by Adam Carr on 06 Nov 2008 09:35
I notice there have been several attempts here to get a translation of this song, which has its origins as an 18th century hymn. I have tracked down both the original lyrics and a translation, and the lyrics as they were adapted for use by the SS.
These are Max von Schenkendorf's original words. Note that when the song was originally written, it was sung to the tune of the Dutch national anthen, Het Wilhelmus. During the Napoleonic Wars this was considered insufficiently patriotic, and a new tune was composed.
Wenn alle untreu werden, so bleiben ich doch treu,
Daß immer noch auf Erden, für euch ein Streiter sei.
Gefährten meiner Jugend, ihr Bilder bess'rer Zeit,
Die mich zu Männertugend und Liebestod geweiht!
Wollt nimmer von mir weichen, uns immer nahe sein,
Treu, wie die deutschen Eichen, wie Mond und Sonnenschein!
Einst wird es wieder helle, in aller Brüder Sinn,
Dann kehren wir zu Quelle, in Lieb und Treue hin.
Es haben wohl gerungen die Männer dieser Frist,
Und nun der Sieg gelungen, übt Satan neue List.
Doch wie sich auch gestalten, im Leben mag die Zeit,
Du sollst mir nicht veralten, du Traum der Herrlichkeit!
Ihr Sterne seid mir Zeugen, die ruhig niederschau'n,
Wenn alle Brüder schweigen und falschen Götzen trau'n.
"Ich will mein Wort nicht brechen, nicht Buben werden gleich,
Will predigen und sprechen, von Kaiser und von Reich!
When all become disloyal, I remain loyal
That always yet on Earth one fighter for you will be
Companions of my youth, you images of a better time,
Who sanctified me for manly virtue and loving death.
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 we will return to the source in love and loyalty.
They have struggled well, the men of this time,
And now that victory is won, Satan uses new tricks.
But however this time may turn out in life
You will never grow old for us, o dream of glory!
You stars are our witnesses, calmy looking down,
When all brothers fall silent and trust in false idols.
"I will not break my word, nor to become like these knaves,
I will preach and speak of the Kaiser and the Reich."
(Who was "the Kaiser" at this time? It might have been the Holy Roman Emperor, though he was hardly a figure who inspired German patriots. It may be God, or a mythical "German Emperor to come.")
These are the lyrics as adapted to the needs of a patriotic song, and used by the SS. (I'm not clear that it was the SS that changed the lyrics, or whether it was done earlier.) The main change is from the singular to the plural (I becomes we), which made it more suitable to be sung by a male choir.
Wenn alle untreu werden, so bleiben wir doch treu,
Daß immer noch auf Erden für euch ein Fähnlein sei.
Gefährten unsrer Jugend, ihr Bilder bess'rer 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 Treue 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 niederschauen,
Wenn alle Brüder schweigen und falschen Götzen trauen.
Wir woll'n das Wort nicht brechen, nicht Buben werden gleich,
Woll'n predigen und sprechen vom heil'gen deutschen Reich!
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, calmy 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!
"Fähnlein" means literally "little flag." It was apparently a mediaeval military unit of 100 men.
It's not made explicit who "you" is in this version, in the old version it was God, but now it is presumably Germany. Thus the hymn has been secularised - or rather Germany has been sacralised.
