First thoughts when you hear germany?

[Captain Pirate]

Guns.
Then probably how they largely invented the Assault Rifle.
Then Nazis/Hitler.
Then Angela Murkel, or however you spell her name, the prime minister of Germany anyway.
Then the word 'Nein!'

 

[gellert1984]

Intellectually I am aware that Germany has done its best to distance itself from Hitlers germany, though Angela Merkel seems to have a problem with democracy. I am aware that during the war the frontline soldiers didnt realize that the jews, gays, russians and political prisoners were being gassed in death camps. I know that Hitler was Austrian and not German. I know about the night of the long knives. I know that German technology during WW2 was incredibly advanced, that the B2 stealth bomber is based on a German design, that their industry at the time was second to none.

And yet the first thing that pops into my mind when hearing 'Germany'?

Two world wars and one world cup, doodah, doodah.

 

[brunothepig]

The Wacken Open Air Festival. Or just Metal in general. Germany have some great bands, and the biggest Metal festival (Wacken). Not to mention all their other festivals. Damn Germany is awesome.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

Totally sweet beer, bratwursts, industriousness unrivaled, solid engineering, Rammstein and of course the events of WW2. That spectre is destined to linger for a long time, regretttably.

 

[Dr Cosmo]

After reading most of the comments,
I truly wonder why one of the most popular,
most visited and most hyped cities in Europe and the globe
is not associated more often with Germany.

The capital city of Germany: BERLIN

 

[flaviok79]

Sausages, beer, oktoberfest, great cars, blond people.

 

[Pebblig]

Efficiency. Then cars and sausages.

 

[Talshere]

A nation in the EU who loves throwing its political weight around.

 

[yman15]

First German people, then German the language, then WWII, then uh yah Nazi's

Sadly I am at fault for thinking about Nazis too. My classes back in high school, to even middle school would lecture about Germany being the 'main villain' in WWII so many times, that it's just an instinct to imagine Nazis whenever I hear the word Germany.

However I had gotten better control of my thoughts. So when I hear Germany, I avoid the Nazi topic and focus on my side of the family coming from Germany. I'm part German, and not even close to being a Nazi period. Besides- we have a new type of Nazi.. Grammar Nazis. They're not bad though, I just hear from them a lot.

I think this applies to us...
[youtube=RovF1zsDoeM&feature=related}

 

[6_Qubed]

Annina Ucatis. Google, and then thank/curse me. (NSFW WARNING. PROMOTIONS MAY OCCUR IF WARNING IS IGNORED.)

 

[werejohnny]

Rammstein, the similarities between English and German language-wise, my great-aunt Hannah who is 100% German (married my great uncle after WWII), and the film Downfall.

 

[Pegghead]

Some dude with a glorious 'stache clad in lederhosen (and one of those wierd fedoras with a little feather in it) holding a big beer mug in front of a glorious mountain scape.

That's the gospel truth, I was aware of European Vacation before I was aware of the horrors of Naziism and The Holocaust.

 

[Asuka Soryu]

First thing that came to mind? German people! No images, just the words: "German people". lol Then Asuka came to mind, since she was born in Germany then moved to Japan.

 

[Robby Foxfur]

my ability to speak German and the fun time i spent there

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

The very nice cars made by Mercedes and Porsche.




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[requisitename]

When I hear someone say Germany, I think of the Holy Roman Empire, Martin Luther, Friedrich Nietzsche.. and the awesomely authentic German restaurant my best friend and I frequent once a month, though not necessarily in that order.

 

[generals3]

WW2 (not that i have anything against germans just very passionate about WW2 History) and october fest (my love for beer kicks in)

 

[KimberlyGoreHound]

I'm too lazy to look through every page of this thread just to see if this has been mentioned (maybe I will when I have more time), but the first thing I think when someone says Germany is Blind Guardian. Specifically Hansi Kursch (the lead singer). Their show was the most fun I've ever had at a concert. I'm convinced that Hansi has robot lungs, and therefore never has to breathe, but is still able to talk and sing. That's the only explanation for why he never runs out of breath, especially during Mirror Mirror.

 

[mithical]

Strudel, then funnel cake, even though they probably aren't even German.
Then beer. Then the flag. Then thick, lustrous mustaches. Then Von Kaiser from 'Punchout!'.
Then I think of 8-bit sound effects and the train of thought kind of goes off the rails.