State Anthem of the Soviet Union

The "State Anthem of the Soviet Union" was the national anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the regional anthem of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1944 to 1991, replacing "The Internationale". Its original lyrics were written by Sergey Mikhalkov (1913–2009) in collaboration with Gabriel El-Registan (1899–1945), and its music composed by Alexander Alexandrov (1883–1946). Following a two-decade interval in which the anthem was performed without lyrics, a second set of lyrics, also written by Mikhalkov, was adopted in 1977.

Although Russia adopted a new anthem in 1990 and the Soviet Union was dissolved in December 1991, the Soviet-era melody was restored with new lyrics (once again written by Mikhalkov) in 2000, and has been used since in the second version of the Russian anthem.

The anthem's music was originally composed by Alexander Alexandrov in 1938 for the Hymn of the Bolshevik Party. Its opening bars were borrowed from one of Alexandrov's previous pieces, "Life has become better", which was based on a quote by former Soviet Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin at the First All-Union Meeting of the Stakhanovites on November 17, 1935. The song alludes to Stalin's cult of personality.

Other than "Life Has Become Better", the music of the anthem has several possible outside influences. Alexandrov himself has described it as the combination of a march with Russian traditional music, particularly that of bylina epic songs. The anthem shares several chord progressions with Vasily Kalinnikov's overture Bylina, Epic Poem (which, as its name indicates, is also inspired by the bylina tradition). There also exist similarities between Alexandrov's anthem and Robert Schumann's Frühlingsfahrt.

When the Communist International (Comintern) was dissolved in 1943 in order for the Soviet Union to maintain its alliance with the other Allies of World War II, a new composition was needed to replace "The Internationale" as the national anthem. A contest was held in mid to late 1943 for a new anthem, and more than 200 entries were submitted. Alexandrov's music was personally chosen by Stalin, who both praised and criticized it. The anthem's lyrics then had to be written. Stalin thought the song should be short, and that it should invoke the Red Army's impending victory over the forces of Germany on the Eastern Front. The poets Sergey Mikhalkov and Gabriel El-Registan were chosen by Stalin's staffers, called to Moscow, and given the task of writing lyrics which referenced not only the Great Patriotic War, but also "a Country of Soviets". The first draft was completed overnight.

The anthem was first published on 7 November 1943. It was played for the first time on Soviet radio at midnight on 1 January 1944, and officially adopted on 15 March the same year. The new lyrics had three refrains following three different stanzas. In each refrain, the second line was modified to refer to friendship, then happiness, then glory. Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union's war against Germany were originally invoked in the second and third verses, respectively. Reportedly, Stalin was opposed to including his name in the lyrics but relented after some Politburo members insisted.

With the process of de-Stalinization after Stalin's death, the lyrics referring to him were considered unacceptable, and from 1956 to 1977 the anthem was performed without lyrics. A notable exception took place at the 1976 Canada Cup ice hockey tournament, where singer Roger Doucet insisted on performing the anthem with lyrics after consultations with Russian studies scholars from Université de Montréal and Soviet team officials. In 1977, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution, revised lyrics, written in 1970 by original author Sergey Mikhalkov, were adopted. The varying refrains were replaced by a uniform refrain after all stanzas, and the line praising Stalin was dropped, as were the lines referring to the Great Patriotic War. Another notable change was the replacement of a line referring to the Soviet national flag with one citing the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in the form of "Partiya Lenina" (The party of Lenin). These lyrics were also present in the original party anthem at the same place in the melody, but followed by the lyrics "Partiya Stalina" (The party of Stalin).

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Federation adopted a new wordless anthem, the "Patriotic Song", although there were suggestions for adopting lyrics. As a result, a few different versions were produced. In late 2000, the current national anthem of Russia was introduced, which uses the music of the Soviet national anthem with new lyrics by Sergei Mikhalkov.

The same music was used for a proposed anthem for the State Union of Russia and Belarus, entitled Derzhavny Soyuz Narodov ("Sovereign Union of Nations"). Its lyrics were not tied to any specific nationality, and there were official versions in the languages of every Soviet republic and several other Soviet languages; thus it could have been adopted by a broader union. However, it was never officially adopted, and there appear to be no plans to utilize it in any official role.

