist.
With the Seizure of Power by the Nazis, on 1 May 1933 Niel joined the Nazi Party as member 2,171,788. Also, he dedicated himself to composing marches and songs, which were popularized by the NSDAP and widely distributed on all fronts of the Second World War.
During the postwar era, Niel lived in Lingen (Ems), where he died in 1954.
During the period of National Socialism, he collaborated with the regime and became a headmaster of musical bands.