paula von preradovic

Paula von Preradović (12 October 1887 - 25 May 1951), married as Paula Molden, was an Austrian writer and narrator. She was the granddaughter of Croatian poet Petar Preradović. She was born in Vienna but her family moved to Pula, Croatia in 1889. Later she lived in Copenhagen and again in Vienna. She was married to Ernst Molden and gave birth to newspaper correspondent and editor Fritz Molden and the banker Otto Molden. She has composed the lyrics for the national anthem of Austria in 1947, Land der Berge, Land am Strome. It is said that, after she was informed that her lyrics were chosen for the national anthem, her son Fritz Molden composed a satirical version of the anthem, for the amusement of the family.

"Land der Erbsen, Land der Bohnen,

Land der vier allierten Zonen,

Wir verkaufen Dich im Schleich,

Viel geliebtes Oesterreich!

Und droben berm Hermannskogel

flattert froh der Bundesvogel!"

"Country of peas, country of beans,

Country of the four Occupied Zones,

We sell you on the black market,

Well beloved Austria!

And above the Hermannskogel

The Federal Bird flutters with glee."