Auferstanden aus Ruinen

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Auferstanden aus Ruinen (Risen from the Ruins) 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, perhaps because he remained a citizen of Austria.

1 Overview
2 Lyrics
- 2.1 German lyrics
- 2.2 English translation
3 External links

[edit] Overview

Written in 1949, the anthem reflects the early stage of German separation, in which continuing progress towards reunification was seen by many Germans as appropriate and natural. Consequently, Becher's lyrics develop several connotations of "unity" and combine them with "fatherland" (einig Vaterland), which here means Germany as a whole. However, this concept would not conform to an increasingly icy Cold War context. The East German government then banned the lyrics and tried its best to destroy all printed copies of the lyrics.

In 1973, East and West Germany were admitted to the United Nations simultaneously, following talks between the two countries that conferred a degree of mutual recognition. The term Germany was later removed from the GDR constitution, and on official occasions only the anthem's melody was played. No new lyrics were ever written to replace Becher's.

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. East German Prime Minister Lothar de Maizière had proposed that its words be added to the united German anthem, but this was rejected by Chancellor Helmut Kohl. At the end of its last broadcast on 2 October 1990, the East German station Radio Berlin International signed off with an instrumental of Auferstanden aus Ruinen that segued into a rock-beat version of the (West) German anthem Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit.

[edit] Lyrics

[edit] German lyrics

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.

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.

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.

[edit] English translation

Risen from the ruins
and faced towards the future,
Let us serve you for the good,
Germany, united fatherland.
Old woes we will have to conquer,
and, united, so we shall,
For it lies within our power
that the sun, beautiful as never before,
Shines over Germany,
shines over Germany.

Happiness and peace may be granted
Germany, our fatherland.
All the world now longs for peace,
so go forth and extend your hand.
When as brothers we unite,
we defeat the people's foe.
Let it shine, the light of Peace!
so that no mother again must
Mourn her son,
mourn her son.

Let us plough, let us build,
learn and work as never before,
And, in confidence and strength,
a free generation will come forth.
German youth, the best endeavor
of our people combined in you,
You will give Germany new life.
Then may the sun, more beautiful than ever
Shine over Germany,
shine over Germany.