Marsch der Nationalen Volksarmee [English translation]

Who marches from factories, from villages and forges,

Who stands guard for you, who stays awake for you?

Who protects with guns1 the peoples' peace,

Who keeps in check your executioners and murderers?

It is we, who stand ready and determined

On guard on land and on the sea,

It is we, it is your comrades

In the Workers' and Peasants' Army.

Who protects the factories in workers' hands?

Who sees to it that no lord carouses the harvest away anymore?

Who isn't scared of the threats with bombs and fires?2

Who protects your good and human right?

It is we, who stand ready and determined

On guard on land and on the sea,

It is we, it is your comrades

In the Workers' and Peasants' Army.

1. Specifically artillery pieces2. "fires" is metaphorical for unrest here

• Artist:Erich-Weinert-Ensemble