March of the Siberian Riflemen

The "March of the Siberian Riflemen" (Russian: Марш сибирских стрелков, romanized: Marsh sibirskikh strelkov), or alternatively the "Siberian Riflemen's March", is a Russian war song from World War I and the Russian Civil War. It is believed that the song melody was composed by Yuri Cherniavsky in 1915 for recruitment, but it is possible that it circulated in Russia even before. Vladimir Gilyarovsky wrote text for the song, to help recruit Baikal Cossacks into the Imperial Army. His text has three versions. Peter Parfenov wrote the latest version of the song after the 1922 Battle of Volochayevka.[1] Many other songs use this same melody, like the French anarchist song "La Makhnovtchina"[2] and the Red Russian song "Through Valleys and Over Hills" (Russian: По долинам и по взгорьям, romanized: Po dolinam i po vzgoriam), among others.[3]

"Through Valleys and Over Hills" itself has many versions in other languages, including Serbo-Croatian, Greek, German, French, Hungarian, Hebrew and Kurdish among others. The song was adapted by the Yugoslav Partisans and used in World War II.

History

The lyrics were penned by Russian writer Vladimir Gilyarovsky and meant to inspire the Baikal Cossacks conscripted for World War I. Later, the song became an anthem to the Siberian Cossacks, who swore to the Russian Empire and kept fighting even when the areas free from the Bolsheviks had shrunk to Siberia and the Far East. The song was so popular that the Russian communists re-penned the lyrics to their favor. The song served as a march during the Russian Civil War for the White Army as the March of the Siberian Riflemen under the command of Admiral Kolchak after he established the anti-communist Provisional Siberian Government. The song also served as a commemorative march for General (then Staff Colonel) Mikhail Drozdovsky and the Volunteer Army, after the Iași–Don March.

After the end of the Russian Civil War, the song was popular within the RSFSR and the USSR, with communist partisan fighters in Yugoslavia and German-occupied Russia using the song. The song is commonly played by the Alexandrov Ensemble. In the Middle East, the Russian song also got Hebrew texts written by the poets Avraham Shlonsky - Halokh halkha hevraya - a translation after Alexander Blok, which in several mobilizing versions served the Zionist Socialist Hashomer Hatzair movement and the Palestinian Communist Youth (now BANKI) movement in the Mandatory Palestine and then in Israel - and Didi Menosi - Mul gesher hanahar - which is known in the interpretation by the Israeli Gevatron ensemble. The music was used also as the first melody for the anthem of Palmakh Jewish shock units in Palestine.[4]

Russian lyrics

March of the Siberian Riflemen

Russian	Transliteration	English (Literal)
Из тайги, тайги дремучей От Амура, от реки Молчаливой, грозной тучей, В бой идут сибиряки. Их сурово воспитала Молчаливая тайга, Бури грозные Байкала, И сибирские снега. Ни усталости, ни страха, Бьются ночь и бьются день, Только серая папаха Лихо сбита набекрень. Эх, Сибирь, Сибирь родная, За тебя мы постоим. Волнам Рейна и Дуная Твой поклон передадим! Знай, Сибирь, в лихие годы В память славной старины Честь великого народа Отстоят твои сыны. Русь свободная воскреснет, Нашей верою горя, И услышат эту песню Стены древнего Кремля.	Iz taigi, taigi dremuchei Ot Amura, ot reki Molchalivoi, groznoi tuchei, V boi idut sibiriaki. Ikh surovo vospitala Molchalivaia taiga, Buri groznye Baikala, I sibirskie snega. Ni ustalosti, ni strakha, Biutsia noch i biutsia den, Tolko seraia papakha Likho sbita nabekren. Ekh, Sibir, Sibir rodnaia, Za tebia my postoim. Volnam Reina i Dunaia Tvoi poklon peredadim! Znai, Sibir, v likhie gody V pamiat slavnoi stariny Chest velikogo naroda Otstoiat tvoi syny. Rus svobodnaia voskresnet, Nashei veroiu goria, I uslyshat etu pesniu Steny drevnego Kremlia.	From the taiga, the dorment taiga From the Amur, from the river A silent, fearsome cloud The Siberians march to battle. They have been sternly brought up Through the Silent taiga, The storms of Baikal, And the Siberian snows. No fatigue, nor fear Night fighting or day fighting, Only their gray papakhas Famously worn down. Oh, Siberia, dear Siberia, We'll stand up for you. To the waves of the Rhine and the Danube We'll give you our regards! Know, Siberia, in times of trouble In memory of your glory and in your great honor Your sons will defend you. Russia free will rise again, By our faith we are in grief, but this song will be heard in the walls of the ancient Kremlin.

