Hymn of the Soviet Union Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Hymn of the Soviet Union (Гимн Советского Союза, Gimn Sovetskogo Soyuza) was the national anthem of the Soviet Union. The lyrics were written by Sergey Mikhalkov (born 1913) and the music was composed by Alexander Alexandrov (1883-1946). It replaced the Internationale as the national anthem on March 15, 1944, because of the belief that Soviet soldiers would respond more to an anthem that was dedicated only to the Soviet Union rather than to a worldwide movement. Stalin was originally mentioned in the lyrics. However, after his death in 1953, the lyrics referring to Stalin were unacceptable. From then on until 1977, the lyrics were not sung to the anthem. In 1977, the lyrics were reused with Stalin's name omitted, and other changes were made (see below). After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia adopted a new national anthem. In 2000, the old Soviet national anthem was readopted with Mikhalkov writing new lyrics to represent Russia's new non-communist nature. See Hymn of the Russian FederationBelow is an English translation of the lyrics and the Official English lyrics which could be sung to the music.
Note: The lyrics bellow (i.e: Cyrillic version and the transliteration) are related to the revised 1977 version. However, the official translation resembles the original text of 1943. For the original 1943 verses, see below 'Removed and edited verses of the 1943 text'
| Table of contents |
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2 Transliteration of 1977 text from Russian 3 English translation 4 Official English lyrics 5 Original text of 1943 6 External link |
1.
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1977 text in Russian
2.
3.
Transliteration of 1977 text from Russian
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3.
English translation
(Revised 1977 Lyrics)Official English lyrics
(Based on the original text of 1943)
See also: National Anthems of the USSR and Union Republics
The 1943 text had three different refrains following three different stanzas. In all refrains, the last two lines used to make reference to the Soviet flag. In 1977, they were replaced by a uniform refrain following all stanzas and mentioning the Party of Lenin and communism.
Original text of 1943
| Russian | Romanized Russian
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|---|---|
| The first stanza remained unchanged:
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| Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз!
| Soyuz nerushimiy respublik svobodnykh Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'! Da zdravstvuet sozdanniy voley narodov Yediniy, moguchiy Sovetskiy Soyuz!
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| Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надежный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведет!
| Refrain: Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Druzhbi narodov nadyozhniy oplot, Znamya sovetskoe, znamya narodnoye Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!
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| The third line of the second stanza used to mention Stalin's name. That line was changed in 1977:
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| Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, И Ленин великий нам путь озарил: Нас вырастил Сталин - на верность народу, На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил!
| Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobodi, I Lenin velikiy nam put' ozaril, Nas vyrastil Stalin -- na vernost' narodi, Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil!
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| Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Счастья народов надежный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведет!
| Refrain: Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Schast'ya narodov nadyozhniy oplot, Znamya sovetskoe, znamya narodnoye Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!
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| Finally, the third stanza was completely replaced in the 1977 version. Here is how the 1943 wartime version used to be:
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| Мы армию нашу растили в сраженьях. Захватчиков подлых с дороги сметем! Мы в битвах решаем судьбу поколений, Мы к славе Отчизну свою поведем!
| My armiyu nashu rastili v srazhen'yax, Zaxvatchikov podlyx s dorogi smetėm! My v bitvax reshaem sud'bu pokolenij, My k slave Otchiznu svoyu povedėm!
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| Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Славы народов надежный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведет!
| Refrain: Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Slavy narodov nadyozhniy oplot, Znamya sovetskoe, znamya narodnoye Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!
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