State Anthem of the Soviet Union

Introduction

The "State Anthem of the Soviet Union" (Russian: Госуда́рственный гимн Сове́тского Сою́за, translit. Gosudárstvenny gimn Sovétskogo Soyúza Russian pronunciation: [ɡəsʊˈdarstvʲɪnːɨj ɡʲimn sɐvʲˈet͡skəvə sɐˈjuzə]), also unofficially known as "Slav’sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye" (Russian: Сла́вься, Оте́чество на́ше свобо́дное, lit. 'Be Glorious, our free Motherland') was the official national anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the state anthem of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1944 to 1991, replacing "The Internationale". The lyrics were written by Sergey Mikhalkov (1913–2009) in collaboration with Gabriel El-Registan (1899–1945) and the music was composed by Alexander Alexandrov (1883–1946). Although the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991, the melody of its national anthem continues to be used in the Russian Federation's national anthem, which has different lyrics from the version used in the Soviet Union.

History

Origins

The music was originally composed by Alexander Alexandrov in circa 1938 for the Hymn of the Bolshevik Party. The opening bars of this song were sampled from one of Alexandrov's previous pieces, Life Has Become Better. This song was based off a quote said by former Soviet Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin at the First All-Union Meeting of the Stakhanovites on November 17, 1935. The manner of this song alludes to Stalin's cult of personality.

When the Communist International (Comintern) was dissolved in 1943 in order for the Soviet Union to maintain its alliance with the other Allies of World War II, a new musical piece was needed to replace "The Internationale" as the national anthem. A contest was held in mid to late 1943 for a new anthem to be selected, with more than 200 submitted entries. Alexandrov's music was chosen by Stalin personally, who both praised and criticized the song. Once the song was selected, new lyrics had to be written. Stalin thought that the hymn to be short, and that it had to invoke the Red Army's impending victory over the forces of Germany on the Eastern Front. The poets Sergey Mikhalkov and Gabriel El-Registan were selected to write new lyrics by Stalin's staffers, and were called to Moscow. They were tasked with writing new lyrics which referenced not only the Great Patriotic War, but also "a Country of Soviets". The first draft of the lyrics were completed overnight. Stalin had suggested more lyrics be made about himself, and so an extra line was added making reference to Stalin inspiring the people.

The anthem was first published on 7 November 1943, was played for the first time on Soviet radio at midnight on 1 January 1944 and was officially adopted on 15 March the same year. The newly created lyrics had three different refrains following three different stanzas; in each refrain, the second line was consequently modified with references to friendship, then happiness and finally to glory. Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union's war against Germany were originally invoked in the second and third verses respectively.

Post-Stalin era

With the process of de-Stalinization after Stalin's death, the lyrics referring to him were considered unacceptable, and from 1953–1977 the anthem was performed without lyrics. A notable exception took place at the 1976 Canada Cup ice hockey tournament, where singer Roger Doucet insisted on performing the anthem with lyrics after consultations with Russian studies scholars from Université de Montréal and Soviet team officials. In 1977, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution, revised lyrics, earlier written in 1970 by original author Sergey Mikhalkov, were adopted. The varying refrains were replaced by a uniform refrain following all stanzas; the line praising Stalin was dropped, as were the lines referring to the Great Patriotic War. A notable change in the lyrics was the replacement of a line referencing the Flag of the Soviet Union to one mentioning the Bolshevik Party in the form of "Partiya Lenina" (The party of Lenin). These lyrics were also present in the original Bolshevik party anthem at the same location within the melody, followed by the lyrics "Partiya Stalina" (The party of Stalin).

Post-1991 use

Use in the Russian Federation

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Federation adopted a new wordless anthem called the "Patriotic Song", although there were suggestions for adopting lyrics. As a result, a few different versions were produced. In 2000, the current national anthem of Russia was introduced, which used the music of the Soviet national anthem and new lyrics written by Sergey Mikhalkov.

State Union of Russia and Belarus

Also, the same music was used for a proposal of the anthem of the State Union of Russia and Belarus entitled Derzhavny Soyuz Narodov (Union of Sovereign Nations). Although never officially adopted, the lyrics of that piece were not tied to any specific nationality, and could be adopted for a broader union. However, there appears to be no plans to utilize that piece in any official role. The anthem also had official versions in the languages of every Soviet republic and in several other Soviet languages.

Decommunization

In some post-Soviet states which adopted decommunization laws banning the Communist symbolism, performing the Soviet anthem is illegal. For example, since 2015 in Ukraine the offenders face up to five years of prison. Similar laws were adopted in Latvia, and Lithuania.

