Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
The unofficial motto of Germany, from the third stanza of the national anthem.
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit ('Unity and Justice and Freedom') is a phrase from the third stanza of the 'Deutschlandlied', the German national anthem. It is considered the unofficial national motto of Germany and is inscribed on modern German Army belt buckles and the rims of some German coins.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Cultural Motto & Unifying Principle
- Affiliation
- Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB); German Fans
- Status
- Enduring Symbol of National Identity
- Context
- International Tournaments & Historic Matches
Lore & Background
The phrase originates from the poem 'Das Lied der Deutschen' written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1841. In the third stanza, Hoffmann expressed his desire for a united and free Germany where the rule of law, not arbitrary monarchy, would prevail. Since the Reunification of Germany in 1991, only the third stanza has been reconfirmed as the national anthem.
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Elsewhere in Germany National Team
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