In some post-Soviet states which adopted decommunization laws banning Communist symbolism, performing the Soviet anthem is illegal. For example, since 2015, offenders in Ukraine face up to five years in prison. Similar laws were adopted in Latvia and Lithuania.

The anthem has been officially translated into several languages:

This table shows the anthem's various lyrics. As there were two official lyric versions (in 1944 and 1977), both are included within their sections.

Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз! Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надёжный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведёт! 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! Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Счастья народов надёжный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведёт! Мы армию нашу растили в сраженьях. Захватчиков подлых с дороги сметём! Мы в битвах решаем судьбу поколений, Мы к славе Отчизну свою поведём! Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Славы народов надёжный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведёт!

Soyuz nerushimyy respublik svobodnykh Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'. Da zdravstvuyet sozdannyy voley narodov Yedinyy, moguchiy Sovetskiy Soyuz! Pripev: Slav'sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Druzhby narodov nadyozhnyy oplot! Znamya Sovetskoye, znamya narodnoye Pust ot pobedy k pobede vedyot! Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobody, I Lenin velikiy nam put' ozaril Nas vyrastil Stalin — na vernost' narodu, Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil! Pripev: Slav'sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Schast'ya narodov nadyozhnyy oplot! Znamya Sovetskoye, znamya narodnoye Pust ot pobedy k pobede vedyot! My armiyu nashu rastili v srazhen'yakh. Zakhvatchikov podlykh s dorogi smetyom! My v bitvakh reshayem sud'bu pokoleniy, My k slave Otchiznu svoyu povedyom! Pripev: Slav'sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Slavy narodov nadyozhnyy oplot! Znamya Sovetskoye, znamya narodnoye Pust ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!

An unbreakable union of free republics, Great Russia united forever. Long live the creation of the will of the people, The united, mighty Soviet Union! Chorus: Be glorious, our free Fatherland, A reliable stronghold of the peoples' friendship! Banner of the Soviets, banner of the people, May it lead from victory to victory! Through tempests the sun of freedom shone to us, And the great Lenin illuminated our path, We were raised by Stalin to be true to the people, To labour and heroic deeds he inspired us! Chorus: Be glorious, our free Motherland, A reliable stronghold of the peoples' happiness! Banner of the Soviets, banner of the people, May it lead from victory to victory! We grew our army in battles, We will sweep the vile invaders out of the way! We shall in battle decide the fate of generations, We shall lead to glory our Fatherland! Chorus: Be glorious, our free Fatherland, A reliable stronghold of the peoples' glory! Banner of the Soviets, banner of the people, May it lead from victory to victory!

Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз! Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надёжный оплот! Партия Ленина — сила народная Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт! Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, И Ленин великий нам путь озарил: На правое дело он поднял народы, На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил! Припев В победе бессмертных идей коммунизма Мы видим грядущее нашей страны, И Красному знамени славной Отчизны Мы будем всегда беззаветно верны! Припев

Soyuz nerushimy respublik svobodnykh Splotila naveki velikaya Rus. Da zdravstvuyet sozdanny voley narodov Yediny, moguchy Sovetsky Soyuz! Pripev: Slavsya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Druzhby narodov nadyozhny oplot! Partiya Lenina — sila narodnaya Nas k torzhestvu kommunizma vedyot! Skvoz grozy siyalo nam solntse svobody, I Lenin velikiy nam put' ozaril, Na pravoye delo on podnyal narody, Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil! Pripev V pobede bessmertnykh idey kommunizma My vidim gryadushcheye nashey strany, I Krasnomu znameni slavnoy Otchizny My budem vsegda bezzavetno verny! Pripev

