Regardless of political views and personal sentiments many people would openly admit that in terms of their national anthem, the former German Democratic Republic definitely managed to do something right.
Auferstanden aus Ruinen – “Risen from Ruins” – had a gripping melody and an intensely moving text. The song became the official national anthem of the GDR on November 5, 1949.
On that day the new state’s (the GDR itself was born only in October that year) chief executive body, the Council of Ministers of the GDR, announced its decision concerning the choice of the national anthem. With music written by Hanns Eisler (in a record time of three weeks!) and the lyrics by a poet Johannes Robert Becher who later became the East German Minister of Culture, the song was melodious without being too difficult, poignant without being overwhelming and focused on the most burning issue in German politics at the…
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