What do the Germans really think of the British?

Dear All

I am a journalist (www.rjsj.demon.co.uk) writing an essay for the Sunday Times magazine in London on what the Germans make of the British. What do they think of our sense of humour? The Great Escape theme at football matches? Our obsession with the war? Any pointers? Any stories that I simply must include?

Many many thanks for your help,

Best wishes,
Richard Johnson

Why not ask them Germans in London Forum

I find the Germans don't mind discussing the war, as long as I am sensitive about it. They do think we obsess about it, and I think they'd rather forget all about it, which is totally understandable. From the perspective of a British tourist, however, it means that it is hard to see all those cool World War II things you know about from movies, because the Germans tend to hide them away, and try and get you interested in all those other thousands of years of German history. Unfortunately the tour of the Wittelsbacher family home doesn't compare to Hitler's bunker.

When you want to go to places like Colditz and the Nuremberg Rally Grounds, it can be hard to find where they are or get to them, even though they still exist. Colditz Castle is stuck out in a little village near Leipzig and requires two bus journeys to get there. In Nuremberg the tourist office has nothing on its Nazi history, except for a tiny black and white booklet obliquely entitled "Germany 1933-1945". They seem more interested in pushing the Toy Museum and Business Tower than the Zeppelin Stadium and Courtroom 606.

Interestingly the modern Nuremburg football stadium, the Franken-Stadion, where England play Trinidad in their second game, is right next to the Zeppelin Stadium where Hitler made those mesmerizing speeches. It's still there, somewhat in ruins, but you can easily imagine Hitler standing at the podium and gesticulating wildly like a scene from Triumph of the Will. I wonder what the England fans will make of it when they arrive, especially if they take the walk from the tram stop through the rally grounds, past the unmistakeably Nazi Kongressbau, and up Grosser Strasse where Germans marched in their thousands.

The one thing that I find all Germans agree on about the Brits is they seriously dislike our food.

I was asked by a colleague recently why do you english put mint on your meat? He thought that mint sauce was peppermint.

I have educated a few friends with some home cooking.

Yeah, they think vinegar is what you wash dishes with.

I can't believe their cheek over English food, in truth, as German food is no better in my opinion. It's mostly meat and vegetables, and in Bavaria that's sausage and saurkraut. Even if it can be considered better, it's only marginally so, and not something to boast about or look down on others over.

I found it really funny when Chirac, Putin and Schroeder were giggling over British food. The French, well they have the right to mock, but the German food is largely bland and boring just like in Britain, and with way too much salt. And the Russians... I just can't see how they can have the nerve to mock British food when their idea of a celebratory slap up meal is to serve up plates of cold fatty unseasoned meat.

As being a German I would like to add some things


???


Perhaps you should try German food first

Anyway, back to topic:

What Germans think about Brits:

1) they don´t like us
2) they love to queue
3) they are polite ( except football fans ), charming and very friendly
4) they drink a lot
5 ) they are outgoing

I just like them, I had a great time in England

I have been living in Germany for 35years and still haven´t found the food to be anything special, actually it´s very similar to English, somewhat bland and stodgy. Whenever we arrange to meet German friends for a meal they always choose, Greek , Italian or Thai, even Indian these days. The only time we get to eat at German Restaurants is when family or friends visit us from England and they want to try German food. And it rains a lot down in Southern Germany, surely more than Sussex where I visit a few times each year. But according to German friends it rains all the time in England so we have to carry an umbrella with us at all times.

After you've been here a good few years and established yourself in the community, it's only then that the Germans really show how warm and friendly they can be as a nation. I've heard it said so often from - well lets say the over 40's generations - that Brits tend to be your best friend or your worst enemy... but at least they are open and honest about things, and are less likely to stab you in the back, they'll look into your eyes!!! sounds a bit macabra, but its just a way of praising Brits in general. Also in my experience when it comes to talking about the war, the Germans tend to tell you how they lived it (obviously older generation), much similier to the same generation back in the UK. The one thing that all Germans agree on was the ball never crossed the line in '66!

