Song of Germany becomes national anthem

On 2 September 1922, by means of decree, Reich President Friedrich Ebert declares the „Song of the Germans“ to be the national anthem.

© Daun/Weiss Autograph of the third verse of the „Deutschlandlied“ (Song of Germany)

The lyricist Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben had written the text on 26 August 1841 on the then still British North Sea island of Helgoland. The melody for the song was taken from the „Emperor Quartet“ by Josef Haydn.