An unbreakable union of free republics, Great Russia united forever. Long live the creation of the will of the people, The united, mighty Soviet Union! Chorus: Be glorious, our free Motherland, A reliable stronghold of the peoples' friendship! Party of Lenin, strength of the people, Leads us to the triumph of communism! Through tempests the sun of freedom shone to us, And the great Lenin illuminated our path, To a just cause he raised up the people, To labour and heroic deeds he inspired us! Chorus In the victory of the immortal ideas of Communism We see the future of our country, And to the Red Banner of our glorious Fatherland We shall always be selflessly true! Chorus

sɐˈjuz nʲɪrʊˈʂɨmɨj rʲɪˈspublʲɪk svɐˈbodnɨx spɫɐˈtʲiɫə nɐˈvʲekʲɪ vʲɪˈlʲikəjə rusʲ ˈda ˈzdrastvʊjɪt ˈsozdənːɨj ˈvolʲɪj nɐˈrodəf jɪˈdʲinɨj mɐˈɡut͡ɕɪj sɐˈvʲet͡skʲɪj sɐˈjus

sɐˈjuz nʲɪrʊˈʂɨmɨj rʲɪˈspublʲɪk svɐˈbodnɨx spɫɐˈtʲiɫə nɐˈvʲekʲɪ vʲɪˈlʲikəjə rusʲ ˈda ˈzdrastvʊjɪt ˈsozdənːɨj ˈvolʲɪj nɐˈrodəf jɪˈdʲinɨj mɐˈɡut͡ɕɪj sɐˈvʲet͡skʲɪj sɐˈjus

ˈsɫaf⁽ʲ⁾sʲə ɐˈtʲet͡ɕɪstvə ˈnaʂɨ svɐˈbodnəjə ˈdruʐbɨ nɐˈrodəf nɐˈdʲɵʐnɨj ɐpɫot ˈznamʲə sɐˈvʲet͡skəjə ˈznamʲə nɐˈrodnəjə pusʲtʲ ɐt‿pɐˈbʲedɨ k‿pɐˈbʲedʲe vʲɪˈdʲɵt

ˈsɫaf⁽ʲ⁾sʲə ɐˈtʲet͡ɕɪstvə ˈnaʂɨ svɐˈbodnəjə ˈdruʐbɨ nɐˈrodəf nɐˈdʲɵʐnɨj ɐpɫot partʲɪjə ˈlʲenʲɪnə ˈsʲiɫə nɐˈrodnəjə nas k‿tərʐɨstˈvu kəmʊˈnʲizmə vʲɪˈdʲɵt

ˈskvozʲ ˈɡrozɨ sʲɪˈjaɫə nam ˈsont͡sɨ svɐˈbodɨ i ˈlʲenʲɪn vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj nam putʲ ɐzɐˈrʲiɫ nas ˈvɨrəsʲtʲɪɫ ˈstalʲɪn nɐ‿ˈvʲernəsʲtʲ nɐˈrodʊ nɐ‿ˈtrut i nɐ‿ˈpodvʲɪɡʲɪ naz vdəxnɐˈvʲiɫ

skvəzʲ‿ˈɡro.zɨ sʲɪˈjaɫɐ nam ˈson.t͡sɪ svɐˈbodɨ i‿ˈlʲenʲɪn vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj nɐm‿ˈputʲ əzɐˈrʲiɫ nɐ‿ˈpravəjə ˈdʲeɫə on ˈpodʲnʲəɫ nɐˈrodɨ nɐ‿ˈtrut i‿nɐ‿ˈpod.vʲɪ.ɡʲɪ ˈnas vdəxnɐˈvʲil

mɨ ˈarmʲɪjʊ ˈnaʂʊ rɐˈsʲtʲilʲɪ f‿srɐˈʐɛnʲjɪx zɐxˈvat͡ɕːɪkəf ˈpodɫɨɣ z‿dɐˈroɡʲɪ smʲɪˈtʲɵm mɨ ˈv‿bʲitvəx rʲɪˈʂajɪm sʊdʲˈbu pəkɐˈlʲenʲɪj mɨ ˈk‿sɫavʲe ɐˈt͡ɕːiznʊ svɐˈju pəvʲɪˈdʲɵm

f‿pɐˈbʲedʲe bʲɪsːˈmʲertnɨx ɪˈdʲej kəmʊˈnʲizmə mɨ ˈvʲidʲɪm ɡrʲɪˈduɕːɪje ˈnaʂɨj strɐˈnɨ i ˈkrasnəmʊ ˈznamʲɪnʲɪ ˈsɫavnəj ɐˈt͡ɕːiznɨ mɨ ˈbudʲɪm fsʲɪɡˈda bʲɪzːɐˈvʲetnə ˈvʲernɨ