Was sind Maas Memel Etsch und Belt?

Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,
Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
Brüderlich zusammenhält,
Von der Maas bis an die Memel,
Von der Etsch bis an den Belt -
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt.

One of our colleagues has drawn Germany in the office World Cup sweepstake, and sent everyone this song, however I can't find the words listed in the LEO dictionary. Can anyone help please? Thanks.

It is part of the official but normally not sung verses/strophes of the German National Anthem. Today only the 3rd verse/strophe of the German National Anthem is sung officially ('Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
fuer das deutsche Vaterland,
danach lasst uns alle streben,
bruederlich mit Herz und Hand.
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
sind des Glueckes Unterpfand.
Blueh im Glanze dieses Glueckes,
bluehe deutsches Vaterland').
since this 3rd verse/strophe is the only one that does not refer to outdated frontiers or values.

Maas, Memel, and Etsch are rivers that are located at the former frontiers of Germany. I suggest you consult a map of Germany and surrounding countries, since not all of these rivers are still at the actual German borders :-)
'Belt' refers to the 'Baltic Sea'.
'zu Schutz und Trutz zusammenhalten' (oldfashioned 'Trutze') means 'to stay together to protect and to brave against enemies'

Many thanks!

This is the first verse of the "Lied der Deutschen" (song of the Germans) by Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, written in 1841. The The music is the "Kaiserquartett" (emperor's (violin) quartet) by Joseph Haydn.

The song was the German national anthem from 1922-1945. The national anthem today is the third verse of the song ("Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit).

In order to avoid a misunderstanding that is quite common (namely in the Anglo-American world):
The line "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles, ueber alles in der Welt" sounds somewhat jingoistic, as if Germany were the best nation and should rule the world and so on. And it is admitted that the Nazi-Regime certainly liked this notion. Historically, however, the song was written when "Germany" as a state did not exist (but a lot of small states, hardly one of them a democracy); it was a plea for the unification of Germany, addressed to the Germans (Hoffmann von Fallersleben was far from being a jingo; he was rather a liberal democrat). The fragmentary phrase "Deutschland ueber alles" implies that the idea of a unified state ("Deutschland") should prevail over particular, regional etc. interests. Hence the enumeration of the four rivers (Maas, Memel, Etsch, Belt): Those would have been the borders if Germany had been unified at that time. However, the unification movement failed when the Revolution of 1848 was suppressed.

It is also interesting that when Germany was unified in 1872, this song was not made the national anthem, for the emperor regarded it as "too democratic".

Today, the first verse is no longer used, mainly for three reasons: First, because "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles" might be misleading without the historic context; secondly, because especially right-winged skin-heads us it without the context as a jingoistic song; and thirdly because the described borderlines are no longer valid after Germany has lost a good deal of his territory - it might embarass the neighbour states.

The third verse, however, is still in use as the national anthem, and, may I say, one of the most peaceful anthems I know.

(Sorry for the lengthy comment, but I think this context is important.)

For the sake of completeness you have to add that the melody of that anthem was stolen by the Germans. Originally it was the Austrian emperor's anthem ("Gott erhalte, Gott beschütze / unsern Kaiser, unser Land ..."), composed by Joseph Haydn. It was in use from 1797 to 1918 and it was also - with a different text - the Austrian national anthem of the first republic (1918-1938).

Thanks for the completion. Actually, this import from Austria was by far less fatal than a later one :-)

Interesting enough, the verses of the (formerly West) German national anthem can be sung to the melody of the national anthem of the former German Democratic Republic "Auferstanden aus Ruinen" and vice versa. Would have been a nice idea after the German reunification...

Memel, today is a city from Lituania called Klaipeda nowadays.

@Candido: the city Memel is now known as Klaipeda, correct. However, the Memel referred to in the song in question is the river Memel.

#4 stefan : "was stolen by the Germans. Originally it was the Austrian emperor's anthem" - falsch!

Auch wenn's den Österreichern weh tut: 1797 handelte es sich nicht um den Österreichischen Kaiser, sondern um einen Österreicher, der deutscher Kaiser war.
Nach Wiki war "bis 1806 Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation die offizielle Bezeichnung des Reiches, ..."

"Die beiden letzten großen Rechtsakte das Reich betreffend, der Reichsdeputationshauptschluss von 1803 und die Auflösungserklärung Kaiser Franz II.,..."

"Am 30. Juli (1806) entschied sich Franz, auf die Krone zu verzichten;"

Hier zu #11 die Noten.