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German esteem builder backfires
LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH ^ | November 26, 2005 | Kate Connolly

Posted on 11/26/2005 2:05:37 AM PST by baystaterebel

BERLIN -- A multimillion-dollar campaign to boost Germans' low self-confidence has backfired after it emerged that its slogan was coined by the Nazis. The $34 million "Du Bist Deutschland -- You Are Germany" -- campaign was devised to inspire Germans to stop moaning and do something good for their country. Beethoven, Einstein and the sports stars Franz Beckenbauer and Michael Schumacher have been cited in advertisements encouraging Germans to take more pride in their homeland. But a historian from Ludwigshafen has provoked an uproar with his discovery that the same "Du Bist Deutschland" cry was used at Nazi rallies in the 1930s.

(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Germany; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: backfire; germany; youaregermany
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Ya just cant make this stuff up.
1 posted on 11/26/2005 2:05:37 AM PST by baystaterebel
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To: baystaterebel

Ooooops!


2 posted on 11/26/2005 2:13:59 AM PST by hershey
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To: baystaterebel

Gosh, and I got taken to task pretty heavily on FR for comparing that slogan to the "Strength Through Joy" campaigns of the Nazis.


3 posted on 11/26/2005 2:21:49 AM PST by GodBlessRonaldReagan (Count Petofi will not be denied!)
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To: baystaterebel

Poor Krauts!

Can't get a break.


4 posted on 11/26/2005 2:26:01 AM PST by PetroniusMaximus
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To: baystaterebel
Dr. Goebbels was very astute. This reality is discouraging to me personally.

Talk about a dark and hopeless view of human nature!

It seems Goebbels was considered the most intelligent Nazi. A dark bunch. Definitely of the "humans are herd animals" persuasion.
5 posted on 11/26/2005 2:28:20 AM PST by Iris7 ("Let me go to the house of the Father.")
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To: baystaterebel

The good news is that Germany has a backup slogan for this campaign. The bad news is that it's "Deutschland Uber Alles"


6 posted on 11/26/2005 2:30:23 AM PST by inkling
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To: GodBlessRonaldReagan; Atlantic Bridge
To: GodBlessRonaldReagan

I just find an interesting parallel between this new campaign to cheer up Germans and the old "Strength Through Joy" propaganda, that's all. Nothing new under the sun.

There is a big difference. The actors of the new campain consist of free Germans of all kind (some are even coloured or handicapped), who stand for the complete opposite of a nazi agenda. They pose for a new and better Germany and their patriotism is a positive thrust for our country.

Therefore your comment is pure BS in primitive manner. You should be ashamed.

:-(

143 posted on 09/28/2005 9:22:31 AM PDT by Atlantic Bridge (O tempora! O mores!)

7 posted on 11/26/2005 2:30:59 AM PST by endthematrix (Those who despise freedom and progress have condemned themselves to isolation, decline, and collapse)
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To: baystaterebel

I told them to use Mel Brook's "Springtime For Hitler" song but did they listen to me? NOOOOOOOOOOO.


8 posted on 11/26/2005 2:39:04 AM PST by CzarNicky (The problem with bad ideas is that they seemed like good ideas at the time.)
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To: GodBlessRonaldReagan
"Kraft durch Freude".

I want to believe Americans are less gullible and foolish than Germans. Just not able to accomplish this leap of faith. Is it misanthropy or disappointment? Childish idealism yielding to experience? Curmudgeonly dyspepsia? A late night and winter darkness? ;-)
9 posted on 11/26/2005 2:41:15 AM PST by Iris7 ("Let me go to the house of the Father.")
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To: Iris7
I want to believe Americans are less gullible and foolish than Germans.

Let's see how many buy into the MSM's plan to elect Ms. Rodham.

10 posted on 11/26/2005 2:45:39 AM PST by Sociopathocracy (Real martinis do not contain vodka, fruit juice or umbrellas.)
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: baystaterebel

How 'bout "Du bist einer FRANKFURTER." ?


12 posted on 11/26/2005 2:53:19 AM PST by Grim
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To: falconjet0900

Talking about Goebbels in my post. Talking about human nature and dark views of human nature particularly. I made the point strongly, I thought, that it really strains possibility that Americans are less gullible and foolish than Germans. "You who are without sin throw the first stone."

Looks to me that you read into my paragraph what was not there. I intended a serious view lightened with sardonic humor. History, alas, is not a happy affair, and Little Lord Fauntleroy is fictional.


13 posted on 11/26/2005 3:11:27 AM PST by Iris7 ("Let me go to the house of the Father.")
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To: Sociopathocracy

Indeed. Certainly many Americans voted for Bill Clinton twice and FDR four times.

The only real hope is that Hilary is not as convincing as Bill when faking wisdom and knowledge, empathy and "love of the masses".


14 posted on 11/26/2005 3:15:30 AM PST by Iris7 ("Let me go to the house of the Father.")
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To: falconjet0900

You nailed it with this post. I am 58 yo and this PC ethnic bashing has been going on since I can remember. what is the point? It is appalling to me that the Marx / Engles utopian myth was so widely accepted and Communism still remains fixated in certain American social and intellectual cirles as "not that bad" . I recommend reading the "Gulag Archipelago" by Solzineitzn(sp?) to get an idea of what it was like in Soviet Russia in the 30"s, 40's, 50's. It is chilling and very scary. German National Socialism was just as bad in its' own way. God bless America, warts and all.


15 posted on 11/26/2005 3:23:09 AM PST by MountainYankee
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To: baystaterebel

hope they don't notice that "Arbeit Macht Frei" is still available ...


16 posted on 11/26/2005 3:25:13 AM PST by fnord (497 1/2 feet of rope ... I just carry it)
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To: baystaterebel

I know: Ein Volk! Ein, er, Reich! Ein, um... Fuhrer...

OK, maybe not.


17 posted on 11/26/2005 3:25:45 AM PST by San Franistan
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To: falconjet0900

Maybe the term Germans, should be changed to 'citizens of Germany'. Since most Westerners are descendents of Germanic peoples, it really would make little sense to bash them all.

I am one-quarter French, but take no offence at "French-bashing", one-quarter Dutch, but am not happy with many of the things that go on in the Netherlands, and also one-quarter Swedish, and certainly not proud of the their government or much of their philosophy. The other quarter is English, with a smidgen of Cree thrown in. The jury is still out, as far as those two are concerned. (not all fractions are exact)

I do not consider it proper to lump all people of one nationality together. And I do ot consider it to be healthy to take offense at someone's jab at what transpires inside of another sovereign nation, even if it is not clearly stated that such is the intent.

But we are all human and all somewhat sensitive, though hopefully not as "sensitive" as those on the left would wish us to be. We do disagree, sometimes vehemently, as during Schiavo and Miers, but must remember we are all still of one mind (relatively speaking).


18 posted on 11/26/2005 3:29:33 AM PST by David Isaac
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: MountainYankee
I assure you that Soviet communism is bashed far more frequently on this site than is Germany. When Germany is bashed, it's on account of their current left-wing leanings, and not because of Nazism, although it would be foolish to forget that, either.
20 posted on 11/26/2005 3:33:52 AM PST by Batrachian
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