The German national anthem is called “ Das Deutschlandlied ” or “ The Song of Germany”, and was used in whole or in part as the official national anthem of Germany from 1922-1945 and from 1952 to the present.
The German national anthem itself was not created in one go, but rather was pieced together, chopped up, and changed over the course of 200 years. Created in the late 18th Century in direct response to the British song “God Save the King ,” at a time when the concept of a “national anthem” was gaining traction, the history of Das Deutschlandlied is complicated to say the least.
German National Anthem: Das Deutschlandlied
Melody of the German National Anthem
The melody was composed in 1797 by the famous Austrian classical composer Joseph Haydn, a contemporary of Mozart and Beethoven and brother of the slightly less well-regarded composer Michael Haydn.
At the time of composing the tune, Joseph Haydn was widely acclaimed as the finest composer in Europe (and later the world), having spent much of his career as a Court Composer?, writing music for kings and other royalty.
His contributions to music in general were so great that Haydn is often called the “Father of the Symphony”.
The melody that Haydn wrote that would eventually become the melody for the German national anthem was part of a collaborative effort to accompany the birthday poem “Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser” (“God Save the Emperor Francis”), written by Lorenz Leopold Haschka, (mirroring the British national anthem adopted in 1745) as a gift to the Austrian Emperor Francis II, later the (last) Holy Roman Emperor.
The joint effort between Haydn and Haschka was well received by all and became the de facto national anthem of Austria, with updated lyrics in 1826 and 1854, before it ended as the official national anthem with the fall of the Austrian monarchy in 1918.
By all accounts, Haydn was proud of the rousing anthem he created, and the tune was very popular throughout the German-speaking world.
The melody itself is known as the ? Emperor’s Hymn ? and has since been used as the melody for a number of hymns and has been an inspiration to many of Haydn’s contemporaries, further cementing his legacy.
Lyrics and Meaning of the German National Anthem
It was this popularity and familiarity among the German-speaking community that likely drew the attention of one August Heinrich Hoffman von Fallersleben (phew!) to the tune, as a vehicle for his patriotic poem.
Hoffman was a revolutionary poet from Lower Saxony, and one of millions who opposed the reassertion of the Holy Roman Empire’s grip on the German-speaking nations of Europe, following the French Revolution and the defeat of Napoleon.
While most German states balked at the idea of revolution and sided with the French in the Napoleonic Wars, many of the ideals of the French Revolution (such as the end of feudalism, respect for science over religion, and freedom for all) permeated Europeans and would inevitably lead to major social reforms across the continent, including most notably and thus the unification of a German state in 1871.
German National Anthem: Das Deutschlandlied
The Holy Roman Empire, considered a direct descendant of the real Roman Empire, was a vast, complex confederation of hundreds of monarchical states, large and small, of predominantly German-speaking peoples. The empire was loosely controlled by the throne in Vienna and mired in a feudal serfdom that benefited only the nobility.
These systems were challenged with the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, as nations across the Holy Roman Empire began to modernize, elevating a small number of the working class into a new “middle class” and rendering many obsolete.
By the 1840s, much of the working class still existed in squalid conditions, tied to the land they lived on and essentially considered the property of the landlord.
The rapidly growing middle class, born of the need for skilled and educated workers for industry, was hardly treated any better, and with their burden of education they were more aware of how they were being mistreated by their “better people”; the rich and aristocratic, who enriched themselves from the efforts of the working and middle classes.
While efforts to unite the many German states began in 1815 into the German Confederation, by 1841 little real progress had been made and much of the population (apart from the nobility) still called for a move away from the dominant feudal systems.
As a unifying revolutionary, Hoffman’s desire, like many others, was to see a nation for all Germans to be proud of, promising unity, justice and freedom, but willing to defend its honor, in a strange mix of anti-monarchist liberalism and nationalism.
It was here in 1841 that Hoffman, while vacationing in Heligoland, wrote the lyrics to what would become the German national anthem. Pairing his lyrics with Haydn’s famous melody, “The Song of Germany” became an instant hit among those who wished to see a more unified, just Germany.
The message was simple; Germans should desire and be loyal to a unified Germany, before being loyal to any other entity, celebrate what made Germany great, and call for unity, justice, freedom and happiness for all Germans, not just those who held titles and lands.
German National Anthem: Das Deutschlandlied
Unfortunately for Hoffman, the idea of loyalty to the larger state, as opposed to loyalty to one’s ruling Prince, King, or Emperor, was considered treason by many German states, and Hoffman was forced into hiding for seven years.
