Why do I love the German national anthem so much?

[DJM]

Composed by Josef Haydn, an Austrian who worked mainly in the court of Count Esterhazy, and the most famous Austrian Baroque composer after Mozart. He knew how to put a good tune together. The Germans just pinched the tune later - it was originally just known as the Austrian Hymn.

Still not a patch on the Marseillaise or Fratelli d'Italia mind.

I'm with Billy Connoly: We should have the Archers theme tune as our National Anthem

 

[Eric gates hair]

I'm just pointing out that in terms of numbers the number of Irish men who signed up to the British Army far outweighs those who collaborated with the Germans

Stats

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Nazi

Not so. The poem, "Deutschlandlied" was written in 1841, and adopted as national anthem in 1922, before the NSDP was formed. The unofficial Nazi anthem was the Horst Wessel Song, the performance and publication of whose words and music are now prohibited in Germany. Furthermore, only the third verse is now used, which is entirely non-belligerent


Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Für das deutsche Vaterland!
Danach lasst uns alle streben
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand –
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!

Unity and justice and freedom
For the German fatherland!
Towards these let us all strive
Brotherly with heart and hand!
Unity and justice and freedom
Are the safeguards of fortune;
Flourish in the radiance of this fortune,
Flourish, German fatherland!
Flourish in the radiance of this fortune,
Flourish, German fatherland!

 

[Eric gates hair]

Not so. The poem, "Deutschlandlied" was written in 1841, and adopted as national anthem in 1922, before the NSDP was formed. The unofficial Nazi anthem was the Horst Wessel Song, the performance and publication of whose words and music are now prohibited in Germany. Furthermore, only the third verse is now used, which is entirely non-belligerent


Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Für das deutsche Vaterland!
Danach lasst uns alle streben
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand –
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!

Unity and justice and freedom
For the German fatherland!
Towards these let us all strive
Brotherly with heart and hand!
Unity and justice and freedom
Are the safeguards of fortune;
Flourish in the radiance of this fortune,
Flourish, German fatherland!
Flourish in the radiance of this fortune,
Flourish, German fatherland!

Grumpy put me in my place again

 

[TheBalkan]

Very stirring!

You probably sung it as a kid at school/church/scouts whatever.

'Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken' is the same music. That's why probably.

 

[Eric gates hair]

Whilst we are on topic.

what’s people feelings on god save the queen or land of hope and glory ?

 

[El Oso]

On National Anthems, I like Land of my Fathers

Yup. The Red Army won WWII, but that doesn't fit the jingoistic bollocks.

An estimated 25 million died. Unbelievable numbers.

the British Army were murdering innocent civilians so he surrendered, Thomas McDonagh whistled as they took him out to be shot and James Connolly was shot tied up on a chair as he had to be stretchered out and he forgave the Soldiers about to shoot him

as a result of the atrocities of the British Army the previously little supported Sinn Fein swept to victory in the next Election

James Connolly was incredible.
Many Irishman heard the call of Franco, though.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

You probably sung it as a kid at school/church/scouts whatever.

'Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken' is the same music. That's why probably.

Originally it was a birthday ode for Emperor Francis II, and was entitled "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" (God Save Francis the Emperor).

 

[Wayne The Punk]

some of his very strong views were questionable but my point was trying to put them in context whereby they were willing to die for their country, volunteered for it and these very strong feelings were likened by some to Fascism but as per your description there he was trying to free his people from Fascism and thanks to him it largely was within a few years and just before my father was able to be born an Irish man

empty your box cat

 

[El Oso]

Not so. The poem, "Deutschlandlied" was written in 1841, and adopted as national anthem in 1922, before the NSDP was formed. The unofficial Nazi anthem was the Horst Wessel Song, the performance and publication of whose words and music are now prohibited in Germany. Furthermore, only the third verse is now used, which is entirely non-belligerent


Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Für das deutsche Vaterland!
Danach lasst uns alle streben
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand –
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!

Unity and justice and freedom
For the German fatherland!
Towards these let us all strive
Brotherly with heart and hand!
Unity and justice and freedom
Are the safeguards of fortune;
Flourish in the radiance of this fortune,
Flourish, German fatherland!
Flourish in the radiance of this fortune,
Flourish, German fatherland!

