The Sacred War

"The Sacred War"^[a] 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.^[1]

"The Sacred War"
Song
Written	1941
Genre	Martial music
Composer(s)	Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov
Lyricist(s)	Vasily Lebedev-Kumach

1941 recording

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.^[2]

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 Aleksandr Bode [ru] (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.^[3] Prof. Evgeniy Levashev (2000) still upheld doubts on the authorship, and on the reasonableness of the court's decision.^[4]

Lyrics

Russian original	Romanization of Russian	English translation
Вставай страна огромная, Вставай на смертный бой С фашистской силой тёмною, С проклятою ордой. Припев: 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 Cколотим крепкий гроб! Припев	Vstaváj straná ogrómnaja, Vstaváj na smértnyj boj S fašístskoj síloj tjómnoju, S prokljátoju ordój. Pripév: Pustj járostj blagoródnaja Vskipájet, kak volná! Idjót vojná naródnaja, Svjaščénnaja vojná! Dadím otpór dušíteljam Vseh plámennyh idej, Nasíljnikam, grabíteljam, Mučíteljam ljudéj! Pripév Ne sméjut krýljja čjórnyje Nad Ródinoj letátj, Poljá jejó prostórnyje Ne sméjet vrag toptátj! Pripév Gnilój fašístskoj néčisti Zagónim púlju v lob, Otrébjju čelovéčestva Skolótim krépkij grob! Pripév	Arise, vast country, Arise for a fight to the death Against the dark fascist force, Against the cursed horde. Chorus: 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! Chorus The black wings shall not dare Fly over the Motherland, On her spacious fields; The enemy shall not dare tread! Chorus We'll drive a bullet into the forehead Of the rotten fascist filth. For the scum of humanity, We shall build a solid coffin! Chorus

Charts

Alexandrov Ensemble version

Weekly chart performance for "Svyashchennaya Voyna"

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Russia Streaming (TopHit)[5]	82

See also

• Great Patriotic War (term)
• "Arise, Russian people!"

Notes

1. Russian: Священная война, romanized: Svyashchennaya voyna, IPA: [svʲɪˈɕːenːəjə vɐjˈna]