"The Sacred War" is one of the most famous Soviet songs of World War II. The music is by Alexander Alexandrov, founder of the Alexandrov Ensemble and the musical composer of the State Anthem of the Soviet Union. The lyrics are by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach.
The circumstances of the composition and first performance of the song were hurried; the lyrics were published on 24 June 1941, and Alexandrov immediately wrote the music for them, writing the notes out on a blackboard for the singers to copy manually. The first performance was on 26 June at Belorussky Railway Station, where according to eyewitnesses it was sung five times in succession.В. Олару. Стихотворение в газете Независимая Молдова, 21 июня 2001 ()
In the 1990s, Russian media published the allegation that the lyrics had been plagiarized by Lebedev-Kumach, and that they were indeed written during the First World War by (1865–1939). These claims were taken to court, and the newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta in June 2000 was forced to publish a retraction of the claim.Опровержение Независимая газета, 5 июля 2000; A. Barinov, Бард сталинской эпохи. 105 лет со дня рождения Василия Лебедева-Кумача, «АиФ Долгожитель» № 15 (27), 8 August 2003. Prof. Evgeniy Levashev (2000) still upheld doubts on the authorship, and on the reasonableness of the court's decision.Е. М. Левашев. Судьба песни // Архив наследия — 2000 / Сост. и науч. ред. Плужников В. И.; РАН. Российский Научно-исследовательский институт культурного и природного наследия им. Д. С. Лихачёва. — М.: Институт Наследия, 2001, 305–330. (online version).
Lyrics Russian originalRomanization of Russian (Croatian-styled)English translationВставай страна огромная, Вставай на смертный бой С фашистской силой тёмною, С проклятою ордой.
Пусть ярость благородная Вскипает как волна! Идёт война народная, Священная война!
Дадим отпор душителям Всех пламенных идей, Насильникам грабителям, Мучителям людей!
Не смеют крылья чёрные Над Родиной летать, Поля её просторные Не смеет враг топтать!
Гнилой фашистской нечисти Загоним пулю в лоб, Отребью человечества Cколотим крепкий гроб!Vstaváj straná ogrómnaja, Vstaváj na smértnyj boj S fašístskoj síloj tjómnoju, S prokljátoju ordój.
Pustj járostj blagoródnaja Vskipájet, kak volná! Idjót vojná naródnaja, Svjaščénnaja vojná!
Dadím otpór dušíteljam Vseh plámennyh idej, Nasíljnikam, grabíteljam, Mučíteljam ljudéj!
Ne sméjut krýljja čjórnyje Nad Ródinoj letátj, Poljá jejó prostórnyje Ne sméjet vrag toptátj!
Gnilój fašístskoj néčisti Zagónim púlju v lob, Otrébjju čelovéčestva Skolótim krépkij grob!Arise, vast country, Arise for a fight to the death Against the dark fascist force, Against the cursed horde.
Let noble wrath Boil over like a wave! This is the people's war, A Sacred War!
We shall repulse the oppressors Of all ardent ideas, The rapists and the plunderers, The torturers of people!
The black wings shall not dare Fly over the Motherland, On her spacious fields; The enemy shall not dare tread!
We'll drive a bullet into the forehead Of the rotten fascist filth. For the scum of humanity, We shall build a solid coffin!
Charts Alexandrov Ensemble version + 2025 weekly chart performance for "" Chart (2025) Peakposition Russia Streaming (TopHit) 82
+ 2026 weekly chart performance for "" Chart (2026) Peakposition Russia Streaming (TopHit) 74
See also Great Patriotic War (term) "Arise, Russian people!"
Notes
References
External links Song "The Sacred War" performed by the chorus of the People's Liberation Army of China Lyrics and recording, 1942 recording