National Anthem of Germany - Das Lied der Deutschen [Third Stanza Version] [DE/EN]

National Anthem of Germany - Das Lied der Deutschen [Third Stanza Version] ---------------- Das Lied der Deutschen | Song of the Germans Also known as: "Das Deutschlandlied" or "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" (Unity and Justice and Freedom) Lyrics: August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, 1841 Music: Joseph Haydn, 1797 Adopted: 1922 (entirety by the Weimar Republic) 1952 (readopted by West Germany; only 3rd stanza sung) 1991 (reconfirmed for reunited Germany; 3rd stanza only) "Das Lied der Deutschen" is the national anthem of Germany. Written during a time when the German lands were politically fractured into dozens of independent kingdoms and principalities, the song was originally created as a liberal rallying cry for a unified, democratic German nation. Today, only its third stanza serves as the official national anthem, emphasizing the core ideals of modern Germany: unity, justice, and freedom. History and Origins: The melody was originally composed by the famous Austrian composer Joseph Haydn in 1797. He wrote it as a birthday anthem for the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, and the tune later served for decades as the imperial anthem of Austria-Hungary. In 1841, a German linguist and poet named August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben took Haydn’s well-known melody and wrote new lyrics for it while vacationing on the island of Heligoland. At the time, asking for a unified Germany was considered a radical, revolutionary act by the ruling monarchs. Because of his politically charged writing, Fallersleben actually lost his job as a university professor and was forced into hiding. The anthem originally consisted of three stanzas, but historical events completely altered how people understood them: The First Stanza: Opens with the famous line "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles" (Germany, Germany above all). In 1841, Fallersleben meant that the dream of a united Germany should be placed above loyalties to individual local kingdoms. However, during the regime of the Third Reich (1933–1945), the government hijacked this verse, using it alongside the party's "Horst-Wessel-Lied" to project a message of German nationalism, geopolitical supremacy, and global dominance. The Second Stanza: A lighter verse praising German women, loyalty, wine, and song. The Third Stanza: A call for "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" (Unity and Justice and Freedom). This verse focuses entirely on the rule of law and democratic brotherhood rather than borders or territorial expansion After the collapse of the Third Reich in 1945, the anthem was temporarily banned by Allied forces due to its association with the regime. When West Germany sought to re-establish a national anthem in 1952, they compromised by retaining the historic song but ordering that only the democratic third stanza would be sung at official events. Following the reunification of East and West Germany in 1991, the third stanza was officially reconfirmed as the sole, legal national anthem of the modern federal republic. Singing or performing the first two stanzas is highly discouraged in contemporary Germany, though it remains legal. ------------------------- #history #europe #europeanunion #european #anthem #nationalanthem #deutschland #deutsch #germany #german #berlin #munich #saxony #bremen #frankfurt #germanyhistory #germansongs -------------------------- 🔔 Like , Share And Subscribe for more national anthems and historical insights and avoid political or hateful commentary. This Is For educational Only