was a popular song in the republic of East Germany, where it was sung by the Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation

Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation

The Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation, consisting of the Young Pioneers and the Thälmann Pioneers, was a youth organisation of schoolchildren aged 6 to 14, in East Germany...

. The lyrics were written by Herbert Keller and the melody by Hans Naumilkat. It is a song that expresses the concept of Heimat

Heimat

Heimat is a German word that has no simple English translation. It is often expressed with terms such as home or homeland, but these English counterparts fail to encapsulate the true meaning of the word.-The meaning of Heimat:...

, and justifies its relevance within communism and opposition to the National Socialism as expressed by the FDJ

Free German Youth

The Free German Youth, also known as the FDJ , was the official socialist youth movement of the German Democratic Republic and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany....

. In addition, the song demonstrates strong bonds with nature, expressing the significance of Heimat beyond people.

The song plays an important role in the film Goodbye Lenin!, being sung several times by Young Pioneer groups.

German lyrics

English translation

Our Homeland is not only the cities and villages;

Our Homeland is also all the trees in the forest,

Our Homeland is the grass in the meadow,

The grain in the field and the birds in the air;

The animals of the earth

and the fish in the river are the Homeland,

We love the beautiful homeland,

And we protect it

because it belongs to the People,

Because it belongs to our People.