Beresinalied
Encyclopedia
The Beresinalied, originally known as Unser Leben gleicht der Reise (the incipit) is a Lied
composed by Friedrich Wilke after the 1792 poem die Nachtreise by Ludwig Giseke.
It became a symbol of the sacrifices of Swiss mercenaries
in foreign service following popularization as Beresinalied by Otto von Greyerz and Gonzague de Reynold, tying it to the Battle of Berezina
. The context is that Oberleutnant
Thomas Legler, (1782-1835, born in Glarus
) who served in the II corps of Marshal Nicolas Oudinot
in Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion army in Russia in his memoirs Denkwürdigkeiten aus dem russischen Feldzug tells how his commander during the Battle on 28 November 1812 reminded him of the song and asked him to sing it.
Of the originally 8,000 men of the four Swiss regiments (division Merle), about 1,300 were left by the time the retreating army reached the Berezina River. Under General Jean Baptiste Eblé
two bridges were built across the Berezina, and the second corps crossed to the western bank to beat back the Russian troops hindering the crossing. The Swiss engaged the Russian troops on 28 November 1812 on the road to Barysaŭ
. The Russians pressed back the Swiss vanguard, trying to force them back into the river. Only 300 Swiss survived the day.
Lied
is a German word literally meaning "song", usually used to describe romantic songs setting German poems of reasonably high literary aspirations, especially during the nineteenth century, beginning with Carl Loewe, Heinrich Marschner, and Franz Schubert and culminating with Hugo Wolf...
composed by Friedrich Wilke after the 1792 poem die Nachtreise by Ludwig Giseke.
It became a symbol of the sacrifices of Swiss mercenaries
Swiss mercenaries
Swiss mercenaries were notable for their service in foreign armies, especially the armies of the Kings of France, throughout the Early Modern period of European history, from the Later Middle Ages into the Age of the European Enlightenment...
in foreign service following popularization as Beresinalied by Otto von Greyerz and Gonzague de Reynold, tying it to the Battle of Berezina
Battle of Berezina
The Battle of Berezina took place November 26–29, 1812 between the French army of Napoleon, retreating after his invasion of Russia and crossing the Berezina , and the Russian armies under Mikhail Kutuzov, Peter Wittgenstein and Admiral Pavel Chichagov. The battle ended with a mixed outcome...
. The context is that Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Thomas Legler, (1782-1835, born in Glarus
Canton of Glarus
The Canton of Glarus is a canton in east central Switzerland. The capital is Glarus.The population speaks a variety of Alemannic German.The majority of the population identifies as Christian, about evenly split between the Protestant and Catholic confessions.-History:According to legend, the...
) who served in the II corps of Marshal Nicolas Oudinot
Nicolas Oudinot
Nicolas Charles Oudinot, 1st Comte Oudinot, 1st Duc de Reggio , was a Marshal of France.-Early life:...
in Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion army in Russia in his memoirs Denkwürdigkeiten aus dem russischen Feldzug tells how his commander during the Battle on 28 November 1812 reminded him of the song and asked him to sing it.
Of the originally 8,000 men of the four Swiss regiments (division Merle), about 1,300 were left by the time the retreating army reached the Berezina River. Under General Jean Baptiste Eblé
Jean Baptiste Eble
Jean Baptiste Eblé was a French General, Engineer and Artilleryman during the Napoleonic Wars. He is credited with saving Napoleon's Grand Army from complete destruction in 1812.-Biography:...
two bridges were built across the Berezina, and the second corps crossed to the western bank to beat back the Russian troops hindering the crossing. The Swiss engaged the Russian troops on 28 November 1812 on the road to Barysaŭ
Barysau
Barysaw , also transliterated Barysau, is a city in Belarus situated near the Berezina River in the Minsk Voblast.-History:...
. The Russians pressed back the Swiss vanguard, trying to force them back into the river. Only 300 Swiss survived the day.
| German German language German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union.... text by Ludwig Giseke |
Translation |
|---|---|
Unser Leben gleicht der Reise Eines Wandrers in der Nacht; Jeder hat in seinem Gleise Etwas, das ihm Kummer macht. Aber unerwartet schwindet Vor uns Nacht und Dunkelheit, Und der Schwergedrückte findet Linderung in seinem Leid. Mutig, mutig, liebe Brüder, Gebt das bange Sorgen auf; Morgen steigt die Sonne wieder Freundlich an dem Himmel auf. Darum laßt uns weitergehen; Weichet nicht verzagt zurück! Hinter jenen fernen Höhen Wartet unser noch ein Glück. |
Our life is like a journey Of a wanderer through the night; Everybody carries something on his way That causes him to grieve. But then unexpectedly do fade Night and darkness before us, And the sorely troubled find Solace to their sorrow. Fearless, fearless, dear brothers, Abandon the anxious worries; Tomorrow the sun will rise again Friendly in the sky. Therefore let us move on; Do not retreat disheartenedly! Beyond those far heights A new happiness awaits us. |