GERMAN LYRICS

1. Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,
Wenn es stets zum 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!
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt!

2. 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!
Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang!

*3. 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!
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!

*only the third verse is official

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ENGLISH TRANSLATION
 
1. 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. 
Germany, Germany above all
Above all in the world. 

2. German women, German fidelity,
German wine and German song,
Shall retain, throughout the world,
Their old respected fame,
To inspire us to noble deeds
For the length of our lives.
German women, German fidelity,
German wine and German song. 
German women, German fidelity,
German wine and German song. 

*3. Unity and Right and Freedom
For the German Fatherland!
After these let us all strive
Brotherly with heart and hand!
Unity and Right and Freedom
Are the pledge of happiness.
Bloom in the splendour of this happiness,
Bloom, my German Fatherland!
Bloom in the splendour of this happiness,
Bloom, my German Fatherland!


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Germany
"Lied der Deutschen" (Song of the Germans)

Words by:August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben
Music by:Joseph Haydn
Adopted:1922, abolished 1945, restored 1990

The text of the anthem has been written in 1841 by the liberal poet and
professor August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, using the melody of the
Austrian imperial anthem "Gott_erhalte_Franz_den_Kaiser"_(God_save_Franz_our
Emperor), which has been composed by the famous classical composer Joseph Haydn
in 1797 and which appears in his "Emporer Quartet". Hoffmann von Fallersleben
wrote his text on the small island of Helgoland off the Northwest German coast,
which at that time was under British rule. He had been deported from the
Kingdom of Hannover because of his liberal ideas, which included the demand to
establish Germany as a unified nation. Consequently, the first verse of the
"Lied der Deutschen", beginning with the words "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber
alles" (Germany, Germany above all) was originally meant as an appeal that the
idea of a unified Germany should be more important than the many particular
principalities which existed at that time.

However, when Germany became a united country in 1871, the "Lied der Deutschen"
was ignored officially, rather the the former Prussian royal anthem "Heil_Dir
im_Siegerkranz" was used unofficially. Although Germany had been proclaimed a
Republic on 9th November 1918 upon its defeat in World War I, it needed nearly
four years until "Lied der Deutschen" was declared the new national anthem by
the social democratic President Friedrich Ebert on August 11th, 1922, although
it was used on state occasions in the intervening years. At that time, all
three verses were used.

The anthem was even retained when the Nazis seized power in 1933, however the
first verse of Hoffmann von Fallersleben's song was misused as a slogan that
Germany should rule "above all" other countries, Haydn's classical melody was
changed into a military march, and the anthem was added with the party song of
the Nazi party, the Horst_Wessel_Lied. In 1945, the use of all national symbols
of Nazi Germany, including the "Lied der Deutschen" was prohibited by the
Allies.

In 1945, Germany was governed by the Allied powers and thus had no official
anthem. And when West and East Germany were founded in 1949, initially neither
state wished to use the "Lied der Deutschen" because of its association with
the Nazi government and its misuse of the sentiment in the lyrics.

After Germany had become reunified on 3rd October 1990, Federal President
Richard von Weizsaecker confirmed in a letter to Chancellor Helmut Kohl, dated
19th August 1991, that the third verse of Hoffmann von Fallersleben's "Lied der
Deutschen" with Joseph Haydn's melody are the official national anthem of the
reunified Germany. Contrary to popular belief, no stanza is currently forbidden
to be sung, however, only the third stanza is the official national anthem.

The regions of Germany also have their own local anthems, some have been used
for centuries, some are new inventions after the war.

Special thanks to:Jan Scotland and Reinhard Popp for providing me with some of
this information and to Klaus Caussmacher for information on the lyrics and for
the sheet music.

See also: West_Germany_(1952-1990), West_Germany_(1949-1950), West_Germany_
(1950-1952), Germany_(1871-1918), Germany_(1933-1945), East_Germany, Saarland,
Bavaria.