Very true, the Germans will never let us forget that "Wembley Goal"!!!

yep

Having lived here for 18 years I have to echo what Mac said, very true and I feel that a lot of Germans still seem to see the
Brits as a kind of stereo-type back in the 50's when anyone who worked in middle management wore a bowler hat to work,
did the times crossword on the train and carried an umbrella at all times and had Tea at 5 o'clock every day ...Little bit out
of date I think Sadly this is also echoed in the way pronunciation is taught in schools with the obsession to pronounce
all 'a' as 'e' ie. at McDonalds you order a Big Mec and not a Big Mac and if you're called Patrick
you will be addressed as Petrick ...may have been the way the upper classes spoke 50 years ago but it
doesn't reflect the way most people speak today I feel. The other thing the majority of Germans can't seem
to grasp is the concept of UK, most talk about England when they mean Great Britain or UK. the worst
offenders are the TV companies the one that always bugs me is Formula 1 ; The British Grand Prix
is almost always referred to as "Der Große Preis von England" (the English Grand Prix)
which always surprises me in a country where they take pride in attention to detail and being meticulous <_

I was talking to some of my fellow workers and they said that they thought England was a Land like Nord Rhein Westfalen. When I told them that Great Britain consisted of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and that they were all real countries in their own right (with their own laws) I recieved a bit of blank look. As for the pronunciation most people I find speak English with an American accent. Nothing wrong with that of course, but it is an accent and therefore not totally correct English.

As for what the Germans think of the English. My German tutor said "but the difference between the poor and the rich is much wider than in Germany stimmt". I am not sure if that is totally correct. I see a lot of homeless people here..

..don't wish to sound pedantic but Great Britain is: England, Scotland and Wales and the United Kingdom is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you look on the cover of your Passport is says

" UNITED KINGDOM OF
GREAT BRITAIN
AND NORTHERN IRELAND"

Hear, Hear!

Neil
you do sound pedantic

Can we really blame the germans though for having quaint out-of-date views about the english (or rather british). When you consider the stock-in-hand attitudes the average brit still has towards the germans: goosestepping, militaristic, sauerkraut and sausage, ve-haf-vays, dont-mention-the-war. etc...

Most of the negative comments I have heard about food in England are about bread, along the lines of 'where is the real bread, I could only find squashy sliced loaves'. When people here ask me about where to get a good meal in England I suggest they eat in pubs and they are usually pleasantly surprised by what they get.

One TV show that was popular here a few years ago was Mr Bean. It really did appeal to the German sense of humour in a different way to ours as they seemed to think he was a typical Englishman.

Another comment I have often heard is 'why do you still drive on the left and what is the point of all those roundabouts'.

and they think it is unhygenic to pee standing up.

sorry but I thought I ought to point it out before someone complains

@Rick_de

your probably right, I don't really blame them, but it would be nice if they at least got up to
date. I'd like to see an current German book used in our schools when I did 1 year of German
(the book was called Sprich mal Deutsch) and it featured the stereo-type German family
(Fam. Ehlers) who only seemed to eat a strickt diet of "Bratkartofeln und Spiegelei" and
Vater Ehlers naturally drove a VW Beetle (what else !) and the only film showing im Kino
"Krieg im Osten" ...and there was chimpanzee called Fips somewhere in there too, but I
can't really remember why ...mind there wasn't much goose-stepping in it

You only notice such comments when you are not English and get pasted with the same brush! I tell everyone I'm not English but still get called the Engländerin!

I would think they're quite horrified!

It´s not just the Germans that don´t know that being British is not always being English. I worked for the US Army along side a Welshman, when he left they presented him with card addressed to our favourite Englishman, they didn´t understand why I didn´t want to sign the card. But then what should I expect , a lot of them didn´t even know where Germany was and they lived there.

Oh dear, that is really embarassing!

Hey, I grew up in the U.S.; I lived there for 33 years. You're lucky that the card didn't address him as "Our favourite Australian" or something.

Most Americans I know don't know the difference between the Five Countries that make up the UK, they always ask me "are you British?" Gah I hate that. Have to tell them that no, I'm English!!! I suppose it's like when you ask someone from Texas if they are American, they snottily reply "No i'm Texan"

Ouch, Id better get my coat then too !!

ENGLAND, scotland, wales and northern Ireland - thats 4 anyway...
Whats no 5 ??

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
GB = ENG, SCO, WAL
UK = GB + NIRL

You know what I wrote four and then for some inexplicable reason changed it to five. I added the Southern Irish into the mix. brain fart :$

Ouch, don't let the Irish see that one Nicole !! *lol*

It may be out of date but it's a shame that the man in the bowler has been replaced by a chav in a Burberry cap.

I think you'll find that they can't actually hear the difference and that they physically can't say an "a" as in cat (æ) because it doesn't exist in German.
Just as we have problems with a german U or R.

Actually, being referred to as "southern" Irish is more an offence, as there is no such country called Southern Ireland...

Heres one for you, The most northerly point on the Island of Ireland can not be found In Northern Ireland.
Does that still justify calling the Republic of Ireland "Southern Ireland"??!!??



Being mixed up with brits does not offend me in any way...

