"Wenn alle untreu werden, so bleiben wir doch treu" (English: If all become unfaithful, we remain loyal) is the opening line of a famous patriotic German popular song written by Max von Schenkendorf

Max von Schenkendorf

Gottlob Ferdinand Maximilian Gottfried von Schenkendorf was a German poet, born in Tilsit and educated at Königsberg. During the War of Liberation, in which he took an active part, Schenkendorf was associated with Arndt and Körner in the writing of patriotic songs...

 in 1814. Schenkendorf dedicated the song to Friedrich Ludwig Jahn

Friedrich Ludwig Jahn

Friedrich Ludwig Jahn was a German gymnastics educator and nationalist. He is commonly known as Turnvater Jahn, roughly meaning "father of gymnastics" Jahn.- Life :...

 for the "holy German Empire

German Empire

The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...

".

The melody was a slightly modified form of Pour aller à la chasse faut être matineux, a French hunting song dating from 1724.

The title also refers to a German hymn of the same name, written by the German poet Novalis

Novalis

Novalis was the pseudonym of Georg Philipp Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg , an author and philosopher of early German Romanticism.-Biography:...

 in 1799. The first two lines of this hymn are the same as in Schenkendorf's song.

Gerhard Roßbach

Gerhard Roßbach

Gerhard Roßbach was a German Freikorps leader and organizer of nationalist groups after World War I....

 included the song in the activities of his German Youth Movement in which "its emphasis on loyalty in adversity and faith in Germany precisely fit Roßbach's desire to unify conservative forces behind a project of political and cultural renewal." During the Third Reich the song was used extensively by the German Schutzstaffel

Schutzstaffel

The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...

, and became known as Treuelied (song of faithfulness).

Lyrics

German original

Wenn alle untreu werden, so bleiben wir doch treu, Daß immer noch auf Erden für euch ein Fähnlein sei. Gefährten unsrer Jugend, ihr Bilder beßrer Zeit, Die uns zu Männertugend und Liebestod geweiht. Wollt nimmer von uns weichen, uns immer nahe sein, Treu wie die deutschen Eichen, wie Mond und Sonnenschein! Einst wird es wieder helle in aller Brüder Sinn, Sie kehren zu der Quelle in Lieb und Reue hin. Es haben wohl gerungen die Helden dieser Frist, und nun der Sieg gelungen, übt Satan neue List. Doch wie sich auch gestalten, im Leben mag die Zeit, du sollst uns nicht veralten, o Traum der Herrlichkeit. Ihr Sterne seid uns Zeugen, die ruhig niederschaun, Wenn alle Brüder schweigen und falschen Götzen traun. Wir woll'n das Wort nicht brechen, nicht Buben werden gleich, Woll'n predigen und sprechen vom heil'gen deutschen Reich.

English Translation

If all become untrue, true we remain

That ever on earth a banner for you might be.

Comrades of our Youth, you, picture of a better time,

That consecrates us to manly virtue and a death for loves sake.

Let us never bend, let us always be near,

Loyal like German oaks, like moon and sunshine!

Once it will again be bright in all brothers minds,

They turn to the source in love and humility.

This grace have the heroes well wrested,

and now, the victory won, Satan practices new treachery.

Yet however he may appear, in life may the time,

You, O Dream of Glory, shall never grow old on us

Your stars to us are creations that calmly gaze down upon us

When all brothers fall silent and trust in false idols.

We'll never break our word, becoming like fools,

We will preach and speak of the holy German Empire.

"When all become disloyal, we remain loyal
That always yet on Earth one battalion for you will be
Companions of our youth, your images of a better time,
Us for manly virtue and loving death have consecrated.

Never weaken, always be nearby
True as German oaks, as the moon and the sunshine!
Once again it will become clear to all our brothers' spirits
They will return to the source in love and loyalty.

They have struggled well, the heroes of this time,
And now have made the victory, Satan uses new tricks.
But however this time may turn out in life
You will never grow old for us, o dream of glory!

Your stars are our witnesses, calmly looking down,
When all the brothers fall silent and trust in false idols.
We don't want to break our word, nor to become like knaves,
We want to preach and speak of the holy German Reich!"

1 Reference: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=115472

External links

• Text and Melody