GERMAN LYRICS

Kennst du die Stadt am Bernsteinstrand,
umgrünt von ew'ger Wälder Band,
wo schlanke Giebel streben
empor zum Sonnenschein !
Ja, sollt' ich fröhlich leben,
in Danzig müßt es sein !

Kennst du die Stadt, wo Turm an Turm
in Treue trotzt dem Zeitensturm,
wo stolze Schiffe gleiten
ins blaue Meer hinein !
Ja, sollt' ich tapfer streiten
für Danzig müßt es sein !

Kennst du die Stadt, wo deutsche Art
voll Kraft und Mut ihr Gut bewahrt,
wo deutsch die Glocken werben
und deutsch ein jeder Stein !
Ja sollt' ich selig sterben,
in Danzig müßt es sein !

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POLISH TRANSLATION

Na bursztynowym brzegu gród,
wokól którego lasów wbród,
a smukle domów szczyty
ku sloncu wciaz sie pna...
Tak, jesli mam szczesliwy byc,
to w Gdansku musze zyc !

Wieza przy wiezy w Miescie tym
wciaz trwa na przekór czasom zlym,
a dumne statki suna
prosto w blekity mórz !
Tak, tylko za me Miasto
w bitewny pójde kurz !

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ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Do you know the city on the amber beach,
wreathe by everlasting green forests,
where slender gables stretch upwards
towards the sunshine !
Yes, should I live merrily
it must be in Danzig !

Do you know the city, where tower at tower
loyally resists the storms of time
where proud ships slide
towards the blue sea !
Yes, should I bravely struggle
it must be for Danzig !

Do you know the city, where German kind
fully strength and courage, keep their wealth,
where German bells recruit
and each stone is German !
Yes, should I blessedly die,
it must be in Danzig !

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Danzig
"Fur Danzig" (For Danzig)

Words by:Paul Enderling
Music by:Georg Göhler
In use:1920-1939

The Free City of Danzig (comprising the city of Danzig and the surrounding
territory, located between Germany and Poland) was established as a consequence
of WWI in 1920. With the Treaty of Versailles it was separated from Germany,
created as a separate state under protection of the League of Nations with
special rights reserved to Poland. The Free City of Danzig had an ethnic German
majority of over 90% and a Polish minority of about 4 to 8%. It had its own
currency, flag, anthem, constitution, parliament and government.

The third verse of the anthem, speaking of the German connection to Danzig, was
not sung by the Polish population.

On September 2, 1939, the day after the invasion of Poland, the Free City's
Nazi government voted to be annexed by Nazi Germany. After WWII, Danzig was
ceded to Poland, the German residents were expelled, and the city was renamed
Gdansk.

Special thanks to:Ben Cahoon and Bert Delahoussaye who informed me of this
anthem and PaweB Ciupak for the sheet music and some of this information.

See also: Germany, Germany_(1933-1945), Poland.
