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National Anthem of the GDR
Text: Johannes R. Becher.

The national anthem of the German Democratic Republic (1949) was written by expressionist poet Johannes R. Becher—the GDR minister of culture until his death in 1952. The words "Germany, united Fatherland" reflected the East German Communist Party's official support in the immediate postwar period for German reunification. In the late 1960s, this policy changed in favor of one that emphasized the GDR's sovereignty over against the Federal Republic of Germany: Becher's text was prohibited in 1971, and the anthem was performed from then on without words.

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.

Risen from the ruins and turned toward the future,
let us serve you for the good, Germany, united Fatherland.
Old misery must be overcome, and we overcome it united,
for we must succeed, that the sun, beautiful as never before,
shines over Germany, shines over Germany.

Glück und Frieden 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.

May fortune and peace be granted to Germany, our Fatherland.
All the world is yearning for peace: give the nations your hand.
When as brothers we are one, we beat the people's enemy!
Let the light of peace shine, so that never again will a mother
mourn her son, mourn her son.

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.

Let us plant, let us build, learn and create as never before,
and trusting in its own strength, a free generation is on the rise.
German youth, doing your best, uniting our people in you,
be Germany's new life. And the sun, beautiful as never before,
is shining over Germany, is shining over Germany.