Misconceptions about Germans (Those damn Nazis!)

[Karoshi]

A couple years ago, my class took a trip to England. It was a time which I very enjoyed, yet there was one thing which slightly irritated me. While walking around the streets together, a German speaking group, we had our share of comments from passerbys about "Nazis" . Sometimes they were joking, sometimes it was an insult.

Ironic part: 26 out of 31 students were immigrants just like me. We spoke perfect German, but came from a great variety of countries. Most of us never experienced any racism - except that one time when we got called Nazis.

I have lived in Germany for 12 years and I have to say, that this is one of the most tolerant countries I have seen. Muslims are a common sight and I have befriended many girls who wore a hijab, people who would have been constantly criticized in USA (at least, that was my impression). Of course, there are racists here just as in any country, but Germans have a very strong knee-jerk reaction towards any racism bullshit. Sometimes it's pretty exaggerated, but it's better than the opposite.

This country made me feel welcome, when I was poor and didn't know anything about the German language. Therefore, it absolutely pisses me of when every single thread involving Germans always reduces them to "former Nazis - handle with care" caricatures. THIS is racism as well.

My opinion on Germans is as following: They are boring good-doers. The punctual thing is pretty much true. Very anti-war, their army is as small as it can be. Not as big cynics as Russians, you might even call them naive. Many eco-freaks, especially among older generations.

I know most people don't want to insult any Germans, perhaps they mean it as good-natured fun. Still, it drives me bonkers. Please, just stop.

TLDR: Germans aren't Nazis, geez. If you call them Nazis, then you are racist.

 

[mechashiva77]

Eh, don't let those people get you down. They probably think that the Russians are still communist or that all Americans are fat and hicks, or in the case of America: all British people kiss the Queen's ass.

 

[Heronblade]

I personally kicked an acquaintance of mine that kept pulling this if it makes you feel any better. I uh, forgot I was wearing steel toes at the time, made a stronger impression than originally intended.

Don't let people like that bother you too much, prejudice dies hard, particularly when fueled by ignorance. Just because they're loud doesn't make them the majority opinion.

 

[ClockworkPenguin]

Mate, you should here what we say about the French. England has a regrettable racist streak. Scotland and Wales not so much, because they're too busy hating on England. No-one thinks Germans are Nazis, we're just arseholes, arseing around.

 

[Esotera]

Sorry but it had to be done.

OT: I'd say I share your stereotype of the typical German, but maybe that's because I'm part German myself. Living in the UK I'd say a small minority will hold something against the Germans for the world wars, but the vast majority don't care.

 

[SaetonChapelle]

I was born in Germany, and lived there for quite some time. I have found that since moving to America, that although I do love it here and I am proud to now say I am an American, the views of Americans about Germany are quite... ignorant. Perhaps confused? But, on the other side, whenever I go to visit Germany I hear from friends and family high misconceptions about Americans as well. I can't say that the people of my birth home are innocent in these confusions and stereotypes.

 

[TheIronRuler]

A couple years ago, my class took a trip to England. It was a time which I very enjoyed, yet there was one thing which slightly irritated me. While walking around the streets together, a German speaking group, we had our share of comments from passerbys about "Nazis" . Sometimes they were joking, sometimes it was an insult.

Ironic part: 26 out of 31 students were immigrants just like me. We spoke perfect German, but came from a great variety of countries. Most of us never experienced any racism - except that one time when we got called Nazis.

I have lived in Germany for 12 years and I have to say, that this is one of the most tolerant countries I have seen. Muslims are a common sight and I have befriended many girls who wore a hijab, people who would have been constantly criticized in USA (at least, that was my impression). Of course, there are racists here just as in any country, but Germans have a very strong knee-jerk reaction towards any racism bullshit. Sometimes it's pretty exaggerated, but it's better than the opposite.

This country made me feel welcome, when I was poor and didn't know anything about the German language. Therefore, it absolutely pisses me of when every single thread involving Germans always reduces them to "former Nazis - handle with care" caricatures. THIS is racism as well.

My opinion on Germans is as following: They are boring good-doers. The punctual thing is pretty much true. Very anti-war, their army is as small as it can be. Not as big cynics as Russians, you might even call them naive. Many eco-freaks, especially among older generations.

I know most people don't want to insult any Germans, perhaps they mean it as good-natured fun. Still, it drives me bonkers. Please, just stop.

TLDR: Germans aren't Nazis, geez. If you call them Nazis, then you are racist.

.
That's not racism. You're not a racist if you call Germans Nazis. I think there is or should be a different word for that, one already in my head is 'idiot'. You don't see people calling Austrians, Belgians or Slovaks Nazis, do you? It's ignorant of them to call Germans "Nazis", which is a slur itself, because... it doesn't make no goddamned sense. It's like calling a Russian bloke a 'commie'.

Err - about the statement earlier, "former Nazis - handle with care", I do have to say that this feeling existed among the allied nations public after the split of Germany. Y'Know, it only took barely a generation for Germany to arise from the destruction of its previous lost war, the same could have happened for the second time.

 

[DrRockor]

The only actually interaction I have had with any german people was with stoners so I just think weed when you say germans. Is that better?

 

[SckizoBoy]

snip

Eh... that, dear fellow, was just bad luck, I'm afraid. For the most part, Brits only have a beef with the Germans for two reasons: one, just to take the piss, and even then, yeah, we know where the line is; and two, football... even though too few of us know how little you care (yes, I realise that all Germany wants to do is go kick the Dutch as far as footie's concerned).

