The flags flutter! Arise, into the fray,
Take the sabre in your fist!
The German people, a great army
That, from the Alps to the sea,
Roars [like] a furious storm.
At our gates there knocks
The audacity of a stranger!
Thereupon every German man joyfully
Offers up his possessions and his blood.

The flags flutter in the morning wind:
May God give us good fortune in the battle!
We must be victorious, and quickly,
Then we shall return to wife and child,
To house and farm.
The golden grain, it surges and shines
In summerly splendour.
Arise, reapers, your harvest beckons
Upon the bloody field of battle.

And from Boulogne the eagle scoffs [at us]
In proud imperial flight.
But He who crowns the adventure,
The God of victory, who has indulged you,
He calls out:  It is enough!
Even the sun of Austerlitz
Veils its glorious light!
Upon you may gleam the lightning of our fury,
Which breaks forth from the storms!

With brazen haughtiness you desired
The letter of dishonour!
The letter, which never dishonours us,
We write it with our swords,
We write it with blood.
The Lord God guides our Hand
And punishes the derision of the enemy
And it shall blaze flamingly upon the wall
And his throne shall be toppled.

Father Rhine rolls his waves 
Along the hills of vineyards!
And the German grapes that grow here,
Shall never be in your winepress,
They do not tolerate foreign coercion.
Raise high the flags and as quickly as a storm
[Enter] into the enemy’s land!
From the fresh well-spring there
We shall drink champagne.

And if death nears -- we do not hesitate!
Farewell, you beautiful world!
May night cover our faces,
But all around with a joyful light
The German land shall be illuminated.
And united to a coalition are south and north
By the silvery ribbon of the Main River!
We lay a firm foundation
For the united Fatherland.