View source for Heil dir im Siegerkranz

{{Infobox anthem|title=Heil dir im Siegerkranz|english_title=Hail to Thee in the Victor's Crown|image=Heil dir im Siegerkranz (ca 1900).jpg|caption=Poster with Lyrics of Heil dir im Siegerkranz, 1900.|prefix=Imperial/Royal|country=[[German Empire|Germany]],
[[Prussia]]|author=[[Heinrich Harries]]|composer=unknown|adopted=1795 (as royal anthem of Prussia)<br />
<nowiki>1871 (as unofficial anthem of German Empire)</nowiki>|sound=Heil Dir Im Siegerkranz (old recording).ogg|lyrics_date=1790|until=1918|sound_title=Heil Dir Im Siegerkranz, recording before 1917}}

"'''{{Lang|de|Heil dir im Siegerkranz|italic=no}}'''" ({{IPA-de|ˈhaɪ̯l diːɐ̯ ʔɪm ˈziːɡɐkʁant͡s|pron}}; German for "Hail to Thee in the Victor's Crown", literally: "Hail to Thee in the Victor's Wreath") was the official [[national anthem]] of the [[German Empire]] from 1871 to 1919 officially and 1918 unofficially.{{sfn|Fischer|Senkel|2010|p=90}}

[[File:Flag_of_Germany_(1867–1918).svg|thumb|220x220px|Flag of [[German Empire|Germany]] (1867-1918).]]
==History==
Before the [[Proclamation of the German Empire|foundation of the Empire]] in 1871, it had been the royal anthem of [[Prussia]] since 1795 and remained it after 1871.{{sfn|Fischer|Senkel|2010|p=91}} The melody of the hymn derived from the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] anthem "[[God Save the Queen|God Save the King]]", but it also was never recognized by the southern German states, such as [[Kingdom of Bavaria|Bavaria]] and [[Kingdom of Württemberg|Württemberg]].<ref>Fehrenbach, Elisabeth. ''Politischer Umbruch und gesellschaftliche Bewegung: ausgewählte Aufsätze zur Geschichte Frankreichs und Deutschlands im 19. Jahrhundert''. Oldenburg, 1997. p. 312.</ref> After [[World War I]], the German Empire [[Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)|came to an end]] and "[[Das Lied der Deutschen]]" became the national anthem of the [[Weimar Republic]].<ref>{{ill|Wilhelm von Sternburg|lt=Sternburg, Wilhelm von|de}}. ''Die Geschichte der Deutschen''. p. 131.</ref>

== Lyrics ==
[[File:Heil_dir_im_Siegerkranz_(1843).jpg|thumb|365x365px|Lyrics, 1843.]]

{{verse translation|lang=de|italicsoff=yes|I. Heil dir im Siegerkranz,
Herrscher des Vaterlands!
Heil, Kaiser, dir!
𝄆Fühl' in des Thrones Glanz
Die hohe Wonne ganz,
Liebling des Volks zu sein!
Heil Kaiser, dir!𝄇

II. Nicht Roß und Reisige
Sichern die steile Höh’,
Wo Fürsten steh’n:
𝄆Liebe des Vaterlands,
Liebe des freien Manns
Gründen den Herrschers Thron
Wie Fels im Meer.𝄇

III. Heilige Flamme, glüh’,
Glüh’ und erlösche nie
Für’s Vaterland!
𝄆Wir alle stehen dann
Mutig für einen Mann,
Kämpfen und bluten gern
Für Thron und Reich!𝄇

IV. Handlung und Wissenschaft<!-- This is the wording as sourced. -->
Hebe mit Mut und Kraft
Ihr Haupt empor!
𝄆Krieger und Heldenthat
Finde ihr Lorbeerblatt
Treu aufgehoben dort,
An deinem Thron!𝄇

V. Sei, Kaiser Wilhelm, hier
Lang deines Volkes Zier,
Der Menschheit Stolz!
𝄆Fühl' in des Thrones Glanz,
Die hohe Wonne ganz,
Liebling des Volks zu sein!
Heil, Kaiser, dir!𝄇<ref>[[:de:s:Heil dir im Siegerkranz (Harries)|Song No. 50]] in ''[[Allgemeines Deutsches Kommersbuch]]'', p. 47</ref>|I. Hail to thee in victor’s crown,
Ruler of the fatherland!
Hail, Emperor, to you.
𝄆Feel in the splendour of the throne
fully the highest joy:
To be the favourite of the people!
Hail, Emperor, to you.𝄇

II. Neither steed nor mounted knight
Can secure the towering height,
where princes stand:
𝄆Love of the fatherland,
Love of the free man
founds the sovereign’s throne
like a rock in the sea.𝄇

III. Holy flame, glow
glow and never extinct
for the fatherland!
𝄆We all will stand then
courageous for one man,
fight and bleed with joy
for throne and empire!𝄇

IV. Commerce and science,
may rise upwards their head
with courage and power!
𝄆Warrior and heroes’ deeds
may find their laurels of fame
faithfully preserved
on your throne!𝄇

V. Our emperor Wilhelm, is here,
a long time your people’s glory,
the pride of mankind!
𝄆Feel in the splendour of the throne
fully the highest joy:
To be the favourite of the people!
Hail, Emperor, to you.𝄇}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:German anthems]]
[[Category:German Empire]]
[[Category:Historical anthems]]
[[Category:1790s songs]]