The "Rainer March" is an Austrian march song which serves as the regimental march of the former k.u.k. Infanterieregiment „Erzherzog Rainer“ Nr. 59. The regiment, named after its longtime owner Archduke Rainer, had a special connection to Salzburg due to the recruitment district and location, so that the piece is now known beyond Salzburg's borders as its second national anthem.
The march was composed during the World War I by the music sergeant Hans Schmid from Znojmo in Galicia and premiered by him as the new bandmaster of the regiment on 11 September 1915 in Olyka (Volhynia).
Lyrics[]
Original[]
The original text comes from Corporal Josef Schopper, who was a regimental musician under Hans Schmid. He had noted it on a field postcard.
Hoch Regiment der Rainer, als tapfer alt bekannt,
wir schützen unsern Kaiser, und unser heilig Land.
Wir siegen oder sterben, für unser Vaterland,
die Feinde wir verderben; hoch Salzburg! Unser Land!
- English translation
- High regiment of Rainer, known as brave old,
- we protect our emperor and our holy land.
- We win or die for our fatherland
- the enemies we perish; high Salzburg! Our country!
Most popular modern version[]
Hoch Regiment der Rainer, als tapfer allbekannt,
wir schützen uns're Heimat und unser Vaterland.
Wir siegen oder sterben für unser Heimatland,
dem Feinde zum Verderben, hoch Salzburg, unser Land!
Vom Regiment der Rainer, es stehet fest zur Wehr,
wir kämpfen und wir stürmen dem Regiment zur Ehr´.
Die Feinde müssen weichen, sie fürchten uns´ren Mut,
ja, dir, mein liebes Salzburg, weih´n gern wir unser Blut!
Vom Inn bis zu den Tauern reicht unser Heimatland,
kein Feind soll es erschauen mit Waffen in der Hand.
wir werden dein gedenken, solang es Rainer gibt,
drum drauf und dran wenn´s sein muss, zeigt, wer die Heimat liebt!
- English translation
- High regiment of Rainer, known to all as brave,
- we protect our home and our fatherland.
- We win or die for our homeland,
- to the enemy's destruction, high Salzburg, our country!
- From the Rainer regiment, it stands firm,
- we fight and we storm to honor the regiment.
- The enemies must give way, they fear our courage,
- yes, to you, my dear Salzburg, we gladly consecrate our blood!
- Our homeland stretches from the Inn to the Tauern,
- no enemy shall see it with weapons in hand.
- we will remember you as long as there is Rainer,
- drum on it and if it has to be, show who loves their homeland!
Variant of the second, third and fourth stanzas[]
The fourth stanza was added after World War II.
Vom Regiment der Rainer, es stehet fest zur Wehr,
wir stürmen und wir schlagen, mit Kolben und Gewehr.
Die Feinde müssen weichen, sie kennen unsre Hand.
Kein Regiment dergleichen, hoch Salzburg, unser Land.
Vom Inn bis zu den Tauern reicht unser Heimatland,
kein Feind soll es erschauen mit Waffen in der Hand.
Kein Feind kann es bedrohen, solang es Rainer gibt,
den Mut im Kampf deswegen zeigt, wer die Heimat liebt.
Der Weltkrieg hat gefordert viel tapf'res Rainerblut,
mit rauher Hand zertrümmert so manches Hab und Gut.
Am Feld der Ehre blieben getreu bis an das End,
fünftausend Kameraden vom Rainer-Regiment!
- English translation
- From the Rainer regiment, it stands firm,
- we charge and we hit, with butts and guns.
- The enemies must give way, they know our hand.
- Not a regiment like that, high Salzburg, our country.
- Our homeland stretches from the Inn to the Tauern,
- no enemy shall see it with weapons in hand.
- No enemy can threaten it as long as there is Rainer,
- shows courage in battle because of those who love their homeland.
- The world war demanded a lot of brave Rainer blood,
- with a rough hand smashes many belongings.
- On the field of honor stayed true to the end,
- five thousand comrades from the Rainer regiment!