Through Valleys and Over Hills

Russian	Transliteration	English (Literal)
По долинам и по взгорьям Шла дивизия вперёд, Чтобы с боя взять Приморье — Белой армии оплот Наливалися знамена Кумачом последних ран, Шли лихие эскадроны Приамурских партизан. Этих лет не смолкнет слава, Не померкнет никогда — Партизанские отряды Занимали города. И останутся, как в сказках, Как манящие огни Штурмовые ночи Спасска, Волочаевские дни. Разгромили атаманов, Разогнали воевод И на Тихом океане Свой закончили поход.	Po dolinam i po vzgoriam Shla diviziia vpered, Chtoby s boia vziat Primore — Beloi armii oplot. Nalivalisia znamena Kumachom poslednikh ran, Shli likhie eskadrony Priamurskikh partizan. Etikh let ne smolknet slava, Ne pomerknet nikogda — Partizanskie otriady Zanimali goroda. I ostanutsia, kak v skazkakh, Kak maniashchie ogni, Shturmovye nochi Spasska, Volochaevskie dni. Razgromili atamanov, Razognali voevod, I na Tikhom okeane Svoi zakonchili pokhod.	Across the valleys and across the hills The divisions marched forward, To capture Primorye in battle — The stronghold of the White Army. The banners fell In the bunting of the last wounds Went dashing divisions Of the partisans of Amur. The glory of those years will never fade, No, they shall never fade — As the partisan troops Captured the cities. They will remain legends, Like alluring lights Through the storming nights of Spassk and the days of Volochaevka. [We] defeated the atamans, The voevodes were dispersed And on the Pacific Ocean We ended our campaign.

French lyrics

March of the Siberian Riflemen

French	English
Dans le froid et la famine, Par les villes et par les champs, A l'appel de Dénikine, Marchaient les Partisans Blancs. Sabrant les troupes bolcheviques, En ralliant les Atamans. Dans leurs campagnes épiques, Ils traquaient Trotsky tremblant. C'est pour la Sainte Russie, Pour la vieille tradition, Pour la gloire et la patrie, Que luttaient ces bataillons. Votre gloire est immortelle, Volontaires et Officiers Blancs, Et votre agonie cruelle, La honte de l'occident.	In the cold and the famine, By the cities and by the fields, At the call of Denikin, Marched the White Partisans, Slashing Bolshevik troupes, by rallying the Atamans. In their epic campaigns, they were hunting down trembling Trotsky. It is for a Holy Russia, For the old traditions, For the glory and the motherland, That these battalions were fighting. Your glory is immortal, White Volunteers and Officers, And our cruel agony, The shame of the west.

La Makhnovtchina

French	English translation
Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina Tes drapeaux sont noirs dans le vent ils sont noirs de notre peine ils sont rouges de notre sang. Par les monts et par les plaines dans la neige et dans le vent à travers toute l'Ukraine se levaient nos partisans. Au Printemps les traités de Lénine Ont livré l'Ukraine aux Allemands A l'automne la Makhnovtchina Les avait jeté au vent. L'armée blanche de Denikine est entrée en Ukraine en chantant mais bientôt la Makhnovtchina l'a dispersée dans le vent. Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina Armée noire de nos partisans Qui combattait en Ukraine contre les rouges et les blancs. Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina Armée noire de nos partisans qui voulait chasser d'Ukraine à jamais tous les tyrans.	Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina Your flags are black in the wind they are black with our pain they are red with our blood. Through the mountains and through the plains in the snow and in the wind all over Ukraine our supporters rose. In the Spring Lenin's Treatises Delivered Ukraine to the Germans In the fall the Makhnovtchina Tossed them to the wind. Denikin's White Army entered Ukraine singing but soon the Makhnovtchina scattered it in the wind. Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina Black army of our partisans Who was fighting in Ukraine against the Reds and Whites. Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina Black army of our partisans who wanted to drive out of Ukraine forever all tyrants.

Serbo-Croatian lyrics (Po šumama i gorama)

Memorial plaque to Zora and her brother Mirko Kovačević, the author of this version of the song, who later died as one of the most experienced 1st Split Partisan Detachment members; Obilićevo, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina (their hometown)

