The German, Austrian, and Swiss National Anthems

The German, Austrian, and Swiss National Anthems The melody of the German national anthem comes from the old Austrian imperial anthem â€Å"Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser† (â€Å"God Save Franz the Emperor†) by Franz Joseph Haydn  (1732-1809), which was first played on February 12, 1797. In 1841 Haydns melody was combined with with lyrics by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben  Ã‚  (1798-1874) to create â€Å"Das Lied der Deutschen† or â€Å"Das Deutschlandlied.† From the time of Bismarcks Prussia (1871) up to the end of the First World War this anthem was replaced by another. In 1922 the first president of the German Republic (the â€Å"Weimar Republic†), Friedrich Ebert, officially introduced â€Å"Das Lied der Deutschen† as the national anthem. During the 12 years of the Nazi era, the first stanza was the official anthem. In May 1952 the third stanza was proclaimed the official anthem of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) by President Theodor Heuss. (East Germany had its own anthem.) The second verse, while never  verboten (forbidden), was not very popular because of its â€Å"wine, women, and song† references. The fourth verse was written by Albert Matthi during the French occupation of the Ruhr region in 1923. It is not part of the anthem today. Since 1952, only the third (â€Å"Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit†) verse has been the official anthem. Das Lied der Deutschen Song of the Germans German Lyrics Literal English Translation Deutschland, Deutschland ber alles, Germany, Germany above all, ber alles in der Welt, Above everything in the world, Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze When always, for protection, Brderlich zusammenhlt, We stand together as brothers. Von der Maas bis an die Memel, From the Maas to the Memel Von der Etsch bis an den Belt - From the Etsch to the Belt - Deutschland, Deutschland ber alles, Germany, Germany above all ber alles in der Welt. Above all in the world. Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue, German women, German loyalty, Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang German wine and German song, Sollen in der Welt behalten Shall retain in the world, Ihren alten schnen Klang, Their old lovely ring Uns zu edler Tat begeistern To inspire us to noble deeds Unser ganzes Leben lang. Our whole life long. Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue, German women, German loyalty, Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang German wine and German song. Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit Unity and law and freedom fr das deutsche Vaterland! For the German Fatherland Danach lasst uns alle streben Let us all strive for that Brderlich mit Herz und Hand! In brotherhood with heart and hand! Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit Unity and law and freedom Sind des Glckes Unterpfand; Are the foundation for happiness Blh im Glanze dieses Glckes, Bloom in the glow of happiness Blhe, deutsches Vaterland. Bloom, German Fatherland. Deutschland, Deutschland ber alles,* Germany, Germany above all* Und im Unglck nun erst recht. And in misfortune all the more. Nur im Unglck kann die Liebe Only in misfortune can love Zeigen, ob sie stark und echt. Show if its strong and true. Und so soll es weiterklingen And so it should ring out Von Geschlechte zu Geschlecht: From generation to generation: Deutschland, Deutschland ber alles, Germany, Germany above all, Und im Unglck nun erst recht. And in misfortune all the more. Listen to  the  Melody: Lied der Deutschen  or to the the  Deutschlandlied  (orchestral version. Austrian National Anthem: Land der Berge The national anthem (Bundeshymne) of the  Republik Ãâ€"sterreich  (Republic of Austria) was officially adopted on February 25, 1947, following a contest to find a replacement for the former imperial anthem by Haydn that had been appropriated by Germany in 1922 and now also had Nazi associations. The composer of the melody is not certain, but its origin goes back to 1791, when it was created for the freemason lodge to which both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Holzer (1753-1818) belonged. Current theory says that either Mozart or Holzer could have composed the melody. The lyrics were written by Paula von Preradovic (1887-1951), the winner of the 1947 competition. Preradovic was the mother of the Austrian Minister of Education, Felix Hurdes, who had encouraged her (a distinguished writer and poet) to enter the contest.   The  Swiss National Anthem (Die Schweizer Nationalhymne) The Swiss national anthem has a unique history that reflects the  nature of Switzerland itself. Switzerland (die Schweiz) may be an old country, but its current national anthem has only been official since 1981. Although the Schweizer Landeshymne or Landeshymne was tentatively approved by the Swiss Nationalrat in 1961 and was in general use after 1965, the anthem did not actually become official for another 20 years (April 1, 1981). The anthem itself, originally known as the Schweizerpsalm, is much older. In 1841 the priest and composer Alberik Zwyssig of Urn was asked to compose music for a patriotic poem written by his friend, Zurich music publisher Leonhard Widmer. He used a hymn that he had already composed, and adapted it for Widmers words. The result was the Schweizerpsalm, which soon became popular in parts of Switzerland. But some Swiss cantons, such as French-speaking Neuchatel, had their own anthems. Efforts to select an official Swiss national anthem (to replace an old one that used the British God Save the Queen/King melody) ran up against the countrys five languages and strong regional identities until 1981.