Oben am jungen Rhein (Up above the young Rhine), sung to the same tune as God Save the Queen, has been the national anthem of Liechtenstein since 1963, when the lyrics were altered (the first line had been Oben am deutschen Rhein). The original lyrics had been written in 1850 by Swiss pastor Jakob Josef Jauch (1802-1859), in a time when the Principality of Liechtenstein, which is considered the last remnant of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, was a member of the German Confederation. About a decade earlier, French claims to the left bank of the Rhine (Rhine Crisis of 1840) had triggered a series of German Rhine songs of which Die Wacht am Rhein is the most famous. Jauch’s lyrics were adopted in 1920 as national anthem. In 1963, the anthem was shortened, and references to German and Germany were removed: am deutschen Rhein (at the German Rhine) became “at the young Rhine”, and im deutschen Vaterland (in German fatherland) became das teure Vaterland (the precious fatherland). The second original stanza, containing Auf Deutschlands Wacht (on guard for Germany) was, like the 3rd and 4th discontinued altogether. Liechtenstein Lyrics: Oben am jungen Rhein Lehnet sich Liechtenstein An Alpenhöh’n. Dies liebe Heimatland, Das teure Vaterland, Hat Gottes weise Hand Für uns erseh’n. Hoch lebe Liechtenstein Blühend am jungen Rhein, Glücklich und treu. Hoch leb’ der Fürst vom Land, Hoch unser Vaterland, Durch Bruderliebe Band Vereint und frei. English Translation: Up above …

Fröhliche Weihnachten – Merry Christmas – Joyeux Noel Vor zwei Tagen wurde das Metropolitan-Konzept von der Deutschen Bahn eingestellt. Bevor jedoch die beiden Züge umlackiert und als reguläre ICE- bzw. IC-Züge von der DB Fernverkehr AG eingesetzt werden, nutzt man sie noch für spezielle Weihnachtssonderfahrten. Sie übernehmen aus diesem Anlass heute einen Metropolitan und fahren von Hagen bis nach Altenhundem. [Szenariobeschreibung] ——————————— Two days ago, Deutsche Bahn discontinued its Metropolitan concept. However, before the two trains will be repainted and used as regular ICE or IC services from DB Fernverkehr AG, they still are introduced for special Christmas runs. On this occasion, you drive today a Metropolitan from Hagen to Altenhundem. [scenario description]