"Das Lied der Deutschen," or "The Song of the Germans," is the national anthem of Germany. The anthem's lyrics were written by Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1841, while the music is based on a melody composed by Joseph Haydn in 1797. The song emphasizes themes of unity and freedom. However, only the third stanza of "Das Lied der Deutschen" is used as the official anthem. This decision was made after World War II to promote a message of peace and reconciliation, distancing the anthem from its historical associations with nationalism and militarism.