Anthem of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

The anthem of the Estonian SSR[lower-alpha 1] was the Soviet regional anthem of the Estonian SSR between 1945 and 1990 when Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union.

Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistliku Vabariigi hümn
English: Anthem of the Estonian SSR
Former regional anthem of the  Estonian SSR
LyricsJohannes Semper
MusicGustav Ernesaks
Adopted20 July 1945[1]
21 July 1956 (modified version)
Relinquished8 May 1990[2]
Audio sample
State Anthem of the Estonian SSR (1945 version)
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Background

The anthem was presented to the central government of the USSR in May 1944, three months after the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR had issued a decree on 3 February 1944, "On the State Anthems of the Soviet Republics."[3]

The melody of the anthem was composed by Gustav Ernesaks, and the lyrics written by Johannes Semper. The anthems of the Estonian SSR, the Karelo-Finnish SSR, and the Georgian SSR were the only Soviet regional anthems not to mention the Russian people. After the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin died in 1953, during the following period of "de-Stalinization" in the USSR, on 21 July 1956, the third stanza of the lyrics of the Estonian SSR anthem were changed to remove all mentions of Stalin.

During the Soviet occupation of Estonia performing or reciting the melody or lyrics of the anthem of Estonia Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm was forbidden by law, and considered a punishable criminal offence by the Soviet regime. While another song with Ernesaks' melody Mu isamaa on minu arm, served as means of expressing national feelings, and was widely regarded by Estonians as their "unofficial anthem". On 8 May 1990, Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm was restored as the state anthem, together with the blue-black-white Estonian flag and state official name Republic of Estonia.[4]

Lyrics
Estonian English translation

I
Jää kestma, Kalevite kange rahvas,
ja seisa kaljuna, me kodumaa!
Ei vaibund kannatustes sinu vahvus,
end läbi sajanditest murdsid sa
ja tõusid õitsvaks sotsialismimaaks,[lower-alpha 2]
et päikene su päevadesse paista saaks.

II
Nüüd huuga, tehas, vili, nurmel vooga,
sirp, lõika, alasile, haamer, löö!
Nõukogu elu, tuksu võimsa hooga,
too õnne rahvale, me tubli töö!
Me Liidu rahvaste ja riike seas
sa, Eesti, sammu esimeste kindlas reas!

III[lower-alpha 3]
Sa kõrgel Leninlikku lippu kannad
ja julgelt kommunismi rada käid.
Partei me sammudele suuna annab
ja võidult võitudele viib ta meid.
Ta kindlal juhtimisel kasva sa
ja tugevaks ning kauniks saa, me kodumaa!

I
Endure, strong people of the Kalevs
And stand as a boulder, our homeland!
Your courage did not subside in the sufferings,
You broke yourself through the centuries,
and became a flourishing socialist country,[lower-alpha 2]
So the sun could shine in your days.
 
II
Now roar, factories, wave, cornfields;
Reap, sickle and strike, anvil and hammer!
May the Soviet life, in full swing
Bring happiness to the people through good labor!
Among the people and nations of our union,
You, Estonia, march at the firm forefront!

III[lower-alpha 3]
You’re holding the Flag of Lenin high,
And boldly following the path of Communism.
Our Party will give us direction
And will lead us from victory to victory.
You will grow under its firm leadership
And become strong and beautiful, our Homeland!

Notes
  1. Estonian: Eesti NSV hümn; Russian: Гимн Эстонской ССР
  2. In the original 1945–56 lyrics, it was "ja tõusid töötajate vabaks maaks" ("and became a flourishing land of free workers").
  3. Original lyrics:
    "Kui kants-nii seisavad su kodurannad,
    su ees vaid lainetavad laiad veed.
    Sa kõrgel Leninlikku lippu kannad
    suur Stalin juhtimas su tõusuteed.
    Käi kindlalt, saatmas sind su õnneteel
    me võitlusvaim ja kohkumatu mehemeel!"

    Translation:
    "Your home beaches stand as a castle,
    wide waters only wave before you.
    You're bearing Leninist banner high,
    great Stalin leading your ascent.
    March steadily with our fighting spirit
    and bold manly mind guiding you!"

References
  1. "Eesti NSV hümn". Postimees. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  2. "Seadus Eesti sümboolikast". Riigi Teataja. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  3. "National anthem of the Republic of Estonia". news.tut.by. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  4. "National anthem of the Republic of Estonia". eesti.ee. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
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