Free Republic

But the Fuehrer has been given centre stage by the next European City of Culture. Liverpool naturally highlighted its connections to the Beatles, its most famous sons, when it became City of Culture in 2008. But the Austrian city of Linz, with no lederhosen version of the Fab Four to exploit, has instead decided to showcase the works of the architect of the Third Reich. The Nazi leader spent nine years of his childhood in the city which he loved so much he intended to make it the location for a magnificent five star Adolf Hitler Hotel. He had also...

Fear is mounting among Germans that their language is being eroded by waves of English and other foreign jargon After years of post-war Anglicisation and Americanisation, seven out of 10 Germans speak some English. But experts say there is a growing backlash against the widespread use of foreign terms in the age of globalisation, technology and immigration. Business leaders are growing tired of English "management speak". A fortnight ago, Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party voted to enshrine the German language in the nation's constitution -- seen as a pointed gesture toward the large Turkish, Arab and African communities. And German...