Des Deutschen Vaterland

Was ist des Deutschen Vaterland is a German nationalist/German Unification song by Ernst Moritz Arndt (1813) which was popular in the 19th century.

In the text, Arndt asks the German question and answers it by demanding a Greater German nation-state comprising all German-speaking areas in Europe.

[1] As the original tune did not become popular, Gustav Reichardt wrote a new melody in 1825.

[2] This new tune made the song very popular among the German population that desired the transformation of the German Confederation into a united empire, instead of the previous situation where there were multiple duchies and kingdoms.

Joachim Raff used Reichhardt's tune as a leitmotif in his symphony An das Vaterland.

[3] In 1911, Emil Sembritzki, a German schoolteacher, wrote a song known as "Was ist des Deutschen Tochterland?

Ist’s, wo am Rhein die Rebe blüht?

Ist’s, wo am Belt die Möwe zieht?

Ist’s, wo des Marsen Rind sich streckt?

Ist’s, wo der Märker Eisen reckt?

Ist’s, wo die Donau brausend geht?

Das Land und Volk gefiel mir wohl!

Gewiss, es ist das Österreich, An Ehren und an Siegen reich?

So weit die deutsche Zunge klingt Und Gott im Himmel Lieder singt: Das soll es sein!

Das ist des Deutschen Vaterland, Wo Eide schwört der Druck der Hand, Wo Treue hell vom Auge blitzt Und Liebe warm im Herzen sitzt.

Das ganze Deutschland soll es sein!

Das ganze Deutschland soll es sein, O Gott vom Himmel, sieh darein Und gib uns rechten deutschen Mut, Dass wir es lieben treu und gut!

Das ganze Deutschland soll es sein!

As far as the German tongue sounds And sings songs to God in heaven: That shall it be!

That is the German’s fatherland, Where oaths are sworn with curled hand, Where loyalty blazes brightly from the eye And love sits warmly in the heart.

The whole Germany shall it be, O God from heaven, see within And give us real German courage, That we may love it faithfully and well.