Serbo-Croatian (Latin / Cyrillic)[5][lower-alpha 1]		English translation
Po šumama i gorama naše zemlje ponosne idu čete partizana, Slavu borbe pronose! Mi smo djeca vjerna rodu i ko jedan spremni svi da u borbi za slobodu umiremo svjesno mi! Neka čuje[lower-alpha 2] dušman kleti krvavi se vodi rat,[lower-alpha 3] Prije ćemo mi umrijeti Nego svoje zemlje dat'! Kaznićemo izdajice, Oslobodit' narod svoj, Kazaćemo cijelom svijetu Da se bije ljuti boj! Crne horde nas ne plaše, Krv herojska u nas vri, Mi ne damo zemlje naše Da je gaze fašisti! Zgazit ćemo izdajice, i prihvatit' ljuti boj, spasit' kuće, oranice, oslobodit' narod svoj.	По шумама и горама наше земље поносне иду чете партизана, Славу борбе проносе! Ми смо дјеца вјерна роду и ко један спремни сви да у борби за слободу умиремо свјесно ми! Нека чује душман клети крвави се води рат, Прије ћемо ми умријети Него своје земље дат'! Казнићемо издајице, Ослободит' народ свој, Казаћемо цијелом свијету Да се бије љути бој! Црне хорде нас не плаше, Крв херојска у нас ври, Ми не дамо земље наше Да је газе фашисти! Згазит ћемо издајице и прихватит' љути бој, спасит' куће, оранице, ослободит' народ свој.	Throughout forests and mountains of our proud country troops of Partisans are passing by, spreading the glory of struggle! We are children loyal to our family and all of us are as one ready, that in the fight for freedom we die consciously! Let the cursed foe know A bloody war is waged We will rather die Than give our land! We will punish the traitors And free all our people, We will tell the entire world That a bitter fight is fought! Black hordes don’t scare us Heroic blood boils in our veins We don’t allow our lands To be trampled by fascists! We will trample down the traitors and accept the furious battle, save houses, arable land, liberate our people.

Alternative version

Basil Davidson recites alternative lyrics as he heard them from Yugoslav Partisans in his 1946 book Partisan Picture:[6]

Serbo-Croatian (Latin / Cyrillic)		English translation
Partizan sam tim se dičim: To ne može biti svak Umrijeti za slobodu, Može samo div-junak. Puška mi je drugarica, Mitraljez mi moji brat: Svakog časa odjim na straži, Da tiranu skršim vrat. Narodu sam zavjet dao, Ja, narodni partizan: Da ću čuvat' stijeg slobode, Boriti se noć i dan.	Партизан сам тим се дичим: То не може бити свак Умријети за слободу, Може само див-јунак. Пушка ми је другарица, Митраљез ми моји брат: Сваког часа одјим на стражи, Да тирану скршим врат. Народу сам завјет дао, Ја, народни партизан: Да ћу чуват' стијег слободе, Борити се ноћ и дан.	I'm a Partisan; of that I am proud. Not everyone can be that, To die for freedom Only a giant-hero can! The rifle is my friend, Machine gun my brother: Every hour I am on guard, To break the tyrant's neck. I made a vow to the people, I, the people's partisan: That I will guard the flag of freedom, Fight night and day.

Greek lyrics

Greek	Transliteration	English translation
Παρτιζάνοι προχωρείτε Μεσ' τους κάμπους, στα βουνά Να κερδίσουμε τη μάχη Ν' ανατείλει η λευτεριά. Από κάμπους και λαγκάδια κατεβαίνει η αγροτιά, μ'υψωμένα τα δρεπάνια χαιρετάει την εργατιά. Χρόνια τώρα εμείς σκυμμένοι σκάβουμε τη μαύρη Γης και τα πλούτη μας τα παίρνουν οι τυράννοι οι αστοί. Ό,τι βλέπουμε μπροστά μας απ'τα χρόνια τα παλιά, στη δουλειά μας τα χρωστάμε, ζήτω-ζήτω η εργατιά! Ας ξεχάσουμε τα μίση ολα εκείνα τα παλιά, κι ας υψώσουμε τα ξίφη όλοι για τη λευτεριά.	Partizáni prohoríte Mes' tus kámbus, sta vuná Na kerdhísume ti máhi N' anatíli i lefteriá. Apó kámbus ke langádhia Katevéni i aghrotiá, M'ipsoména ta dhrapánia Heretái tin erghatiá. Hrónia tóra emís skymméni Skávume ti mávri Ghis Ke ta plúti mas ta pérnun I tiránni i astí. Ó, ti vlépume brostá mas ap'ta hrónia ta paliá, sti dhuliá mas ta hrostáme, zíto-zíto i erghatiá! As ksehásume ta mísi óla ekína ta paliá, ki as ipsósume ta ksífi óli ghia ti leifteriá.	Partisans, move forward, in the meadows and the mountains so that we can win this battle for the freedom to rise. From plains and ravines comes down the peasant class, with sickles raised up they greet the working class. For years now we have bowed digging the black Earth and our riches are taken by the tyrrants the bourgeois. Everything we see in front of us from the old years, we owe it to our labour long live-long live the working class! Let us forget our grudges all these grudges of old, and let's raise our swords all of us for liberty!