Lyrics

1977年版

俄语	转写	译文
第一段
Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз!	Soyuz nerushimyy respublik svobodnykh Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'. Da zdravstvuet sozdannyy voley narodov Edinyy, moguchiy Sovetskiy Soyuz!	伟大俄罗斯，永久的联盟； 独立共和国，自由结合成。 各民族意志，建立的苏联， 统一而强大，万年万万年！
Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надёжный оплот! Партия Ленина - сила народная Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт!	Slav'sya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoe, Druzhby narodov nadëzhnyy oplot! Partiya Lenina - sila narodnaya Nas k torzhestvu kommunizma vedët!	自由的祖国，你无比光辉： 各民族友爱的坚固堡垒！ 列宁的党，人民的力量， 把我们引向共产主义胜利。
第二段
Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, И Ленин великий нам путь озарил: На правое дело он поднял народы, На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил!	Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobody, I Lenin velikiy nam puť ozaril: Na pravoe delo on podnyal narody, Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil!	自由的阳光，照耀着我们； 伟大的列宁，指明了前程。 因正义之故，他领导人民， 并激励我们，去建立功勋。
Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надёжный оплот! Партия Ленина - сила народная Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт!	Slav'sya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoe, Druzhby narodov nadëzhnyy oplot! Partiya Lenina - sila narodnaya Nas k torzhestvu kommunizma vedët!	自由的祖国，你无比光辉： 各民族友爱的坚固堡垒！ 列宁的党，人民的力量， 把我们引向共产主义胜利。
第三段
В победе бессмертных идей коммунизма Мы видим грядущее нашей страны, И Красному знамени славной Отчизны Мы будём всегда беззаветно вёрны!	V pobede bessmertnykh idey kommunizma My vidim gryadushchee nashey strany, I Krasnomu znameni slavnoy Otchizny My budëm vsegda bezzavetno vërny!	在共产主义的不朽胜利中， 我们看到亲爱祖国的未来。 为了她那飘扬的鲜红旗帜， 我们永远忠诚无私地屹立。
Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надёжный оплот! Партия Ленина - сила народная Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт!	Slav'sya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoe, Druzhby narodov nadëzhnyy oplot! Partiya Lenina - sila narodnaya Nas k torzhestvu kommunizma vedët!	自由的祖国，你无比光辉： 各民族友爱的坚固堡垒！ 列宁的党，人民的力量， 把我们引向共产主义胜利。

1944年版

俄语	转写	译文
第一段
Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз!	Soyuz nerushimiy respublik svobodnykh Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'. Da zdravstvuet sozdanniy voley narodov Yediniy, moguchiy Sovetskiy Soyuz!	伟大俄罗斯，永久的联盟； 独立共和国，自由结合成。 各民族意志，建立的苏联， 统一而强大，万年万万年！
Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надежный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведет!	Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Druzhbi narodov nadyozhniy oplot! Znamya sovetskoye, znamya narodnoye Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!	自由的祖国，你无比光辉： 各民族友爱的坚固堡垒！ 苏维埃红旗，人民的红旗， 从胜利引向胜利！
第二段
Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, И Ленин великий нам путь озарил: Нас вырастил Сталин — на верность народу, На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил!	Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobody, I Lenin veliky nam put' ozaril: Nas vyrastil Stalin - na vernost' narodu, Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil!	自由的阳光，照耀着我们； 伟大的列宁，指明了前程。 斯大林教导，要忠于人民； 并激励我们，去建立功勋。
Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Счастья народов надежный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведет!	Slavsya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Schast'ya narodov nadyozhniy oplot! Znamya sovetskoye, znamya narodnoye Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!	自由的祖国，你无比光辉： 各民族幸福的坚固堡垒！ 苏维埃红旗，人民的红旗， 从胜利引向胜利！
第三段
Мы армию нашу растили в сраженьях. Захватчиков подлых с дороги сметем! Мы в битвах решаем судьбу поколений, Мы к славе Отчизну свою поведем!	My armiyu nashu rastili v srazhen'yakh, Zakhvatchikov podlykh s dorogi smetyom! My v bitvakh reshayem sud'bu pokoleniy, My k slave Otchiznu svoyu povedyom!	战争中成长，我们的红军， 敌人来侵略，就消灭干净。 斗争中决定，几代人命运， 引导我祖国，向光荣前进！
Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Славы народов надежный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведет!	Slavsya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Slavy narodov nadyozhniy oplot! Znamya sovetskoye, znamya narodnoye Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!	自由的祖国，你无比光辉： 各民族光荣的坚固堡垒！ 苏维埃红旗，人民的红旗， 从胜利引向胜利！

• 每段副歌第二行的第一个字均不同。