Will there be a fresh anthem for Germany? Leftist politician abruptly wants a change

natemat.pl 1 day ago
Many residents of east Germany do not identify with the current national anthem of the country – according to Leftist politician Bodo Ramelow. And he proposes a solution.


Former Prime Minister of Thuringia and current Vice-President of the Bundestag Bodo Ramelow of the Left organization proposed the establishment of a fresh national anthem of Germany. As he claims, he knows many residents of the east regions of Germany, or the erstwhile communist GDR, who "for many reasons do not sing the national anthem". Therefore, as he added, he would like to vote on the proposal that the national anthem should be "Kinderhymne" by Bertolt Brecht of 1950.

"The children's hymn has a wonderful text. A passage of flourishing better Germany could become the starting point for creating an anthem for all of Germany that we could all sing with joy," he said in an interview with the paper "Rheinische Post".

Ramelow warned that he himself sings the current anthem "with enthusiasm" due to the fact that he can realize it.

The current anthem in Germany is the poem by August Heinrich von Fallersleben (1798–1874) entitled "The Song of Germans" from 1841, and more specifically, only his 3rd verse. In the 3rd Reich, only the first verse, beginning with the words “Deutschland, Deutschland über alles”, or “Germany, Germany, above all”. In the author's mind, this did not mean a call to conquer by Germany, but was a call to prosecute the unity of the country. The anthem's melody was based on a song by Joseph Haydn, composed between 1796 and 1797.

Not just the hymn


In turn, Brecht's "Hymn Children's" starting with the words "Anmut sparet nicht noch Mühe", was created as a proposal for an alternate anthem. The poem calls for work and concern for the country and relationship between nations, and besides speaks about contemporary German boundaries "from Oder to Ren". The music was composed by Hanns Eisler, but can besides be sung to the tune of the current German anthem. As early as the German unification process in 1990, it was proposed to establish this work with a national anthem, but the proposal was rejected.

Ramelow besides proposed voting on the flag of the national Republic of Germany. "I know that the black-red-gold flag symbolizes the rejection of totalitarian structures. However, many people feel alienated to the national flag," he said.

"I would like to put all of this to the vote together with Article 146 of the Basic Act, which states that it will cease to be valid erstwhile the fresh constitution adopted by free vote by the German people enters into force," Ramelow explained.

Written by Anna Widzyk


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