http://www.brandenburghistorica.com/page5.html The "official" name of the German National Anthem is Das Lied der Deutschen, or simply, Das Deutschlandlied. The song is often called Deutschland ueber Alles, simply because those are the opening words of the first stanza. It is virtually unknown today that the expression "über alles", or "over all" refers not to the conquest or enslavement of other countries or the establishment of German hegemony over other peoples, but rather to a call for all Germans to abandon their concept of being a subject or citizen of this or that principality or region (such as Bavaria or Prussia) and to realize the common bond they had with one another by simply being German. This concept was considered "revolutionary" at the time the words were written in 1841, since loyalty to "Germany" was considered by the princelings and kings of the disunited Reich (divided into 40-plus separate states) to be disloyalty to themselves. This "All-German" idea was suspect because it was also associated with the rising middle classes and their suppressed Frankfurt assembly of 1848. The song's words were penned by the teacher Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, who had been a fervent supporter of German unity and republican government, and who, because of his activities on behalf of these causes, was forced to flee to the North Sea island of Heligoland, where the verses were actually written. The music is taken from the String Quartet in C major (the Kaiser-Quartet), Op. 76,3 of Joseph Haydn, composed in 1797. It was officially ignored during most of the Second Reich (1871 to 1918), which had no official anthem as such. The Deutschlandlied's real popularity began with World War I, when it was sung on the battlefield by young soldiers from every Gau of the Reich who were thrown together against a common foe. Ironically, Das Deutschlandlied did not become the official national anthem until declared so by President Ebert of the Weimar Republic in March, 1922. Not surprisingly, during the next European War, the words "über Alles" were ruthlessly exploited by Allied propagandists. Banned after 1945 by the victors, the Deutschlandlied is again the German national anthem, but only the third stanza is used. The first stanza is absolutely verboten, since it refers to the traditional ethnographic boundaries of Germany ("from the Maas [in Belgium] to the Memel [between the present day Kaliningrad area of Russia and Lithuania], from the Etsch [on the Austro-Italian border] to the Belt [in Denmark]"). Likewise, the propagandistic mistranslation of the words "über alles" has now become accepted "truth", thus precluding their use. To hear the song: http://home.earthlink.net/~hldettling/deutschlandlied.htm
Good one Kai--I had not know these things about their anthem. I just wrinkeled it in my memory banks. Don't try to quiz me on it because my banks are short on memory change these days.
A few addings & corrections: Even though this was the spirit of the song, it is not the interpretation of this expression. It’s logically incompatible with the wording “über alles in der Welt”, “over all in the world”, which made the propagandistic exploitation easy. *The sentiment of the first two lines is: "Esteemed above everything in the world", (as most citizens express of their homeland) not "rulers of the world." http://ingeb.org/Lieder/deutschl.html There you also find an English translation of the anthem, and the seldom 4th stanza, penned after WW1, quite popular till the 30ies: 4. Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, Und im Unglück nun erst recht. Nur im Unglück kann die Liebe Zeigen, ob sie stark und echt. Und so soll es weiterklingen Von Geschlechte zu Geschlecht: |: Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, Und im Unglück nun erst recht. :| I try a translation: 1. Germany, Germany above all In plight more than ever. Just in plight love is able To show whether it is strong and truthful. Thus let it sound From generation to generation |: Germany, Germany above all In plight more than ever. :| It should be mentioned that it was the current melody of the older Austro-Hungarian monarchy anthem. “Gott erhalte, Gott beschütze, unsern Kaiser unser Land!” But this was not completely false, as during the overwhelming victories, the Germans themselves loved to interpret it in this way. They indeed were “above all” most of Europe, and at least they desired to be the world dominant superpower. In contrast to common misbelief, the first stanza is NOT forbidden! Even though it really refers to boundaries outside of modern Germany, it can be sung without any problem, and German nationalists use to do so. A few geographic specifications: The Etsch is (roughly) the border of German settlement area in Italy, but it has never been on the Austro-Italian border. Former, it was completely inside of Austria, now it is completely inside of Italy. The Maas flows through France, Belgium, and Holland – at least in Holland, it is very close to Germany.
Actually I had stumbled on this info a couple of years ago and surprised my German teacher with it. I wish this would be more adequately explained by History books and teachers, I had thought it was something totally made up by Hitler to mean German military domination of the world. And it has certainly been portrayed that way unfortunately. KnightMove, thats some impressive info no the song. I knew the first stanza wasn't official in the national anthem, but I thought it was forbidden or at the very least taboo.
In fact, it is a taboo for most people. If you set value on good reputation, better don't sing it in public, not even in Germany. But there won't be any legal persecution. A detail from the link Kai mentioned in first place: "At that point, musicologists made the ironic discovery that, in terms of rhythm and meter, the words of the former DDR' s anthem Auferstanden aus Ruinen (perhaps not accidentally) fit the musical score of the Das Deutschlandlied perfectly!" This is obviously WRONG, the words match for 3/4 of the stanza, but the finish doesn't, as it has one more verse (definitely not accidentally). See with number of syllables & rhyme scheme: 8- "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, 7A Über alles in der Welt, 8- Wenn es stets zum Schutz und Trutze 7A Brüderlich zusammenhält, 8- Von der Maas bis an die Memel, 7B Von der Etsch bis an den Belt - 8- |: Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, 7B Über alles in der Welt!" :| 8A Auferstanden aus Ruinen 7B und der Zukunft zugewandt, 8A lass uns dir zum Guten dienen, 7B Deutschland, einig Vaterland. 8C Alte Not gilt es zu zwingen, 7D und wir zwingen sie vereint. 8C Denn es wird uns doch gelingen, 7- daß die Sonne schön wie nie 5D |: über Deutschland scheint. :|
I've just purchased Hayden's "Emperor Quartet" and it's marvelous! I think that when played by choirs and military bands it's ruined... However, I was thinking about the ironny of an Austrian composer's song becoming another nation's anthem... And don't want to be rude, but Austria's actual national anthem is quite mediocre. Even if composed by Mozart, he made no use of his genious there. He might have composed it in three minutes so they'll stop bothering him...
Hi, The tune is also used by a Hymn sung in churches in Britain.....can't remember its name though. Regards, Gordon
The reason is simple - Mozart wasn't the composer. This is a popular misbelief. The real composer was most certainly one of Mozart's freemason friends, Johann Holzer. The melody is originally a freemason hymn. And you won't offend any Austrian with that statement - almost everyone will agree with it. However, it IS our hymn, there is no real reason to change it, so we sing it and do not complain...
Wolfie didn't let me down then! An anthem by Mozart would sound much cheerful and infantile, Magic Flute-style!
Just off the subject slightly, I think the "Panzerleid" is still the best German song! Really stirs the emotions without being the least bit (at least perceived) offensive. Hear it here: (taken from battle of the bulge movie I think.) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/panzerkampfwagon/pzsong.wav A rather crude translation: From http://crusader.topcities.com/Panzerlied/panzerlied.html
I really hate to say this, but Germany's WWII propaganda songs are rather awful... The "Rommellied", "Horst Wessel Lied", etc. are really bad, sounds very little patriotic... They have no paralell to let's say, the Soviet National Anthem, composed in 1944 nor many other WWII Russian songs...
But at least Lili Marleen (correct spelling of the German original!) was an overwhelming success. What do we learn from this? Germans are not suitable for military, patriotic music, but to compose sentimental, heart-warming chansons.
"Lili Marleen" is of course a GREAT song! I love it! Even if can't be compared to similar love songs by Edith Piaf.
