Soviet Patriotic Songs from WWII

[Zoya]

The Russians have a long history of Folk music and the Soviets expanded upon this with several dozen songs, especially during the Great Patriotic War (WWII, Russian involvement from 1941-1945.) when tunes such as "The Tanker's March," "March of the Artillerymen," and so on so forth became popular.

During the Great Patriotic War, many of these songs as well as traditional folk songs were performed by specialized choirs and ensembles, one example being Baticheva, Michailov, and Tutunnik. These groups generally consisted of 3-6 persons and performed for the frontline troops in all sectors.

Katyusha (as in the famous rocket launcher)

Apples and pears were blossoming
Mist on the river floating
On the bank katyusha stepped out
On the high steep bank.

Stepped out, started a song
About one grey steppe eagle
About her loved one
Whose letters she cherished.

Oh song, maiden's song
Fly towards the clear sun
And to the warrior on a far away border
Bring katysha's greeting.

may he remember this simple maiden
and hear her signing
may he save our motherland
and love, katyusha will save

YouTube - Katyusha - Russian Choir

Svyaschennaya Voyna (Sacred War)
English poetical adaptation by Alexander Artemov (Александр Артёмов)

Get up, the giant country,
Get up for mortal fight
With German horde uncounted,
With forces of the night

Chorus:
Let noble anger of the soul
Get boiled as a wave.
The people’s war, the holy war.
We’ll fight until the grave.

Let's give repulse to oppressors
Of all the ardent thoughts.
To rapers and to murderers,
Let's say the swear words.

Chorus

We will not let the darkened wings
Fly over Motherland.
The native country spacious fields
Are not for fiend's extend.

Chorus

For rotten fascist pack we've got
A bullet and a bomb.
The spawn of the planet Earth
Must get into the tomb.

You can listen to some more songs here:
Echoes Of A Red Empire: russian Songs - Soviet Army Ensemble - CD - Buy.com

[chipmunk wallah]

Zoya,any chance of Sacred war in Russian please? Dying to sing along in full voice with the strafniki/partizans
(dont they make run rabbit etc look just a touch,well,pathetic?)

[Zoya]

Ok, for you...

Вставай, страна огромная,
Вставай на смертный бой
С фашистской силой тёмною,
С проклятою ордой.

Припев x 2:
Пусть ярость благородная
Вскипает, как волна!
Идёт война народная,
Священная война!

Дадим отпор душителям
Всех пламенных идей,
Насильникам, грабителям,
Мучителям людей!

Припев

Не смеют крылья чёрные
Над Родиной летать,
Поля её просторные
Не смеет враг топтать!

Припев

Гнилой фашистской нечисти
Загоним пулю в лоб,
Отребью человечества
Сколотим крепкий гроб!

Припев x 2

YouTube video here: YouTube - The Sacred War - Svyaschennaya voina

[chipmunk wallah]

Crumbs,my cyrilics a little rusty,but spasiba bolshoi Zoya

[Zoya]

Pozhalujsta, c-w!

[Zoya]

Interesting snippet about the second song :

A SONG THAT TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO BERLIN

A popular wartime song called "The Holy War" by composer and conductor Alexander Alexandrov, a native of the small village of Plakhino near Ryazan, a regional center south of Moscow, inspired people to fight the Nazis in the years of the Great Patriotic War. The war broke out on June 22nd,1941 and two days later the "Izvestia" publishers gave Alexandrov a poem by Lebedev-Kumach, which was called "The Holy War". By the evening the song was ready and by the night it was sung by an ensemble. A few days later it was performed in front of soldiers leaving for the front. "Rise up, ye, mighty land of ours, rise up for deadly fight".

Many years later witnesses of the event recalled what a strong impression the song had produced, its every word as if cast out of metal. The ensemble that performed it was the famous Soviet Army Song and Dance Ensemble, which won tremendous popularity both in this country and abroad. From the day it was formed in 1928 the ensemble was headed by Alexander Alexandrov. It traveled a lot giving concerts on the fronts and the soldiers were always looking forward to the concerts. A resident of a small Ryazan village Kuzma Kadantsev has preserved a good memory of wartime meetings with the ensemble. Kadantsev, a mortar man in wartime, was wounded several times but kept coming back to fight on. The commanders praised highly Sergeant Kadantsev's courage and military performance as he fought under Moscow, Stalingrad, in Ukraine and took part in the Battle of Berlin, which his battery was one of the first to enter. On several occasions he had an opportunity to listen to the Alexandrov ensemble and every time the ensemble performed "The Holy War".

For the last time Kuzma Kadantsev enjoyed the song in 1946 in Berlin, where he served for some time after the war. During that tour Alexander Alexandrov died and the ensemble was taken over by his son Boris, who led it for 20 years. Our correspondent met with Kuzma Kadantsev in his quiet village on a warm spring day. An old age pensioner in his late 80s, the old soldier is still full of life and vigour. Reminiscent of the past battles are numerous orders and medals and he still loves wartime songs. "The Holy War", - Kadantsev says, - is the song of songs, a soldier's guide that accompanied us to Berlin. It is still dear to every war veteran".

From here The Voice of Russia(THE WAY IT WAS)

[Zoya]

Originally Posted by chipmunk wallah

Crumbs,my cyrilics a little rusty,but spasiba bolshoi Zoya

This any better - phonetic version

Vstavaj, strana ogromnaja,
Vstavaj na smertnyj boj!
S fašistskoj siloj tjomnoju,
S prokljatoju ordoj.

Pripev x 2:
Pust’ jarost’ blagorodnaja
Vskipaet, kak volna!
Idjot vojna narodnaja,
Svjaščennaja vojna!

Dadim otpor dušiteljam
Vsech plamennych idej,
Nasil’nikam, grabiteljam,
Mučiteljam ljudej.

Pripev

Ne smejut kryl’ja čornye
Nad Rodinoj letat’,
Polja ejo prostornye
Ne smeet vrag toptat’.

Pripev

Gniloj fašistskoj nečisti
Zagonim pulju v lob,
Otreb’ju čelovečestva
Skolotim krepkij grob!

Pripev x 2