trizonesien-song

Debuting during Karnival festivities on this day in 1948 in Köln, native composer and Schlager-performer Karl Berbuer’s (*1900 – †1977) dissonantly but pointedly humorous, self-deprecating tune about occupied West Germany (see previously here and here) became for a time the country’s de facto nation anthem, played at sporting events in lieu of an official one, with the Deutschlandlied abolished with the surrender of the Nazi government. In May of 1952, the West’s Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and President Theodor Heuss readopted Das Lied der Deutschen with only the third stanza (Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit [Unity, Justice and Freedom]) from 1922 to be sung on official occasions (see also). The first stanza (Deutschland, Deutschland über alles) and the second (Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue [loyalty], deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang) are not outlawed but are nonetheless provocative and considered taboo to perform.