I believe the Nazis added verses, from memory, something like "Germany stretching from Denmark to France".

Whilst we are on topic.

what’s people feelings on god save the queen or land of hope and glory ?

Neither.
Jerusalem for me. I love cricket though.

 

[TheBalkan]

Originally it was a birthday ode for Emperor Francis II, and was entitled "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" (God Save Francis the Emporer"

Yep. Similarly, in the English context God Save the King was used when the monarch turned up at a theatre.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

I believe the Nazis added verses, from memory, something like "Germany stretching from Denmark to France".

Can't confirm that, but it's very plausible. The original meaning of the phrase "Deutschland über alles" was a coded plea for German unification before Bismarck came along and made it happen.

 

[Locke's SAFC]

Very stirring!

Deutschland Uber Alles. It was intended to unite Germans, who, up until unification, spoke an incomprehensible language to other Germans and had different currencies and so on. 'Much better than our drivel about a queen.

'Best anthem in these parts is the Welsh anthem. 'Just an anthem about a love for their country whereas we have a load of shite about homage to a queen. Scotland's is no better than ours: an anthem about England.

 

[Eric gates hair]

Scotland’s is about an avent 700 years ago. Ours is abit aged

 

[luvulongtime]

there's rock and soul versions anarl ours is a dirge

 

[CatRyan]

On National Anthems, I like Land of my Fathers


An estimated 25 million died. Unbelievable numbers.


James Connolly was incredible.
Many Irishman heard the call of Franco, though.

about 800 joined for Franco and were heavily encouraged to by the church I think
there was also a Socialist and IRA contingent went to fight for the other side

empty your box cat

done

 

[LUBITSCH]

Yup. The Red Army won WWII, but that doesn't fit the jingoistic bollocks.

But it isn't true. Britain, The Soviet Union and The U.S.A. were equally important in defeating the Axis powers. There is nothing jingoistic in being proud of my parents' generation and the sacrifices they made. We sent huge amounts of aid to The Soviets in 1941 without which they might not have beaten the Nazis. My Father spent three and a half years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp partly because Churchill prioritised aid to The Red Army over Arms to Singapore.
It should never be forgotten that Stalin helped the Germans while sawing Poland in half before Operation Barbarossa. So yes, the sacrifices of Soviet forces were immense but allied victory only became assured after Pearl Harbour.

 

[BostonCat]

Whilst we are on topic.

what’s people feelings on god save the queen or land of hope and glory ?

England’s should be Jerusalem. It’s mint.

But it isn't true. Britain, The Soviet Union and The U.S.A. were equally important in defeating the Axis powers. There is nothing jingoistic in being proud of my parents' generation and the sacrifices they made. We sent huge amounts of aid to The Soviets in 1941 without which they might not have beaten the Nazis. My Father spent three and a half years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp partly because Churchill prioritised aid to The Red Army over Arms to Singapore.
It should never be forgotten that Stalin helped the Germans while sawing Poland in half before Operation Barbarossa. So yes, the sacrifices of Soviet forces were immense but allied victory only became assured after Pearl Harbour.

As Stalin himself said, Britain provided the time, the USA provided the money, and the Soviet Union provided the blood. Doubtful if any of them could or would have done it by themselves.

And yes - never forget what Stalin did to Poland in 1939 as part of the non-aggression pact with the Nazis.

 

[mad cyril]

Wales
France
Scotland
Germany

All great, off top of my head I can’t think of any decent ones other than above

 

[Locke's SAFC]

England’s should be Jerusalem. It’s mint.

As Stalin himself said, Britain provided the time, the USA provided the money, and the Soviet Union provided the blood. Doubtful if any of them could or would have done it by themselves.

And yes - never forget what Stalin did to Poland in 1939 as part of the non-aggression pact with the Nazis.

The Russians would have beaten them on their own because in the end all of Germany's problems were of their own making: logistics, resources, planning and so on. Germany simply did not have enough of either of those things to win that war. It didn't really matter what help Russia was given because eventually the Germans were inevitably going to run out of resources. With every inch of ground they went farther into Russia they lost more men that they couldn't replace fast enough and the going got tougher as Russian resolve hardened the deeper into Russia they went. It was just a matter of time before the Russians counter-attacked and started to push them back and got on a roll.