fallersleben's music was very popular in germany during the second part of the 19th century. this song was not a national anthem then, but a patriotic song supporting a united german state. in 1918, it replaced the anthem of the german empire "heil dir im siegerkranz" ("praise to the war-winner"), when the emperor wilhelm ii lost power at the end of the first world war. in 1921, a "fourth stanza", a new part or verse, was written by poet albert matthai with words about the difficult life in germany at that time. this verse was rarely used.