- Wenn alle untreu werden
-
"Wenn alle untreu werden, so bleiben wir doch treu" (English: If all become unfaithful, we remain loyal) is the opening line of a famous patriotic German popular song written by Max von Schenkendorf in 1814. Schenkendorf dedicated the song to Friedrich Ludwig Jahn for the "holy German Empire".
The melody was a slightly modified form of Pour aller à la chasse faut être matineux, a French hunting song dating from 1724.
The title also refers to a German hymn of the same name, written by the German poet Novalis in 1799. The first two lines of this hymn are the same as in Schenkendorf's song.[1]
Gerhard Roßbach included the song in the activities of his German Youth Movement in which "its emphasis on loyalty in adversity and faith in Germany precisely fit Roßbach's desire to unify conservative forces behind a project of political and cultural renewal."[2] During the Third Reich the song was used extensively by the German Schutzstaffel, and became known as Treuelied (song of faithfulness).
Lyrics
German original - Wenn alle untreu werden, so bleiben wir doch treu,
- Daß immer noch auf Erden für euch ein Fähnlein sei.
- Gefährten unsrer Jugend, ihr Bilder beßrer Zeit,
- Die uns zu Männertugend und Liebestod geweiht.
- Wollt nimmer von uns weichen, uns immer nahe sein,
- Treu wie die deutschen Eichen, wie Mond und Sonnenschein!
- Einst wird es wieder helle in aller Brüder Sinn,
- Sie kehren zu der Quelle in Lieb und Reue hin.
- Es haben wohl gerungen die Helden dieser Frist,
- und nun der Sieg gelungen, übt Satan neue List.
- Doch wie sich auch gestalten, im Leben mag die Zeit,
- du sollst uns nicht veralten, o Traum der Herrlichkeit.
- Ihr Sterne seid uns Zeugen, die ruhig niederschaun,
- Wenn alle Brüder schweigen und falschen Götzen traun.
- Wir woll'n das Wort nicht brechen, nicht Buben werden gleich,
- Woll'n predigen und sprechen vom heil'gen deutschen Reich.
English Translation
- If all become untrue, true we remain
- That ever on earth a banner for you might be.
- Comrades of our Youth, you, picture of a better time,
- That consecrates us to manly virtue and a death for loves sake.
- Let us never bend, let us always be near,
- Loyal like German oaks, like moon and sunshine!
- Once it will again be bright in all brothers minds,
- They turn to the source in love and humility.
- This grace have the heroes well wrested,
- and now, the victory won, Satan practices new treachery.
- Yet however he may appear, in life may the time,
- You, O Dream of Glory, shall never grow old on us
- Your stars to us are creations that calmly gaze down upon us
- When all brothers fall silent and trust in false idols.
- We'll never break our word, becoming like fools,
- We will preach and speak of the holy German Empire.
"When all become disloyal, we remain loyal That always yet on Earth one battalion for you will be Companions of our youth, your images of a better time, Us for manly virtue and loving death have consecrated.
Never weaken, always be nearby True as German oaks, as the moon and the sunshine! Once again it will become clear to all our brothers' spirits They will return to the source in love and loyalty.
They have struggled well, the heroes of this time, And now have made the victory, Satan uses new tricks. But however this time may turn out in life You will never grow old for us, o dream of glory!
Your stars are our witnesses, calmly looking down, When all the brothers fall silent and trust in false idols. We don't want to break our word, nor to become like knaves, We want to preach and speak of the holy German Reich!"
1 Reference: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=115472
References
- ^ http://www.zeno.org/Literatur/M/Novalis/Gedichte/Geistliche+Lieder/6.+%5BWenn+alle+untreu+werden%5D
- ^ Celia Applegate, Pamela Maxine Potter (eds), Music and German National Identity, 2002, University of Chicago Press, p.136
External links
Categories:- Political party songs
- German songs
- Nazism
- 1914 songs
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