I'd be a liar if I didn't admit that references to Northern Ireland as 'Ulster' or 'the province' grate on me (the BBC are one of the worst offenders). I sometimes say to people "Let's just agree to refer to it by its legal and official name: Northern Ireland. If you don't call it 'Ulster' or 'the province', I won't refer to it as 'the Six Occupied Counties'"

('Northern Ireland' actually makes up only two-thirds of the province of Ulster).

I have lived and worked in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the US, Spain, England, and Germany, and I think the citizens of all the aforementioned countries/territories are all victims of unfair stereotypes, at one level or another.

I have also met staggering ignorance in all of these countries as well (especially concerning other countries).

No country has got a monopoly on ignorance or knowledge and I've met really knowledgeable and clued-in people everywhere I've lived (including the US).

I find that most Germans have enormous respect for the English (which is sadly not generally reciprocated) and are fascinated by Scotland. They don't generally know much about Wales or N. Ireland (other than The Troubles). Being an idiot American, I'm having trouble thinking of the fifth country right now, but when I do I'll comment on it (Canada? or is that the 51st state?)

I have been living here for around 4 and a half years now and love the place. I find the people warm, honest and generous, much more so than when I lived back home in Wales, and the Welsh like to think they are also renowned for the same qualities. I do however, have up and down days. One day life is grand things go great, the next day could be an anti-German day. I find myself getting so wound-up by every cultural difference and mishap, taking it al so personally etc etc. That's my problem however, and I have been unable to find an expat here how admits to the same.

I work completely with German people and I often get the following:

British food is the worst in the world - This winds me up too as I find their arguements as to what is so bad so stereotypical; for example, we are all putting peppermint (?) sauce on everything, eating fish-n-chips every other meal, our bread is without grains and too soft, we eat only frozen meals, our chips can only be served swimming in vinegar without asking for it and if we are not eating fish-n-chips, then we are eating pizza with gravy/brown sauce perhaps. In fact, a recent documentary on ARD (the first channel), described how the 'English' like to eat deep-fried pizza, deep-fried mars bar and haggis, made from stomachs of sheep and filled with the guts of god-know's what animal. This type of journalism makes me sick to the stomach, and of course every German believes this evidence is true and 100% accurate because their beloved state-owned ARD said so. It seems pointless for me to try to fight back at these arguments as all Germans _know_ that they are true.

Ask yourself, on the other hand, what answers you will get when you ask a British person to say the first thing that comes into their head when you say the word German -- offensive nonsense I am sure. Stereotypes are everywhere, there's no question about that, it's just not so nice when you are on the outnumbered side facing the stereotyping.

Saying that, I do find that most Germans secretly admire the British, even my German wife told me that most Germans look up to the British, their sense of humour, their ability to make fantastic music, their fashion sense, their clear goals in life, their charm, their ability to make even strangers feel welcome in their homes. This is nice for me to hear, feeling a sense of British pride and a warmth inside when I hear that -- it's complete nonsense of course, or is it? I canot understand all of these qualities when I go back the UK now. I see violence on the streets at night at a scale I had not seen before I got here, alcoholism IS rife, fast food joints ARE on every corner in the city centres. I can't remember the last time I was able to get myself a quick snack whilst walking down the high street in Freiburg on the way home after a night out - perhaps a Doener Kebab, but that's Turkish.

Secretly we Brits living in Germany LOVE the Germans and the Germans love to BE British. Just pop your head into any Irish pub in Germany. You'll see Germans sat there with their pint of ale or Guinness or strongbow etc. Every British expat has got his half litre of Pils or hefeweizen and the harmony is at a balance.

I don't think the Germans really mind references to the war all _that_ much, I often find when someone says to me - "you started it!" relating to anything but the war, and my reply being "no I didn't, you invaded Poland" goes down a charm, even with near strangers. The simple fact is, the Germans in their middle ages are embarrased about the war, the pensioners are sorry about the war and the young folk really couldn't give two hoots about it.. it happened in black-and-white anyway. Perhaps this is not a bad thing however I really believe it will take generations before both sides can _really_ say goodbye to the memories, perhaps one side quicker than the other.

Football being football will always bring out the worst in people. All of my colleagues have asked me what the British hooligans have planned for the world cup, what are the police doing to combat the typical English violence etc etc. What we forget is that German fans have also rioted in the past, although this does seem to have escaped their memory. The same applies to B.S.E. Mad cow disease - although I should really not get started on that one.

I really don't worry too much about what the Germans will think about the British football fans, I worry more about how the Dutch supporters in their bright-orange SS uniforms might be received when they arrive in their caravan-pulling Peugeots. Time will tell.

