Deutschlandlied
Deutschlandlied (German pronunciation: [ˈdɔʏtʃlantˌliːt] (Audio file "de-Deutschlandlied.ogg " not found); "The Song of the Germans"), officially known as Das Lied der Deutschen (German pronunciation: [das ˌliːt dɛːʁ ˈdɔʏtʃn̩]; "Song of Germany"), is a song written by Joseph Haydn and Hoffmann von Fallersleben. Part of this song is the national anthem of Germany (German National Anthem).
A line from this song, "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" ("Unity and Justice and Freedom") is the considered to be the unofficial motto of Germany.
History[change]
The music was written by Haydn in 1797 as the personal anthem of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor. It was called "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" ("God protect our Emperor Franz"). The words which are used today were written by the poet August Heinrich Hoffman von Fallersleben in 1841.
Today, the first line "Germany, Germany above all" sounds too strong for some people, and is often misunderstood. Fallersleben wanted a united Germany when he wrote it. At that time, Germany was not one country, but many small countries. So "Germany above all" meant that the most important thing to do was to have a unified Germany. Also, the poet was written in Heligoland, where people spoke German but were ruled by the British.
Fallersleben's music was very popular in Germany during the second part of the 19th century. This song was not a national anthem then, but a patriotic song supporting a united German state. On 11 August 1922, after 4 years of the end of the First World War and the abdication of Wilhelm II, German Emperor, it replaced the previous anthem "Heil Dir im Siegerkranz" ("Hail Thee in the Victor's Crown"). In 1921, a "fourth stanza", a new part or verse, was written by poet Albert Matthai with words about the difficult life in Germany at that time. This verse was rarely used.
During the time of Adolf Hitler, only the first stanza of the song was used. This offended the international audience as the first stanza supports Germany holding colonial powers in non-consenting nations. This was often followed by Horst-Wessel Lied, the anthem of the Nazi Party.
After the Second World War, Germany was divided into two countries. In 1949, the new West Germany tried to get a new song for the national anthem. Another song was chosen, written by poet Rudolf Alexander Schröder. It was not very popular. Finally, on 2 May 1952, President Theodor Heuss approved the decision to make Das Lied der Deutschen the national anthem of Germany. However, only the third stanza was used.
In the other part of Germany, known as East Germany, the words of poet Johannes R. Becher ("Auferstanden aus Ruinen" - "Risen from Ruins") were used with a song written by Hanns Eisler. It was not very popular, and from the 1970s the words were not sung, because of the line "Germany, [our] unified fatherland".
After East and West Germany united in 1990, the song again became the national anthem of Germany but only the third stanza is used. Today, the first part of the song is popular with nationalist extremists.
German words of the song[change] |
Close translation[change] |
First stanza[change] | |
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Second stanza[change] | |
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Third stanza - the German National Anthem[change] | |
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Lyrics[change]
| German original | IPA transcription | English translation |
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| <poem>Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt, Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze Brüderlich zusammenhält. Von der Maas bis an die Memel, Von der Etsch bis an den Belt, 𝄆 Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, Über alles in der Welt! 𝄇 Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue, Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang Sollen in der Welt behalten Ihren alten schönen Klang, Uns zu edler Tat begeistern Unser ganzes Leben lang – 𝄆 Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue, Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang! 𝄇 Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit Für das deutsche Vaterland! Danach lasst uns alle streben Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand! Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit Sind des Glückes Unterpfand – 𝄆 Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes, Blühe, deutsches Vaterland! 𝄇</poem> |
<poem>[ˈdɔʏtʃlant ˈdɔʏtʃlant yːbɐ alɛs]
[yːbɐ alɛs ɪn dɛɐ vɛlt] [vɛn ɛs ˈʃtɛts tsʊ ʃuːts ʊnt ˈtʁʊtsə] [bʁyːdɐ̯lɪç tsuːzamn̩ˈhɛːlt] [fɔn dɛɐ maːs bɪs an diː ˈmeːməl] [fɔn dɛɐ ɛtʃ bɪs an dɛn ˈbɛlt] 𝄆 [ˈdɔʏtʃlant ˈdɔʏtʃlant yːbɐ alɛs] [yːbɐ alɛs in dɛɐ vɛlt] 𝄇 [ˈdɔʏtʃɛ ˈfʁaʊən ˈdɔʏtʃɛ tʁɔʏə] [ˈdɔʏtʃɐ vaɪn ʊnt ˈdɔʏtʃɐ zaŋ] [ˈzɔln̩ ɪn dɛɐ vɛlt ˈbɛhaltn̩] [iːʁən altn̩ ʃøːnən klaŋ] [ˈuns tsʊ ɛdlɐ tat bɛgaɪˈstɛʁn] [ˈunzɐ ganˈtsɛs lɛbən laŋ] 𝄆 [ˈdɔʏtʃɛ ˈfʁaʊən ˈdɔʏtʃɛ tʁɔʏə] [ˈdɔʏtʃɐ vaɪn ʊnt ˈdɔʏtʃɐ zaŋ] 𝄇 [aɪnɪçˈkaɪt ʊnt ʁɛçt ʊnt ˈfʁaɪhaɪt] [ˈfyːʁ das ˈdɔʏtʃɛ fatɛɐ̯ˈlant] [ˈdanax last ʊns alə ˈʃtʁeːbən] [bʁyːdɐ̯lɪç mɪt ˈhɛʁts ʊnt ˈhant] [aɪnɪçˈkaɪt ʊnt ʁɛçt ʊnt ˈfʁaɪhaɪt] [zɪnt dɛs glʏkɛs ʊntɐpfant] 𝄆 [blyː ɪm ˈglantsə diːzəs glʏkɛs] [blyːə ˈdɔʏtʃɛs fatɛɐ̯ˈlant] 𝄇</poem> |
<poem>Germany, Germany above all
Above everything in the world When, always, for protection and defense Brothers stand together. From the Maas to the Memel From the Etsch to the Belt, 𝄆 Germany, Germany above all Above all in the world. 𝄇 German women, German loyalty, German wine and German singing, Should keep in the world your old beautiful sound, To inspire us to noble deeds For the length of our lives. 𝄆 German women, German loyalty, German wine and German singing. 𝄇
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Metrical English Translation[change]
<poem> Translated by Kevin Kallande
Unity and Right and Freedom, For the German Fatherland! Let us all be strive towards them; Brotherly with Heart and Hand!
𝄆 Unity and Right and Freedom, Are the pledge of Happiness; Flourish in this pledge of fortune, Flourish, German Fatherland! 𝄇
Flourish in this pledge of fortune, Flourish, German Fatherland! </poem>
Related pages[change]
- Auferstanden der Ruinen, the national anthem of East Germany when it existed