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What? Germans Sing Nazi Anthem in World Cup Stadium?Posted by Joerg Wolf in Transatlantic Relations on Monday, July 10. 2006
INSTAPUNDIT, one of the first political blogs with an average of currently 130.000 readers every day, recommended a well-meaning post about Germany on June 21st, but unintentionally spread misinformation:
BAD NEWS FOR AHMADINEJAD AT THE WORLD CUP: "Did you ever think you'd see the same people waving Israeli flags and singing Deutschland über alles?"Instapundit links to and quotes the Winds of Change blog, which quotes the British newspaper The Independent. This paper wrote in the second paragraph of its article about the opening match at the soccer World Cup Germany vs. Costa Rica: When it came to the national anthem and its opening line "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles", so often accompanied by uncertainty and shoe-gazing, much of the 65,000-strong crowd rose to their feet and joined in, as did the national team.This requires the following correction, a question and an explanation: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
(1) "Deutschland über alles" ('Germany above all') is not the national anthem, but the first stanza of the Deutschlandlied (Song of the Germans) written in 1841. The excellent Done With Mirrors blog explains what "Deutschland über alles" originally meant and how the Nazis distorted its meaning: "Von Fallersleben wrote his hymn when Germany was fragmented and yearned for unity, repressed by tinhorn tyrants and yearned for freedom. (...) The first line, Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, über alles in der Welt is not meant as a literal "over all," as in Germany "ruling over all in the world," but more of a "before all others." It's an urging to the Germans of the 1840s to put national unity above local loyalties and petty rivalries of religion and regionalism. To stop thinking of themselves as Catholic or Protestant, Bavarian or Rhinelander or Saxon, and start thinking as Germans. (...) The Nazis ditched most of the symbolism of the despised and decadent Weimar Republic, but they kept the anthem, leaning heavily on the first verse and trimming off the third stanza, in which von Fallersleben called for a Germany built on Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit -- "unity, justice, and freedom." In fact, the Nazis tended to play the first stanza only and then break into the Horst Wessel Lied. The Allies also pumped up the distorted meaning of Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, über alles in der Welt as part of their propaganda, which is why so many people in the U.S. think it means what they think it means." Read more Because the Nazis misused and reinterpreted the first stanza, Germany's national anthem consists now only of the third stanza of the Deutschlandlied, i.e. the crowd was singing "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" ('Unity and rule of law and freedom'). In fact, singing the first stanza, "Deutschland über alles", is associated with the Nazis only. It is the Nazi anthem. More historical background in the column to the right: ==>> This means Matthew Beard, the reporter for The Independent, did not listen very well and does not know much about the country he is reporting about. Winds of Change and Instapundit did not notice the mistake, but unintentionally spread it on the internet. I find it unfortunate that three publications assume that Germany still uses the Nazi anthem and that tens of thousands of Germans would sing it in a soccer stadium during the World Cup. Germany has changed so much since the Nazi era. Millions of World Cup fans from around the world enjoyed the friendly, peaceful, open-minded party atmosphere in Germany. There has been much less racism and violence and prostitution and sex trafficking than many observers assumed beforehand. ![]() (2) What does the INSTAPUNDIT mean by "I wouldn't want to get on their bad side." ??? Do you think we have an evil side that breaks out and attacks you when we get provoked? Are we like Hulk? Or like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? ;-) (3) Winds of Change expressed surprise that Germans show solidarity with