So, it's just bad luck you came across a bunch of misinformed jerks. Racist? Nnnnnn, I wouldn't quite say that. But definitely misinformed jerks. Now, lemme guess, they were all under the age of forty? See most of the older generation buried the hatchet ages ago, but for some bizarre reason, some minority inherited it and seem to hate Germany somewhat irrationally and generally for the most trumped up reasons even though British history ain't no picnic either... :/ What's stupid is that Britain has successfully alienated itself from Germany (traditional allies from 1700-1900) and France (the new ally from C20) based purely on their antagonistic histories... meanwhile France & Germany (who, prior to 1950 were rarely, if ever, on the same side for anything) are getting on like good neighbours should.

Still, it is (not so much of) a comfort that these idiots exist regardless of which country you go to... *shrug* v_v

 

[370999]

TLDR: Germans aren't Nazis, geez. If you call them Nazis, then you are racist.

No you aren't. German is a nationality, not a race.

You are being sterotypical and discrimatory but not racist. Unless you use the new definition of the word, meaning against any group of people, which I hate.

People shouldn't try to be huge dicks.

 

[sky14kemea]

I agree, when I visited Germany with school, it was one of the best school trips I've ever had. =P

But really, the people were nice, the food was pretty awesome, and the sweets were fantastic!

I really dislike people who bring up WWII all the time. Let it go, people. :/

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

I studied History at my university. Even during WWII, not all Germans were Nazis. People don't seem to get that. Granted, the education system here in the US is... lackluster. It seems to love generalizing and simplifying topics to make them more palatable to broad audiences.

I've got nothing against Germans. Hell, I married one.

 

[JoJo]

Yeah, a lot of my fellow English are like that, the whole "Nazi" thing gets brought up almost every time someone finds out I'm 1/8 German by descent. It generally isn't really malicious though, more just an extension of the national jokes we all like to make.

 

[Quaxar]

I agree, when I visited Germany with school, it was one of the best school trips I've ever had. =P

But really, the people were nice, the food was pretty awesome, and the sweets were fantastic!

I really dislike people who bring up WWII all the time. Let it go, people. :/

Yes, stay classy people. WWI, that's where it's all at.
I vote we go back to calling them either Huns or Fritz. Both very nice names with a good historical background.

 

[krazykidd]

I studied History at my university. Even during WWII, not all Germans were Nazis. People don't seem to get that. Granted, the education system here in the US is... lackluster. It seems to love generalizing and simplifying topics to make them more palatable to broad audiences.

I've got nothing against Germans. Hell, I married one.

Doesn't that make your opinion biased? Since you married a german? You know conflic of interest and all. [small]i'm joking[/small]

OT: i agree with what the guy i quoted said . But remember it's like that for everyone , no matter what ethnicity or country. Everyone has a stereotype they have to break .

 

[saintdane05]

Ironically enough, Germany now contains one of the largest and most breathtaking synagogs on teh planet.

Also:

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[Ieyke]

OP is completely right.

I'm half-American and half-German, and citizen of both countries.

Born and raised in Texas, but fluent in German and have visited Germany just about every other year since I was born.


Germans are awesome at pretty much everything they do. Generally efficient, punctual, some of the best damn food in the world, super tolerant/friendly/hospitable/helpful, VERY relaxed (especially compared to Americans), very eco-friendly, and that country is AT LEAST 10 times as sane as the USA.

We, Americans, by contrast, are a bunch of rude assholes in a wider sense (though we may muster amazing hospitality on a personal level), we pretty lazily work insanely stupid hours, and when we have time off we are completely half-assed in the way that we relax, if we manage to relax at all. To us a "day off" just means a day of a million alternate craploads of stuff we're trying to frantically juggle for no sane reason. We go around the world waging wars that don't need to be happening, any efforts to protect the environment are offset by morons who claim there's no reason to protect it, we have asstons of land and could have a phenomenal high-speed rail system, but no WE WANT OUR BIG TRUCKS, DAMMIT!
We have an abundance of racist and sexist idiots spread all over the place.
We're COMPLETE douchebags to the illegal immigrant labor force that does 90% of the jobs that we don't even WANT to have anything to do with, despite that they get paid next to nothing for their services.
We....SOMEHOW...just had an election where almost half the country voted for a party full of candidates tryung TO TAKE AWAY WOMEN'S RIGHTS... WTF IS THAT SHIT!???

It's no wonder in the world my German cousin and I are always having conversations along the lines of
Him:"So , I heard this happened in the US. ....What the hell is wrong with your country???"
Me:"Dude, I just don't even know..."
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Anyone who stereotypes Germans badly as Nazis or whatever is a Grade A dipshit.

Anyone who criticizes Americans....I really can't blame them. We're not leaving ourselves a lot of grounds to defend against criticism, other than to say that there's always at least a sizable proportion who have nothing to do with the insanity, and we really don't know how to stop it...

 

[Ieyke]

snip

Eh... that, dear fellow, was just bad luck, I'm afraid. For the most part, Brits only have a beef with the Germans for two reasons: one, just to take the piss, and even then, yeah, we know where the line is; and two, football... even though too few of us know how little you care (yes, I realise that all Germany wants to do is go kick the Dutch as far as footie's concerned).

I do always find great amusement in that.
The Brits in this huge epic soccer rivalry with the Germans, and the Germans haven't even noticed because they're focused on the Dutch!
Just HIlarious.
That's genuine, real world, comedy gold.
XD

 

[SckizoBoy]

But really, the people were nice, the food was pretty awesome, and the sweets were fantastic!

Man, the Germans really know their cake!! XD

I do always find great amusement in that. The Brits in this huge epic soccer rivalry with the Germans, and the Germans haven't even noticed because they're focused on the Dutch!
Just HIlarious.
That's genuine, real world, comedy gold.
XD

What's hilarious is how offended a lot of English fans get when you tell them this... What the hell?! What do the Dutch have that we don't?! They should so take this more seriously!!

...

WHY DOESN'T GERMANY LOVE US?!?! =P