Auferstanden aus Ruinen
Auferstanden aus Ruinen was the
national anthem of
East Germany (German Democratic Republic,
German:
Deutsche Demokratische Republik, DDR). It was composed by
Hanns Eisler and the text was written by the
poet Johannes R. Becher who later became minister of education. Surprisingly, the much more influential
dramatist and poet
Bertolt Brecht was not asked to write the lyrics.
In Becher's lyrics, the word
Germany (as opposed to
German Democratic Republic) is mentioned five times; additionally, it speaks of a
united fatherland. At the latest after the building of the
Berlin Wall in
August 13 1961 this was no longer concordant with the politics of the DDR regime. Thus, after the term
Germany had also been removed from the DDR constitution in
September 7 1974, the lyrics were no longer sung. On official occasions, only Eisler's melody was performed.
Auferstanden aus Ruinen ceased to be a national anthem when the two Germanys united in
1990 and
Das Lied der Deutschen, which was already the anthem of West Germany, was adopted for all of Germany.
GERMAN LYRICS
\nAuferstanden aus Ruinen und der Zukunft zugewandt,
\nlaß uns Dir zum Guten dienen, Deutschland, einig Vaterland.
\nAlte Not gilt es zu zwingen, und wir zwingen sie vereint,
\ndenn es muß uns doch gelingen, daß die Sonne schön wie nie
\nüber Deutschland scheint,
\nüber Deutschland scheint.
Glück und Friede sei beschieden Deutschland, unserm Vaterland.
\nAlle Welt sehnt sich nach Frieden, reicht den Völkern eure Hand.
\nWenn wir brüderlich uns einen, schlagen wir des Volkes Feind!
\nLaßt das Licht des Friedens scheinen, daß nie eine Mutter mehr
\nihren Sohn beweint,
\nihren Sohn beweint
Laßt uns pflügen, laßt uns bauen, lernt und schafft wie nie zuvor,
\nund der eignen Kraft vertrauend, steigt ein frei Geschlecht empor.
\nDeutsche Jugend, bestes Streben unsres Volks in dir vereint,
\nwirst du Deutschlands neues Leben. Und die Sonne schön wie nie
\nüber Deutschland scheint,
\nüber Deutschland scheint.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
\nRisen from the ruins and turned toward the future,
\nLet us serve you for the common good, Germany, united Fatherland.
\nOur task is to overcome old distress, and we shall overcome it together,
\nand we shall surely succeed, so that the sun, more beautifully than ever before,
\nshines over Germany,
\nshines over Germany.
May happiness and peace be granted to Germany, our Fatherland.
\nThe whole world longs for peace, extend your hand to all peoples.
\nIf we unite fraternally, we will defeat the enemy of the People.
\nLet the light of peace shine, so that a mother never again
\nmourns her son,
\nmourns her son.
Let us plough, let us build, learn and achieve as never before,
\nThat, trusting in our own strength, a free generation shall arise.
\nGerman youth, the best striving of our people united in you,
\nWill revivify Germany And the sun, more beautifully than ever before
\nshall shine over Germany,
\nshall shine over Germany.
External link
\n*MIDI File
\n*MP3 File, melody and lyrics
Category:National anthems\nCategory:German history
