Das Lied der Deutschen

Das Lied der Deutschen. The national anthem of Germany, its text was written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1841 on the island of Heligoland, then a British possession. Set to a melody composed by Joseph Haydn in 1797 for the Emperor's Hymn, the song's third stanza, beginning with "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" ("Unity and Justice and Freedom"), has been the sole official anthem since 1991. Its complex history intertwines with the German Confederation, the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi era, and the post-war division and reunification of the nation.

History and origins

The melody originates from the Emperor's Hymn, composed by Joseph Haydn in 1797 as a personal anthem for Emperor Francis II of the Holy Roman Empire. The poet and linguist August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, a proponent of the liberal Vormärz movement, wrote the text while in exile on Heligoland. His verses, beginning with "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles," were a call for German unity over the myriad confederated states like Prussia, Bavaria, and Saxony, not a claim of superiority. The song gained popularity during the Revolutions of 1848 and later, following the Unification of Germany under Otto von Bismarck, it saw increased unofficial use alongside "Heil dir im Siegerkranz." It was formally adopted as the national anthem by President Friedrich Ebert of the Weimar Republic in 1922, following a public suggestion from Walter Simons, the president of the Reichsgericht.

Lyrics and musical composition

The full text consists of three stanzas, with the first beginning "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, über alles in der Welt." The controversial first stanza references geographic boundaries from the Meuse River to the Memel and from the Etsch to the Little Belt, reflecting the broader German Question of the 19th century. The second stanza celebrates German virtues, wine, and women. The third stanza, the current official text, opens with "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" and concludes with "Blüh im Glanze dieses Glückes, blühe, deutsches Vaterland!" Haydn's melody, originally written for the "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser", is in the key of G major and features a stately, hymn-like character. The same melody was also used for the Austrian imperial anthem and the later "Sei gesegnet ohne Ende".

Historical usage and controversies

During the era of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, the first stanza was heavily emphasized and often followed by the "Horst-Wessel-Lied", irrevocably associating "Deutschland über alles" with Nazism, territorial expansionism, and the atrocities of World War II. This association led to the anthem being banned by the Allied Control Council after the war. In 1949, the newly founded West Germany under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer began using only the third stanza during state functions, a practice formally endorsed by President Theodor Heuss and Federal President Gustav Heinemann in subsequent years. In East Germany, a new anthem, "Auferstanden aus Ruinen" with music by Hanns Eisler, was adopted. The Berlin Wall and the broader Cold War symbolized the anthem's division.

Modern status and public perception

Following German reunification in 1990, an exchange of letters in 1991 between Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker and Chancellor Helmut Kohl formally confirmed the third stanza of "Das Lied der Deutschen" as the national anthem of the unified Federal Republic of Germany. Today, it is performed at official events such as state visits by the President of Germany, sessions of the Bundestag, and international sporting events like those organized by FIFA or the International Olympic Committee. Public perception remains nuanced; while the third stanza is widely accepted, the first stanza is taboo and its public use can be prosecuted under laws against Volksverhetzung. The anthem's history is a frequent subject of public discourse, historical analysis by institutions like the Institute for Contemporary History, and cultural commentary, reflecting Germany's ongoing process of Vergangenheitsbewältigung.

Category:National anthems Category:German songs Category:German musical compositions