The State Anthem of the Soviet Union replaced the Internationale as the country's official anthem at the start of 1944, during the Second World War. Its music was composed by Alexander Alexandrov, leader of the Red Army Choir, and its words were written by Sergey Mikhalkov and Gabriel El-Registan. The text praised the union of free republics, Lenin and Stalin, and the Communist Party. After Stalin's death in 1953 the lyrics fell out of use because of the references to him, and a new text by Mikhalkov was introduced in 1977. The melody was reinstated as the anthem of the Russian Federation in 2000, again with new words by Mikhalkov.
Before and after
- 1944Bella ciao
- 1944Discovery of americium
- 1944Discovery of curium
- 1944Tiến Quân Ca
- 1 January 1944Publication of State Anthem of the Soviet Union
- 1944Avery, MacLeod and McCarty show that DNA carries genes
- 19441944 becomes the warmest year on record
- 18 January 1944Birth of Alexander Van der Bellen
- 23 January 1944Death of Edvard Munch
More in Art, literature & culture
The era
This moment belongs to the Modern era (1914 CE to 1945 CE), world wars and a changing world. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.
