Ostpreußenlied
Regional anthem of East Prussia until 1945.
The "Ostpreußenlied"—also called "Land der dunklen Wälder" or "Lied auf Ostpreußen"—served as the regional anthem of East Prussia until 1945, when the territory was split between the Soviet Union and the Polish People's Republic. The song continues to be used in connection with East Prussia.
In the early 1930s, Königsberg-born composer Herbert Brust (April 17, 1900 – June 26, 1968) wrote the "Oratorium der Heimat." Soon after, at the suggestion of the Königsberger Hartungsche Zeitung, Brust asked writer Erich Hannighofer to add lyrics, which Hannighofer did in four stanzas. The resulting piece, initially called "Ostpreußenland," attracted considerable attention and replaced the earlier song "Sie sagen all, du bist nicht schön."
In 1933, the song aired on Ostmarken Rundfunk AG under the name "Ostpreußenlied"—the title East Prussians primarily used. With nationalism rising in Germany, it became an important symbol of both East Prussian and German identity, and its popularity grew, partly due to its connection to the landscape. After the exile of Germans from East Prussia, an additional stanza appeared in 1945, though not by Hannighofer, who had gone missing by January 1 of that year. Although East Prussia ceased to exist as a German territory in 1945, the song lives on. It remains significant for displaced people and their descendants, often used in contexts remembering the lost homeland. Organizations like the Landsmannschaft Ostpreußen, an association of displaced East Prussians, have helped preserve and spread the song as part of the collective memory of East Prussia, especially among descendants now living in Germany.
The third and fourth verses are sometimes swapped in order. If a fifth verse is added, it is commonly placed between the two swapped verses, resulting in the order 4–5–3. In 1993, the song was translated into Old Prussian by Mikkels Klussis as "Prūsas Grīma," part of a language revival movement. Two versions of this translation exist, with slight differences in orthography and pronunciation.
- composer
- Herbert Brust
- born
- April 17, 1900
- died
- June 26, 1968
- field
- Music composition
- nationality
- German
- known_for
- Composing the Ostpreußenlied
Lore & Background
In the early 1930s, composer Herbert Brust from Königsberg (today Kaliningrad, Russia) created the "Oratorium der Heimat". At the suggestion of the Königsberger Hartungsche Zeitung, Brust asked writer Erich Hannighofer to add lyrics, resulting in four stanzas. The song, initially called Ostpreußenland, replaced the earlier song "Sie sagen all, du bist nicht schön".
In 1933, the song was broadcast on Ostmarken Rundfunk AG under the name "Ostpreußenlied", which became the primary name used by East Prussians. Its popularity grew with rising nationalism in Germany, becoming an important symbol of East Prussian and German identity, and also due to its connection with the landscape.
After the exile of Germans from East Prussia in 1945, an additional stanza appeared, though not by Hannighofer, who was already missing by January 1 of that year. The song continues to be significant for displaced persons and their descendants, preserved by organizations such as the Landsmannschaft Ostpreußen.
Reader's Guide
The Ostpreußenlied holds enduring significance as a cultural artifact of a lost territory. Composed in the early 1930s by Herbert Brust with lyrics by Erich Hannighofer, it became the de facto regional anthem of East Prussia, replacing an earlier song. Its rise coincided with the surge of nationalism in Germany, and it served as a symbol of both regional and national identity. After East Prussia ceased to exist as a German territory in 1945, the song took on new meaning for the millions of displaced East Prussians and their descendants. It is frequently used in commemorative contexts to honor the lost homeland. The Landsmannschaft Ostpreußen, an association of displaced East Prussians, has been instrumental in preserving and spreading the song as part of collective memory. In 1993, the song was translated into Old Prussian by Mikkels Klussis as "Prūsas Grīma" as part of a language revival movement, with two orthographic versions now existing. The song's lyrics sometimes vary in stanza order, and a fifth stanza may be inserted between swapped verses. Its legacy persists in both German and revived Prussian cultural contexts.
Did You Know?
- The song was originally called Ostpreußenland before being renamed Ostpreußenlied in 1933.
- Lyricist Erich Hannighofer was already missing by January 1, 1945.
- In 1993, the song was translated into Old Prussian as Prūsas Grīma by Mikkels Klussis.
- The song replaced an earlier East Prussian song titled 'Sie sagen all, du bist nicht schön'.
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