Israel. Why wouldn't we wave Israeli flags to protest against Ahmadinejad? A recent PEW poll found that a higher percentage of Germans than Americans express negative opinions of Iran and oppose the acquirition of nuclear weapons. Another PEW poll concluded three weeks ago: Germans, in particular, have become much more sympathetic to Israel in its dispute with the Palestinians. Nearly four-in-ten Germans (37%) say they sympathize with Israel in the Mideast conflict compared with 18% who sympathize with the Palestinians. In March 2004, Germans' sympathies were evenly divided (24% Israel, 24% Palestinians).The respected German paper Die Welt reported last weekend that Israel will receive two more German submarines, which cost one billion Euro, but the German government is paying 300 million. These submarines increase Israel's deterrence against Iran by strengthening Israel's nuclear second-strike capability, enabling Israel to destroy Iran even if Iran would launch a surprise nuclear attack on Israel first. Such an attack would not have an effect on the nuclear armed submarines, which are extremely difficult to locate and therefore provide a second-strike capability. Haaretz wrote about the submarines last November, but the article isn't online anymore. Regime Change Iran has a copy. The Federation of American Scientists has more background. Unfortunately, the U.S. press does not write much about German politics, and covers more bad news than good news, but that is typical of media coverage in general. Fortunately, Winds of Change wrote an overall positive post and INSTAPUNDIT helped to spread it, but some misinformation and prejudices die hard. UPDATE: Instapundit posted the correction. Thank you, Glenn. If only the MSM would be that fast, especially The Independent, who started the whole misunderstanding. Welcome Instapundit readers!, please have a look around at this blog about transatlantic affairs by three German Fulbrighters. Here are our must reads.
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GM Roper
- #1 - 2006-07-09 15:59 - (Reply)
Well done Joerg, clearing this up was and is important. Good job!
JW -Atlantic Review
- #2 - 2006-07-09 17:06 - (Reply)
I just saw more articles about European opinions shifting on Israel:
JA Fournier
- #2.1 - 2006-07-09 18:31 - (Reply)
Forgive me for pointing out a point of language re the Rubric 'Topics We Wrote About'. In my English, this suggests you're done/departed, kind of puzzling, really. Has it something to do with the tendency in American English to use the Past Simple where the rest of us in the English-speaking world would use the Present Perfect? For me it should read 'Topics We Have Written About'.
joe
- #3 - 2006-07-09 18:20 - (Reply)
http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/archiv/.bin/dump.fcgi/2006/0703/politik/0017/index.html?keywords=gaza;every=1;utf8=1;mark=gaza
Ralf Goergens
- #4 - 2006-07-09 18:58 - (Reply)
Joe,
Holmwood
- #5 - 2006-07-09 20:58 - (Reply)
A good correction. However, a small one of my own. You accurately describe the potential role of the new Dolphin subs in strengthening Israel's second-strike capability.
JW -Atlantic Review
- #5.1 - 2006-07-09 22:09 - (Reply)
> accurately describe the potential role of the new
pigilito
- #6 - 2006-07-09 21:02 - (Reply)
From the Economist article in a previous post is more evidence of Germany's support of Israel: "If there were a threat to Israel, Germany would help to defend it “without batting an eyelid,” says [policy guru] Mr Weisskirchen."
The Monster
- #7 - 2006-07-09 21:14 - (Reply)
As an American of predominantly German extraction, I completely understand those who refer to a song by the opening line of its former first verse. When German athletes win Olympic gold medals, and the TUNE is played, no one can tell that the first verse is no longer part of the song.
Zyme
- #8 - 2006-07-09 23:05 - (Reply)
I recall what a few collegues who were soldiers in the german army told: Those old anthems and songs of the third Reich are quite popular among the troops when they are on mission in foreign lands. But they only sing them when there is no troublemaker around, who would whistle-blow them ;)
Anonymous
- #8.1 - 2006-07-10 00:39 - (Reply)
Anybody singing Hajji Girl?
