americans (and others) opinion about germany?

I would like to know what you guys think about us, what you know about germany. What you like or dislike. I´m really interested about our today image in the world. So please share your opinion about all our fields like
society, economy, science, foreign politics as well as domestic politics.

 

I've spent time in Germany. I applaud their education system, and I think it's something the US should copy off of. I didn't like using the euro while in Germany, because the exchange rate sucked for the dollar, and things are pretty pricy there. I can see why Eisenhower copyed our interstate highway off the Autobon. I think German drivers are the best in Europe, compared to places like Italy and Spain, where it's chaotic. I think Americans are way more friendly to strangers than Germans, but when you sit around and have a beer with them they're not bad people. All and all, I enjoyed my time in Germany, but I wouldn't want to live there any longer than I did.

 

I really don't think about Germany much.

In general I like Germans but I really don't spend any time thinking about Germany.

 

I've never lived in Germany, and I haven't known native Germans.....so don't have much to offer except that my impression is positive based on the little I do know. I respect how quickly Germany sprang back after WW2---ya'll had some monetary help in that but success truely boils down to the people.

 

I think Germans are some of the most brilliant people on earth. They are the most prosperous in Europe. I have never really met any Germans personally to tell you how nice they might be. But I can't help wondering how they could have started two world wars and how they could except taking over so many countries and allowed so many people to be slaughtered. How could they think that was right?

 

I don't know much about the first World War---but I do know that after they lost WW1, ---the victors in Europe brought on alot of problems by keeping their foot on Germany and grinding the heel. The economy would go no where, the moral was down and made it ripe for authoritarian takeover.

 

I just got this video of what they have done in Germany and it really fascinated me that they did such a lovely thing.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ACkmg3Y64_s?rel=0

 

I love Germany.....Food is not as good as in Italy, but Germans are for the most part very nice to Americans. Love Munich, one of my favorite cities.

 

unlike the budeswehr, i can wipe my own ass, but thank you for your concern.

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there's only so many ways you can pickle cabbage. cut them slack, eh?

 

Thats the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg. You should come and visit it, its amazing.

 

That might explain Germany wanting pay back, but not the slaughter of millions. How could they have stood by with the exterminations of millions of Jews and Polls?

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It is beautiful. As I understand it, they are still building on to it.

 

They are constantly building on it. As far as i know they plan to build it much bigger.

 

Well I live in central Texas which is largely populated with German immigrants and I think that we owe them a debt of gratitude for their contributions to the unique culture that we have here. One of Texas' most famous commodities is the style of BBQ that we make here and it was in German meat markets that it first came about. The oldest of such markets is Kreuz Market in Lockhart which is about 15 to 20 minutes east of me here in Kyle. Their slow smoked beef and their distinctively German style of link sausage are what all good Texans (including myself) try to duplicate and perfect! Germans are also responsible for some pretty good beers that we have here as well. Shiner Texas is home to Spoetzl brewery which puts out a really good bock among other styles and can now be found in many other areas of the U.S. outside of Texas. Heck if it weren't for the Germans, life here would be a lot less tolerable! LOL! As far as your country goes today I'd say that you definitely have your sh#t together economically and socially. The lifestyle of the average German seems to me to be much better than many other of the folks in Europe and Germany has been pretty good about taking care of her people. Obviously Germany is a banking powerhouse and perhaps more financially solvent than any industrialized nation on the globe. So all in all I'd say that you should be proud to be a German.

 

Germany is keeping the entire EU afloat.

My Dad, since deceased, was a WW2 veteran who fought against the Germans in the European theater of operations, though he himself was of German ancestry on his mother's side. Myself, I was given a permanent change of duty station (USAF) to Germany for about 2 1/2 years in the late 1980's and basically liked the country and the people. I regard it as a positive experience.

 

Thanks man. I did not know so many texans are from german ancestry.

 

let's just hope they can keep their gold boat afloat or we'll never hear the end of it. has anyone other than the US Navy put up a GPS satellite?

 

Ike was born in Denison, TX. Germans are the largest self-reported ethnic minority in the US.

 

What really bothers me and it sure just isn't how Germany followed Hitler, but how easy it is to lead people to do things. We have seen it all through history in Europe, Asia, the Middle East. Even modern history with those here that followed Jimmy Jones and David Koresh. How we follow everything our political party says to us. People are such followers. We have stopped thinking for ourselves and questioning the things our leaders tell us. It's kind of scary when you think about it.

 

people like being told it's not their fault, and if you follow them, the scapegoat will be punished and they will rule the world. this is a human trait, not just teutonic.

 

A broken and disparaged people can be vulnerable to manipulation---old values can fall and new values put in place---They treated Hitler as a god worth worshiping. Worshiping a man is always trouble. Ask North Korea.

 

Yes Sir! Now since corresponding with you I've gotten an itch to put a brisket on the smoker and toss back a few beers!... Do you see how influential you Germans are?!?

 

Keeping the gold in America was more a relic of the Cold war, if you mean why did Germany ask for their gold back.

 

there's another thread on it.

 

I have archived photos of Hamburg my Dad took with a small Kodak camera in 1946 during post-war occupation duty. It's still basically a burned out shell in these photos...a few years after the firestorm of incendiary bombs dropped upon it by over 1,000, mostly RAF, RCAF aircraft...over a 3 day period.

The entire city was engulfed in a firestorm, which created a massive updraft (Hurricane level winds) which literally picked people off of their feet and into the flames. Fighter aircraft were later sent in and instructed...if it moves....shoot it. Women...children....strafed. Hamburg was not the place to be in August of 1943.

Germany has since rebuilt and Nazism is banned...there are more neo-nazi sympathizers in America than in Germany..that's the truly sad thing.

Anyway, Germany paid a severe price for losing two World wars...and they've rebuilt into a powerful economy now...so they certainly have a lot of resolve

 

My impressions are going to be from a tourist's perspective. I loved Germany. Loved the country, people, atmosphere. I'm half German, so perhaps it's in me to feel that way. So I visited Munich - a highlight was the Hofbräuhaus Beer Garden because I love beer and the mugs there are ginormous and the band was lively and the mood infectious and the people talkative and friendly. Munich is very beautiful. Took a Rhine River cruise, which was awesome. Again, so beautiful. Saw the Neuschwanstein Castle - Disney picked a beauty as the inspiration for the castle at Disneyland. Also saw the Nymphenburg Palace, impressive. Loved Rothenburg and Heidelberg (hope I'm spelling everything correctly - my spellchecker is going crazy ) - the Heidelberg Castle is also beautiful and impressive. Drove through the Alps and the Black Forest. Gorgeous. Germany is, as I said, a beautiful country - and as a side note, I think Germans are every bit as nationalistic as Americans are perceived to be.