Sadly for Hoffman, infighting between liberals and republicans made it easier for the monarchists to break up the movement, and his dream of a German republic would have to wait.
However, his anthem continued to gain popularity, becoming a rallying cry for republicans and liberals during the German Revolution of 1848–1849, and would remain a staple of German patriotism into the next century.
History of the German National Anthem: Adoption, Adjustment and Addition
Germany was officially unified as a nation in 1871, but would not officially adopt the song as the German national anthem until 1922, after the dissolution of the Austrian Monarchy, which essentially freed the tune for German use.
Although it was recommended to use only the third stanza (which deals with unity, justice, and freedom), the entire song was adopted as the official German national anthem to satisfy those who were angry at the loss of the German Empire and those who believed in the republicanism and liberal ideas that led to the unification of Germany in the 19th century.
After the Nazis came to power in 1933, the anthem was added to become a joint anthem with the Horst-Wessel-Lied or Horst-Wessel Song , the official anthem of the Nazi Party. The new anthem begins with the first stanza of “ Das Deutschlandlied” , followed by a composition by Horst Wessel.
It was this adaptation that most likely led to the bad reputation “ Das Deutschlandlied” suffered. At the start of the 1936 Olympics, against a backdrop of swastikas, thousands of Germans with arms outstretched shouted “Deutschland, Deutschland über alles” which forever tied the anthem to a hateful ideology.
German National Anthem after World War II
After Germany’s defeat in World War II, Das Deutschlandlied was briefly dropped from the anthems of both East and West Germany, replaced in East Germany by the new anthem Auferstanden aus Ruinen or Risen from Ruins .
In West Germany Das Deutschlandlied was again adopted as the national anthem in 1952, with only the third stanza being adopted as the official national anthem of West Germany.
The reason for removing the first two stanzas from the official anthem was mainly the desire to escape the image that had been ingrained in the global psyche of a “Nazi” Germany.
While the first two stanzas were not adopted (nor outlawed, as is often misunderstood), they remain part of the official German national anthem, but are still “not to be sung.”
In November 1991, following the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, President Richard von Weizsäcker and Chancellor Helmut Kohl agreed that the third stanza alone would become the official German national anthem of their new German Republic, the opening line Einigkeit und recht und freiheit ” (“Unity, justice and freedom”) becoming an unofficial but celebrated national motto.
German National Anthem: Das Deutschlandlied
The Future of Das Deutschlandlied
The current form of the German national anthem has come under scrutiny recently, this time from feminists and equal opportunity advocates.
A debate has erupted over the use of masculine language, with some calling for terms like “ fatherland ” and “ brotherhood” to be changed to more gender-neutral language, as seen in Canada’s 2015 national anthem.
A spokesperson from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office said in 2018; “The Chancellor is very pleased with our beautiful national anthem.”
Lyrics of the German National Anthem – “ Das Lied der Deutschen” (in German and English)
(Note; the last stanza is the official national anthem of Germany. The first two stanzas are no longer considered part of the national anthem.)
Germany Germany above everything, Than anything in the world, If it is always for protection and defiance Sticking together like brothers. From the Meuse to the Memel, From the Adige to the Belt, Germany Germany above everything, Than anything in the world! Germany Germany above everything, Than anything in the world!
(Germany, Germany above all Above all else in the world! When it comes to protection and defense, Our unity unites us. From Maas to Memel From Etsch to the Belt, Germany, Germany above all everything in the world! Germany, Germany above all Above everything in the world!)
German women, German loyalty, German wine and German song Should keep in the world Their old beautiful sound, Inspire us to noble deeds Throughout our lives – German women, German loyalty, German wine and German song! German women, German loyalty, German wine and German song!
(German wives and fidelity, German wine and tunes All will last in the world. Their fair and ancient tunes, Echoing within us our noble purpose Throughout our lives. German women, the honesty of Germany. German beer, and German choir! German Women, German Truth German beer, and German chants!)
German National Anthem: Das Deutschlandlied
Unity and justice and freedom For the German fatherland! Let us all strive for this Brotherly with heart and hand! Unity and justice and freedom Are the pledge of happiness – Flourish in this fortune, Flourish, German fatherland! Bloom in the splendor of this happiness, Flourish, German fatherland!
(Unity, Justice and Freedom) For the Fatherland! Let’s all strive for it In brotherhood of heart and hand! Unity, justice and freedom Is the foundation of happiness; Blooming in the glow of this happiness, Shine, O Fatherland! Bloom in the glow of this happiness, Bloom, O Fatherland!)
