NationStates Jolt Archive

Hi all. This is my first post on the NS Fourms, and my fledgling nation Dorvia is growing quickly. This may seem an odd topic but I figured this was the best place and group of people to throw it at. You see, The problem is, I can't figure out what it is that makes Germany so awsome, as they clearly announce in thier national anthem. I have a few sneaking suspicions, but I'll need your help to narrow the list down. So give your input! If for some reason you think Deutschland is UBER for another reason, please tell us and elaborate. This information is critical as I feel it will finally clear up a 200+ year old question.

DISCLAMER: This is no way intended to be an insult on Germany, German people, German culture, German history, or anything else remotely German including Austria. It is for fun and also becasue I am absolutely insane and MUST know everyones opinion on this. Thank you.

I like Germany :) It's always seemed reasonable... luftballoons yeah :p

Ich habe keine luftbaloon. :(

Deutschland uber Luftballons - We've got 99. You have NONE.
Amerika haft cover song by Goldfinger. We haft 99 balloons too, ja. And Nena do Amerikan version.

NO. NO.

AMERIKA MORE UBER THAN YOU!!!!

(sorry, but to quote Dr. Evil, no sprekken freaky-deaky Dutch)

Amerika haft cover song by Goldfinger. We haft 99 balloons too, ja. And Nena do Amerikan version.

NO. NO.

AMERIKA MORE UBER THAN YOU!!!!

(sorry, but to quote Dr. Evil, no sprekken freaky-deaky Dutch)
That's freaky-deaky Deutsch on this thread buddy.

Deutschland - über l33t speakerz: Nothing to be proud of! should have been an option :p

thats NOT their anthem, that was the nazi anthem, dont go making that mistake around germans, they wont be happy.

What tograna said - eh?

BTW, wasn't it neunundneunzig rot luftballons? They were certainly red in the GF version.

thats NOT their anthem, that was the nazi anthem, dont go making that mistake around germans, they wont be happy.

Actually... I have a friend who idolizes Germany and he says that is their anthem.

Deutschland uber Bundersrepublik - Our buerocracy is more entrenched than yours

Why do you get an entrenched beaurecracy- I want one too!

uber? oh right, do you mean über? :p

I think i remember reading that the actual meaning of the anthem is probably closer to "Germany is an ideal that is more important (to Germans) than anything else". This stems from when Germany was split up into various principalities etc, and Germans would be more likely to pledge allegiance to these than to a unified German state. Hence the anthem expresses the hope that Germany would be unified.

Actually... I have a friend who idolizes Germany and he says that is their anthem.

Well ... the phrase here discussed was part of the nazi-german national anthem. Today the germans use only the melody, the words are now a bit different.

German national anthem until 1945:
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles!

German national anthem today:
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit (Unity, Justice, Freedom)

So, please tell your friend, he does not idolize the Germany of Goethe, Bach or Beethoven, he idolizes the goddam-fucking Nazi-Germany of Goebbels and Mengele! <= :sniper:

Harrzach

Well, went with Deutschland über alles, even though this might be mistaken, but I would have taken all options, as they are all true somehow.
I am German, but I also lived in the US for a year to have gotten a different view on my home country.
If it had been an option, I would have gone with nothing to be proud of.
One thing about the anthem:
The anthem was written in 1841 by Hoffmann von Fallersleben. Back then, Germany was divided into many different countries, and the song was intended to represent the wish of the German people to found a unified nation. The song became national anthem of the first German Republic in 1922. After WWII it was not adopted as official anthem in West Germany due to its lyrics, that stated borders, impossible to recreate. But the music was played, and it was later agreed on, that the third stanza will become the anthem. And it is still the anthem of the Federal Republic of Germany.
No part of the anthem is illegal, but it is seemed inappropriate in Germany to sing the first two stanzas. It is so highly inappropriate that most Germans think, that the first two stanzas are illegal (I thought so too until recently).
Anyways, its lyrics can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Lied_der_Deutschen

Well ... the phrase here discussed was part of the nazi-german national anthem. Today the germans use only the melody, the words are now a bit different.

German national anthem until 1945:
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles!

German national anthem today:
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit (Unity, Justice, Freedom)

So, please tell your friend, he does not idolize the Germany of Goethe, Bach or Beethoven, he idolizes the goddam-fucking Nazi-Germany of Goebbels and Mengele! <= :sniper:

Harrzach

I was under the impression that that was part of the entire anthem - I have a .mp3 that begins with the stanza "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles" but also contains a stanza beginning with "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" later on in the song. I don't proclaim to be an expert, though, so please excuse me if I'm wrong.

I don't proclaim to be an expert ...

Me neither ;), but Ouranberg seems to list all facts and answers all open questions concerning text and actual status in germany, thnx!!

Thanks to Ouranberg for correcting several mistakes / misunderstandings so I don't have to do it myself. :)

I just want to admit one thing (Ouranberg mentioned it but I want to say it explicitly): The original anthem has NOTHING to do with Hitler, Nazi-Germany or WWII. It already existed and is now interpreted as a part of it - originally it's just been a product of german patriotism / nationalism (<- don't mix this nationalism with Hitler or Nazi-Germany, it's been a period in the 19th century).

Me neither ;), but Ouranberg seems to list all facts and answers all open questions concerning text and actual status in germany, thnx!!

Good to have that resolved... It is considered offensive by most Germans, but not actually illegal. I guess we were half right and half wrong. ;)

Actually our anthem has 3 stanzas. "Deutschland, Deutschland Über Alles" is the beginning of the first one. The national anthem, which is being played or sung in public, is officially only the third stanza, for obvious reasons. I guess due to the perceived meaning of the first stanza, which is perceived incorrectly by the vast majority of people. I have the whole anthem as MP3 aswell - I really like it a lot :D

You can listen to it here (with lyrics): http://home.wtal.de/mbo/hymne/hymne.ram
and here (without lyrics): http://www.deutschland.de/media/Deutschlandlied.mp3
And there's a German-language website about the anthem "Deutschlandlied" here: http://www.deutschlandlied.de/

In fact, the "Deutschland, Deutschland..." stanza is aimed at the unification of the German nation, which, at the time when the anthem was written (1841), was a conglomerate of many small kingdoms/states and duchies (i.e. Prussia, Saxony, Pommerania, etc.) The unified German nation was the greatest goal of the author of the anthem and thus the text of it. It was not invented by the Nazis, although they abused it to some degree to mean exactly what many people perceive as it's meaning - the superiority of Germany, although this is not what it originally meant.

Secondly, it would be good if you'd not misspell the name of my country in the Poll title.

Thirdly, Germany today is not "Über" or "Unter" any other country. We're one among many in Europe and just happen to be the largest and economically strongest nation in Europe through the hard work of our ancestors and the genius of our inventors.

Sadly 2 world wars have deprived Germany of much of it's territory and much of it's culture and wealth - both in money and in knowledge. The Nazi era were 12 short but very bad years for Germany, which tarnished the German heritage for decades to come as still today, 60 years after the 2nd world war, people still think we Germans are Nazis at heart, which is completely detached from reality.

We're slowly growing back to the status we had before World War 1 as a culturally rich and powerful nation among equals. The so called "Great powers" traditionally used to be Germany, Russia, France, United Kingdom, US, Japan, China and probably a few more ;)

Edit: Also nothing of the anthem is illegal - despite claims to the contrary by some people.

Ich liebe Deutschland und das Deutsche Volk!

Deutcshland Uber Alles!

http://www.agicoa.org/images/allmgned.gif

And Preussens Gloria!!!

http://www.worldstatesmen.org/de_prus1.gif