Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, Über alles in der Welt, Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze Brüderlich zusammenhält, Von der Maas bis an die Memel, Von der Etsch bis an den Belt - Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, Über alles in der Welt. Germany, Germany above all * Above everything in the world * When, always, for protection and defense Brothers stand together. From the Maas to the Memel From the Etsch to the Belt, Germany, Germany above all Above all in the world. *The sentiment of the first two lines is: "Esteemed above everything in the world", (as most citizens express of their homeland) not "rulers of the world." At the time it was written, it was a call to unite the many independent states into one unified Germany.