Auferstanden aus Ruinen

Auferstanden aus Ruinen

English: Risen from Ruins
National anthem of East Germany
Lyrics	Johannes Becher, 1949
Music	Hanns Eisler, 1949
Adopted	November 14, 1949 (1949-11-14)
Relinquished	3 October 1990 (1990-10-03)
Audio sample
File:Auferstanden aus Ruinen.wav "Auferstanden aus Ruinen" (vocal) file help

"Auferstanden aus Ruinen" (English: "Risen from Ruins", lit. 'Resurrected out [of] Ruins') is a German patriotic song that was the national anthem of East Germany during its existence from 1949 to 1990.

History

Background

In 1949, the Soviet occupation zone of Allied-occupied Germany became a socialist state under the name of the "German Democratic Republic" (GDR). For the nascent state's national anthem, the poet Johannes Becher, who later became the East German Minister of Culture, wrote the lyrics. Two musicians, Ottmar Gerster and Hanns Eisler, proposed music to Becher's lyrics, and Eisler's version was selected.

History

Written in 1949, the East German national anthem reflects the early stages of German separation, in which continuing progress towards reunification of the occupation zones was seen by most Germans as appropriate and natural. Consequently, Becher's lyrics develop several connotations of "unity" and combine them with "fatherland" (einig Vaterland), meaning Germany as a whole. However, this concept soon would not conform to an increasingly icy Cold War context, especially after the Berlin Wall had been erected in 1961 by the East German government.

In September 1973, East and West Germany were admitted to the United Nations simultaneously, following talks between the two governments that conferred a degree of mutual recognition. The term Germany was later removed from the East German constitution, and only the national anthem's tune was played on official occasions. No new lyrics were ever written to replace Becher's, which continued to be used unofficially, especially after die Wende in late 1989: once it became clear that the countries were actually moving towards reunification, East German television Deutscher Fernsehfunk reinstated the work and signed off every night with a joyous symphonic rendition of the vocal arrangement, with accompanying picturesque footage of East Germany's main tourist attractions.

"Auferstanden aus Ruinen" ceased to be a national anthem when the German Democratic Republic dissolved and its states joined the Federal Republic of Germany as a result of German reunification in 1990. "Deutschlandlied", composed in 1841, became the national anthem of a united Germany again. East German Premier Lothar de Maizière had proposed that Becher's lyrics be added to the united German national anthem, but this was rejected by his West German counterpart, chancellor Helmut Kohl.

At the end of its last broadcast on 2 October 1990, the East German international radio broadcaster Radio Berlin International signed off with a vocal version of the East German national anthem.

In November 1995, "Auferstanden aus Ruinen" was played again when German President Roman Herzog visited Brazil. This is the first event at which the anthem was played since the German reunification.

Lyrics

German Text	English translation	Poetic translation
1. Auferstanden aus Ruinen und der Zukunft zugewandt, laßt uns Dir zum Guten dienen, Deutschland, einig Vaterland. Alte Not gilt es zu zwingen, und wir zwingen sie vereint, denn es muß uns doch gelingen, daß die Sonne schön wie nie über Deutschland scheint, über Deutschland scheint. 2. Glück und Friede sei beschieden Deutschland, unserm Vaterland. Alle Welt sehnt sich nach Frieden, reicht den Völkern eure Hand. Wenn wir brüderlich uns einen, schlagen wir des Volkes Feind! Laßt das Licht des Friedens scheinen, daß nie eine Mutter mehr ihren Sohn beweint, ihren Sohn beweint 3. Laßt uns pflügen, laßt uns bauen, lernt und schafft wie nie zuvor, und der eignen Kraft vertrauend, steigt ein frei Geschlecht empor. Deutsche Jugend, bestes Streben, unsres Volks in dir vereint, wirst du Deutschlands neues Leben. Und die Sonne schön wie nie über Deutschland scheint, über Deutschland scheint.	1. Risen from the ruins and turned toward the future, Let us serve you for the common good, Germany, united Fatherland. Our task is to overcome old distress, and we shall overcome it together, and we shall surely succeed, so that the sun, more beautifully than ever before, shines over Germany, shines over Germany. 2. May happiness and peace be granted to Germany, our Fatherland. The whole world longs for peace, extend your hand to all peoples. If we unite fraternally, we will defeat the enemy of the People. Let the light of peace shine, so that a mother never again mourns her son, mourns her son. 3. Let us plough, let us build, learn and achieve as never before, That, trusting in our own strength, a free generation shall arise. German youth, the best striving of our people united in you, Will revivitalize Germany And the sun, more beautifully than ever before shines over Germany, shines over Germany.	1. From the ruins risen newly, To the future turned, we stand. Let us serve your good weal truly, Germany, our fatherland. Triumph over bygone sorrow, Can unity be won? For we shall attain a morrow, When over our Germany, there is the shining sun, there is the shining sun! 2. May both peace and joy inspire, Germany, our fatherland. Peace is all the world's desire, To the peoples lend your hand. In fraternity united, We shall crush the people's foe. Let all paths by peace be lighted, That no mother shall again mourn her son in woe, mourn her son in woe! 3. Let us plow and build our nation, Learn and work as never yet, That a free new generation, Faith in its own strength begets! German youth, for whom the striving Of our people is at one, You are Germany's reviving, And over our Germany, There is the shining sun, there is the shining sun!

See also

• "Children's Hymn"
• "Deutschlandlied"
• "Hymne an Deutschland"
• "Lied von der blauen Fahne"

External links

• Media related to Auferstanden aus Ruinen at Wikimedia Commons
• "Auferstanden aus Ruinen", MP3 at sovmusic.ru
• Text and melody (MIDI) and sheetmusic at ingeb.org