Svyaschennaya Voyna

Svyashchennaya Voyna (Cyrillic: Священная война, English The Sacred War) was one of the most famous Soviet songs associated with the Second World War. It was written by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach in 1941 upon the beginning of the German invasion of the Soviet Union. The composer of the music was Aleksandr Aleksandrov, founder of the Alexandrov Ensemble and the music composer for the National Anthem of the Soviet Union.

There are a number of foreign-language adaptations of this song, among them the German version Der Heilige Krieg (written by Stephan Hermlin) and the Hungarian version Fel, küzdelemre, hõs haza.

Original Russian lyrics with transliteration, translation into English and German adaptation

Вставай, страна огромная, Вставай на смертный бой С фашистской силой тёмною, С проклятою ордой. Припев x 2: Пусть ярость благородная Вскипает, как волна! Идёт война народная, Священная война! Дадим отпор душителям Всех пламенных идей, Насильникам, грабителям, Мучителям людей! Припев Не смеют крылья чёрные Над Родиной летать, Поля её просторные Не смеет враг топтать! Припев Гнилой фашистской нечисти Загоним пулю в лоб, Отребью человечества Сколотим крепкий гроб! Припев x 2

Vstavaj, strana ogromnaja, Vstavaj na smertnyj boj! S fašistskoj siloj tjomnoju, S prokljatoju ordoj. Pripev x 2: Pust’ jarost’ blagorodnaja Vskipaet, kak volna! Idjot vojna narodnaja, Svjaščennaja vojna! Dadim otpor dušiteljam Vsech plamennych idej, Nasil’nikam, grabiteljam, Mučiteljam ljudej. Pripev Ne smejut kryl’ja čornye Nad Rodinoj letat’, Polja ejo prostornye Ne smeet vrag toptat’. Pripev Gniloj fašistskoj nečisti Zagonim pulju v lob, Otreb’ju čelovečestva Skolotim krepkij grob! Pripev x 2

Get up, the giant country, Get up for mortal fight With fascist horde uncounted, With forces of the night! Chorus: Let noble anger of the soul Get boiled as a wave. The people’s war, the holy war. We’ll fight until the grave! Let's give repulse to oppressors Of all the ardent thoughts! To rapers and to murderers, Let's say the swear words! Chorus: We will not let the darkened wings Fly over Motherland! The native country spacious fields Are not for fiend's extend! Chorus: For rotten fascist pack we've got A bullet and a bomb. The spawn of the planet Earth Must get into the tomb!

Steh auf, steh auf du Riesenland, Heraus zur großen Schlacht! Den Nazihorden wiederstand, Tod der Faschistenmacht. Refrain x 2: Es breche über sie der Zorn Die finst're Flut herein. Das soll der Krieg des Volkes, Der Krieg der Menschheit sein! Den Würgern bieten wir die Stirn, Den Mördern der Ideen, Die Peiniger und Plünderer, Sie müssen untergehen. Refrain Die schwarze Schwinge schatte nicht mehr Uns überm Heimatland; Und nicht zertrete mehr der Feind Uns Feld und Flur und Strand. Refrain Wir sorgen dafür, dass der Brut Die letzte Stunde schlägt. Den Henkern ein für allemal Das Handwerk jetzt gelegt! Refrain x 2

The song has been used during the march of the color guard in Victory Day parades in both the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, such as the 2010 Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, 2010.