Zyme
- #8.1.1 - 2006-07-10 14:25 - (Reply)
Of course they are decent guys - that is why I know them :)
JW-Atlantic Review
- #8.1.1.1 - 2006-07-10 14:32 - (Reply)
People on the Balkans would understand "Deutschland über alles." They or their parents had heard it before. :-(
Zyme
- #8.1.1.1.1 - 2006-07-10 21:33 - (Reply)
Even if they did, they would see it the way it was meant to: Fun or entertainment. Have you ever heard those old tunes? They have something thrilling on it.
joe
- #9 - 2006-07-10 03:54 - (Reply)
Ralf,
Anonymous
- #9.1 - 2006-07-10 04:48 - (Reply)
> Yes you are correct about the sale of submarines to Israel
Anonymous
- #9.2 - 2006-07-10 04:52 - (Reply)
> If anything the 300 million euros is more of a subsidy to German
joe
- #10 - 2006-07-10 06:42 - (Reply)
you can do your own research.
Fuchur
- #10.1 - 2006-07-10 10:02 - (Reply)
That´s a stupid lie.
Anonymous
- #10.2 - 2006-07-10 11:45 - (Reply)
"you can do your own research."
Ralf Goergens
- #11 - 2006-07-10 10:25 - (Reply)
joe,
joe
- #12 - 2006-07-10 19:19 - (Reply)
Anonymous
Olaf Petersen
- #13 - 2006-07-11 06:32 - (Reply)
U-31: People should notice that Germany has two versions of this new submarine, a premium version for itself and a 'light version' for export.
Chris
- #14 - 2006-07-11 19:43 - (Reply)
Nice post. Try a Google search and note this as well:
Chris
- #15 - 2006-07-11 20:57 - (Reply)
Google picks up something on his website that is a play on that openning line to the anthem.
joe
- #16 - 2006-07-14 12:28 - (Reply)
Fucher,
Fuchur
- #16.1 - 2006-07-14 14:28 - (Reply)
Thing is: Old Gerhard explicitly said that he did not want to sell weapons to China.
joe
- #17 - 2006-07-14 16:24 - (Reply)
Fucher,
Bill
- #18 - 2006-07-14 17:36 - (Reply)
Ooohh... I can see that this comment thread just spun off into the ether far away from the original theme of this post. Germans finding their national pride again and singing their national anthem and waving flags during the WM 2006 was cool, didn't have anything to do with the Nazis. I know, I was here and have been here for a looong time (too long).
JW-Atlantic Review
- #18.1 - 2006-07-14 18:04 - (Reply)
> There is still PLENTY of negative rhetoric in Germany (in the
Don
- #19 - 2006-07-15 01:20 - (Reply)
This bring up an interesting issue. The source for the original story about the supposed nazi anthem signing seems to be the Independent newspaper from the UK, which is a little suprising but perhaps not too much.
Don
- #20 - 2006-07-15 01:37 - (Reply)
The narrow point which Joerg makes in this post is that the national anthem sung at the games is not the same as was sung at the Olympicstadium in 1936.
Bill
- #21 - 2006-07-16 17:18 - (Reply)
Well, we're off-subject here Jörg as stated in my comment above, but I will respond to your questions. Actually, this is some good stuff for the next Carnival of German-American Relations IV.
Don
- #21.1 - 2006-07-17 02:36 - (Reply)
Way off-topic indeed! But I agree with this point and think it would be a worthwhile discussion.
Fuchur
- #21.2 - 2006-07-17 13:13 - (Reply)
@Bill
joe
- #22 - 2006-07-17 17:51 - (Reply)
Fucher,
ADMIN
- #22.1 - 2006-07-17 18:39 - (Reply)
Please, don't try to provoke anyone. I see escalations in many comment threads on many blogs. We don't want flame wars in the comments section.
joe
- #23 - 2006-07-17 20:13 - (Reply)
Huge misunderstandings take place on these issues such as German military contributions. There is a failure on the American side to really understand the meaning of the culture policy shift, which has occurred to allow the German military to do what it is doing. So most Americans I would say are ignorant of that and equally do not value both how difficult it was and the significance of it.
Bill
- #24 - 2006-07-25 17:47 - (Reply)
Well said (er, written) Joe and thanks for your input to my comments Don. Add Comment
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