Hebrew lyrics

Hebrew	Transliteration	English translation
היא עמדה אל מול גשר הנהר שעליו הפסיע אתמול גדוד של אלף פרטיזנים .ואחד יקר מכל גדוד של אלף פרטיזנים .ואחד יקר מכל את פניו הקפיא רוח הנהר ,אך ליבו עדיין בוער אלף נערות הכיר הוא .ואחת יפה יותר אלף נערות הכיר הוא .ואחת יפה יותר השדה שמעבר לנהר ,ערירי כאילו אשם אלף מצבות עומדות שם .ואחת מהן בלי שם אלף מצבות עומדות שם .ואחת מהן בלי שם האביב ממיס קרח בנהר ,ובשלל צבעיו מרתק אלף ילדים שרים לו .וילדון אחד שותק אלף ילדים שרים לו .וילדון אחד שותק הם עומדים אל מול גשר הנהר שעליו אי פעם צעד גדוד של אלף פרטיזנים .ואחד יקר לעד גדוד של אלף פרטיזנים ואחד יקר לעד	hi amda el mul gesher haNahar she'alav hifsia etmol gdud shel elef partizanim ve'echad yakar mikol gdud shel elef partizanim ve'echad yakar mikol et panav hikpi ruach haNahar akh libo adayin bo'er elef na'arot hikir hu ve'achat yaffa yoter elef nearot hikir hu ve'achat yaffa yoter hasadeh she me'ever haNahar ariri ke'illu ashem elef matzevot omdot sham ve'achat mehen bli shem elef matzevot omdot sham ve'achat mehen bli shem ha'Aviv memis kerach baNahar uBishlal tzva'av meratek elef yeladim sharim lo veYaldon echad shotek elef yeladim sharim lo veYaldon echad shotek Hem omdim el mul gesher haNahar she elav ei pa'am tza'ad gdud shel elef partizanim ve echad yakar la'ad gdud shel elef partizanim ve echad yakar la'ad	She stood in front of the river bridge, Which he stepped on yesterday A battalion of a thousand partisans And one most precious of all. A battalion of a thousand partisans And one most precious of all. His face froze in the river wind But his heart is still burning, A thousand girls he knew And one more beautiful. A thousand girls he knew And one more beautiful. The field across the river Barren as if guilty, A thousand tombstones stand there And one of them without a name A thousand tombstones stand there And one of them without a name Spring melting of ice in the river And a variety of fascinating colours, A thousand children sing it And one little boy is silent. A thousand children sing it And one little boy is silent. They stand in front of the river bridge On which a battalion of a thousand partisans A battalion of a thousand partisans And one precious forever. A battalion of a thousand partisans And one precious forever.

Notes

Strophes marked in italics were also sung during the World War II, but do not usually appear in orchestral versions recorded later. The latter italic strophe (sixth from the top) was typically replaced by the fourth strophe instead.
Alternatively in Serbo-Croatian: Neka znade / Нека знаде, lit. 'Let [them] know'
Alternatively in Serbo-Croatian: da će kod nas slomit' vrat / да ће код нас сломит' врат, lit. 'That they will have their necks broken here'

References

Dmitri Hrustalev 2013 on site Vesti.ru
La Makhnovtchina Lyrics, retrieved 2022-11-01
White Movement (1917–1923) "March of the Drozdovsky Regiment", retrieved 2022-11-01
Zemereshet- Israeli site of Hebrew music
"Po šumama i gorama". Zagreb: Antifašistički vjesnik. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
Davidson, Basil (1946). "3.2. Spring 1944 Beyond the Danube: Srem Our Oyster". Partisan Picture. Bedford Books. OCLC 2019137.

External links

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[6] Strophes marked in italics were also sung during the World War II, but do not usually appear in orchestral versions recorded later. The latter italic strophe (sixth from the top) was typically replaced by the fourth strophe instead.

[7] Alternatively in Serbo-Croatian: Neka znade / Нека знаде, lit. 'Let [them] know'

[8] Alternatively in Serbo-Croatian: da će kod nas slomit' vrat / да ће код нас сломит' врат, lit. 'That they will have their necks broken here'

[1] Dmitri Hrustalev 2013 on site Vesti.ru

[2] La Makhnovtchina Lyrics, retrieved 2022-11-01

[3] White Movement (1917–1923) "March of the Drozdovsky Regiment", retrieved 2022-11-01

[4] Zemereshet- Israeli site of Hebrew music

[5] "Po šumama i gorama". Zagreb: Antifašistički vjesnik. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.

[9] Davidson, Basil (1946). "3.2. Spring 1944 Beyond the Danube: Srem Our Oyster". Partisan Picture. Bedford Books. OCLC 2019137.