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Das weiße Kreuz im rothen Feld, Hoch flattert's [überm]1 Plan! Das Zeichen, das den Sieg behält, Vorwärts! es fliegt voran! Gott selber droben, Der hat's erhoben, Und gab's zum Hort dir in die Hand Vor aller Welt, mein Vaterland! Das weiße Kreuz im rothen Feld, Wir halten's frei und rein! Das Zeichen, das den Sieg behält, Nie soll's verloren sein! Im Tod und Leben Soll's uns [umweben]2! Nichts soll dir reißen aus der Hand Dein Banner [je]3, mein Vaterland! Das weiße Kreuz im rothen Feld, Weh Jedem, der's bedroht! Das Zeichen, das den Sieg behält, [Fort]4 bleibt's in Noth und Tod! Und wer muß sterben, Der läßt's den Erben! So lang noch waltet Gottes Hand, Frei bleibst du, frei, mein Vaterland!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 282-283.
1 Nater: "über'n"2 Nater: "umschweben"
3 Nater: "dir"
4 Nater: "Heil"
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Das weiße Kreuz im rothen Feld", appears in Liederbuch, in 4. Vaterlandslieder, no. 314 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Carl Attenhofer (1837 - 1914), "Das weisse Kreuz im rothen Feld", op. 12 (Acht kleine Lieder für Männerchor) no. 2, published 1872 [ men's chorus ], Zürich: Hug [sung text not yet checked]
- by Moritz Kahnt (1836 - 1904), "Das weisse Kreuz im rothen Feld", op. 3 (Zwei Vaterlandslieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 1, published 1872 [ ttbb chorus ], Zürich: Hug [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Jakob Nater (1826 - 1906), "Das weiße Kreuz im rothen Feld", published 1872 [ ttbb chorus ], from Zwölf Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor, no. 3, Zürich und St. Gallen: Eigenthum und Verlag von P.J. Fries [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The white cross on a red background", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-02-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 127
The white cross on a red background, It flutters high over the plain! The symbol that holds onto victory, Onward! it flies before us! God Himself on high, He has lifted it up, And has given it to you as a stronghold Before all the world, my fatherland! The white cross on a red background, We keep it free and pure! The symbol that holds onto victory, Never shall it be lost! In death and life It must [envelop]1 us! Nothing shall [ever tear]2 from your hand Your banner, my fatherland! The white cross on a red background, Woe unto anyone who threatens it! The symbol that holds onto victory, It [persists]3 in suffering and death! And those who must die Leave it to their heirs! As long as God's hand still prevails, You shall remain free, my fatherland -- free!
1 Nater: " waft about"
2 Nater: "tear"
3 Nater: "is salvation"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Das weiße Kreuz im rothen Feld", appears in Liederbuch, in 4. Vaterlandslieder, no. 314
This text was added to the website: 2025-02-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 144