Deutschösterreich, du herrliches Land
"Deutschösterreich, du herrliches Land" (German for "German Austria, you wonderful country") was the national anthem of Austria from 1920 to 1929. Although it was used as the national anthem, it did not enjoy any official status. It is now used as the anthem of the President of Austria and the Austrian Armed Forces due to its references to defend the Austrian homeland.
| English: German Austria, you wonderful country | |
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Former national anthem of Austria Military anthem of the Austrian Armed Forces Song of the President of Austria | |
| Also known as | "Österreich, du herrliches Land" (English: "Austria, you wonderful country"; as the anthem of the Austrian Armed Forces and the President of Austria) |
| Lyrics | Karl Renner |
| Music | Wilhelm Kienzl |
| Adopted | 1920 |
| Relinquished | 1929 |
| Succeeded by | Sei gesegnet ohne Ende |
The text was written by Chancellor Karl Renner in 1920, while the melody was composed by Wilhelm Kienzl.
The Republic of German-Austria was formed in 1918 as the successor to the multinational Austro-Hungarian Empire in its predominantly German speaking part. The government and population was much in favour of a unification with Germany, the German nation-state that had been formed in 1871 but had excluded Austria. However, the victors of World War I demanded that Austria remained a separate country. In the Treaty of Versailles, there was a prohibition of unification. Under the provisions of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919), German Austria had to change its name to simply Austria.
Lyrics
| German original |
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Deutschösterreich, du herrliches Land, wir lieben dich! Hoch von der Alm unterm Gletscherdom Stürzen die Wasser zum Donaustrom, Tränken im Hochland Hirten und Lämmer, Treiben am Absturz Mühlen und Hämmer, Grüßen viel Dörfer, viel Städte und ziehn Jauchzend zum Ziel, unserm einzigen Wien! Du herrliches Land, unser Heimatland, Wir lieben dich, wir schirmen dich. |