Anyway, I feel better now having got that off my chest. Pub quiz tonight in the Irish pub!! Can't wait!! This city has three Irish pubs and for such a small place thats great news for any expat.

I've got a proposal/suggestion for the mysterious 'fifth country': the Isle of Man.

(Cornwall might be a suggestion for a sixth 'country').

Could be. I was thinking Channel Islands, but that my mess the up the tax haven element. Gibralter?

Er, to really find out what the Germans think of the British, Germans should actually be replying to this thread, so come on, where are you all?

Wasn't aware there WERE 5 countries...

Here I am !
The first time I've been in UK was in 1987 and I felt in Love with the Britains

I wasn't really surprised as I've been a UK-Fan since I was a kid.
I loved that 'black' sense of humour and the 'old-fashioned' way of life, with real Gentlemen and true Ladies, old fascinating cars, red telephone boxes (lol), polite friendly helpful people, the Queen, Diana, healthy food (as seen on TV "Kerrygold Butter" *gg*), and I remember I was touched by english football-fans (heard their hymn about 50 times per match).

100% positive (and I didn't even know they're obsessed with the war!)

My friend at work, said that it must be very odd to be able to listen to pop songs and understand all of the lyrics. Naturally I said I didnt understand them either

Hey Lunti!!! Du hier

I'm from Berlin but now living in the UK with my (English) boyfriend. I can say that despite the neverending war jokes and references to some long ago football match, where the ball just happened to roll over the line, I do like the British especially for their very relaxed attitude and their unique humour, and I know that that's the general opinion among my folks at home. A lot of people in Germany generally still think that British food is the worst, but that's simply not true. I have discovered some amazing dishes over here, and German "traditional food" can be deemed a lot worse than lamb and mint sauce!

They love us.

ahhhh bless

The best thing though about Germany is the women. My wife (married just last month so forgive me being all soft) is great. Funny, clever, chilled out (most of the time) my best mate, and absolutely gorgeous.

We got married in Frankfurt, had a honeymoon in Venice and then went to Liverpool for a long weekend to celebrate with my family and friends there. I was so heart burstingly proud to have this beautiful german girl who is now MY WIFE, everybody went mad...all me mates were jokingly trying to "pull" her, and any of their girl friends/wifes wanted to be her best new mate. The highlight was a day in the city center walking round. I just looked at all these sad, ugly, orange skinned permed tanned scouse girls and all walking round thinking they are all dead gorgeous, when in fact they are all just rough arsed mutton-dressed-as-lamb idiots. Sounds bitter I know but if felt like a personal result for me.

Hey nothing against british women like, but, sorry, it's german women for me. Although, credit where its due, the warmth and goodwill shown to my wife from my mates and everyone was very special indeed, and it showed the best qualities of the British character,,or rather scouse character.

Theres my rant anyway.

have a good weekend everyone.

I think you might have spoilt the weekend already for some of our female members.

Good on yer, mate. Glad that you're happy with a German girl - I certainly am.

And I feel exactly the same when I go to nearby Ellesmere Port when I'm at home and see all the spam-legged, skanky-looking mingers dressed in tracksuits and stilettos, smoking and screaming at their 3 kids. Like that girl off Little Britain (in fact she/he looks better than some of the dogs hanging round the Port).

"all the spam-legged, skanky-looking mingers dressed in tracksuits and stilettos"
Nice one mate...well funny...and so true! Classic.
What about,..
"Scummy, re-tarded, face-like-a-slapped-arse, be-at-ches!"

Grim up north, eh?

Lovely.

Very grim sunshine...very!

Hi, I went to a party this evening and I posed this question to some nice Germans I was talking to. This was what they said:

English people have a different way of queuing: if 10 people are standing in a queue and an 11th comes along, the 11th has to join the back of the queue. Although it is recognised that younger people probably don't conform to this as much. Pushing to the front is not acceptable in England (this is the perception anyway).

In Germany, if you buy a beer the glass is filled up to the little measure mark. In England if you get a glass filled up like that you go back and ask for it to be filled up properly! Several Germans said they had been embarassed by English people going back to the bar and asking for their beer to be filled up to the top!

Agatha Christie is seen as representative of all things English (this comment was from someone who by her own admission had never been to the UK, though she did say the world of Agatha Christie was now outdated).

English food is "funny" (as in strange). Eating "toast bread" for breakfast - yuk! was the verdict. Also the English have too many sugary drinks.

English people move house (their own home) much more often, and don't think anything of selling one house and buying another one in the next town.

I hope this helps!