Sei gesegnet ohne Ende

"Sei gesegnet ohne Ende" (German pronunciation: [zaɪ̯ ɡəˈzeːɡnət ˈʔoːnə ˈʔɛndə]; lit. 'Be Blessed Without End'), also known as the "Kernstock-Hymne", is a German language song that was the national anthem of Austria from 1929 until 1938. Written by Ottokar Kernstock, it was sung to the famous tune of the imperial Austrian anthem, "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" by Joseph Haydn, later known as the tune of the "Deutschlandlied", which since 1922 has been the national anthem of Germany.

The first but unofficial anthem of the First Austrian Republic was "Deutschösterreich, du herrliches Land" ('German-Austria, Thou Glorious Land'). Written in 1920 by Karl Renner and set to music by Wilhelm Kienzl, the patriotic song was not able to successfully compete against the former imperial anthem and especially the latter's famous tune by Joseph Haydn.^[1]

In 1929, a new anthem was introduced that was sung to this popular tune and whose text stemmed from Ottokar Kernstock, who had written it in 1920.^[1] The third verse of the poem was, however, excluded from the official status as national anthem. The song remained in use in both the First Republic and the Federal State of Austria but became obsolete in 1938, when Austria joined the German Reich.

It was not the only proposal for a new Austrian national anthem. Anton Wildgans asked Richard Strauss to set one of his poems, "Österreichisches Lied" ('Austrian Song'), to music. Although Strauss did so, the music to the poem^[2] did not become popular. Here are excerpts of the poem:

The introduction of the "Kernstockhymne" actually led to chaos, as everyone sang different lyrics to the same tune, depending on their political standpoints. The school council of Vienna decreed that people should sing the "Deutschlandlied", the Ministry of Education demanded for everyone to sing the "Kernstockhymne". Consequently, people sang the anthem that fitted their personal political views: the former imperial anthem, the "Kernstockhymne", or the "Deutschlandlied", which often led to dissonance when the national anthem was sung publicly.^[4]

Since 1936, it had become customary to also sing the "Lied der Jugend" as part of the national anthem, thus honouring the murdered chancellor Engelbert Dollfuß.

As the "Kernstockhymne" had never gained popularity, no attempt was made to reinstate it as the national anthem after World War II.

• List of historical national anthems
• "Land der Berge, Land am Strome"
• "Dem Vaterland"
• "Deutschlandlied"
• "Deutschösterreich, du herrliches Land"
• "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser"
• "Horst-Wessel-Lied"

• Audio sample
• Official audio recording
• Peter Diem: Die Symbole Österreichs (in German)