The awesome (and chilling) genius of the Germans: From soccer to supermarkets,

UK Daily Mail ^ | July 10, 2014 | Max Hastings

[C19fan]

Our forefathers knew the feeling. One minute there you are, like Brazil’s football team on Tuesday, settling down to start a long campaign. The next minute, bewilderingly, it is all over: Germany is master of the field, counting prisoners or — in this case — an unprecedented 7-1 triumph in the World Cup semi-final, executed with chilling discipline and precision. What is it about the Germans? Yes, yes, I know we are not meant to mention the war, or rather wars. But how can we not do so, when for centuries the world paid tribute to Germany’s prowess on the battlefield? The Roman writer Tacitus and the French revolutionary Mirabeau alike marvelled at the Germans as a society of supremely disciplined warriors.

[dead]

I just finished reading "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and the efficiency of the German war machine was equally matched by the complete lack of a moral core by the majority of Germans.

The (early) success of the German military was so appreciated, they had no inclination whatsoever to question it's barbarity.

When millions rode by in cattle cars to the death camps, the people marveled at how well the trains worked.

[litehaus]

GOOD ONE !!!! LOL

[karnage]

Tee hee!

[Sequoyah101]

Yeah, right. Just like Norway.

Everybody knows it takes a nation of divided mongrels to excel.

Thanks Nathan.

[Sequoyah101]

I’m considering a move from where I thought I would retire to another county that has a large German Mennonite influence. In just one county you go from front porch storage / junk yard to clean, neat and well tended farms. It is truly amazing how one group of people can motivate others by example.

As mentioned by others, the Germans are craftsmen, persnickety engineers and persnickety in just about everything else and I quite admire that but they also seem to have a moral bankruptcy and a blind adherence to following without discretion. In spite of being good engineers they can tend to not be very intellectually honest and will not easily concede to being wrong. In fact, they will often not even consider the possibility of being wrong and will persist in doing wrong things even after they know how wrong they are!

[Gumdrop]

The last half of your comment would make them all Democrats!

[alexander_busek]

Why diversity is their strength, of course.

That is certainly true: We've got Saupreiß'n, Bavarians, Swabians, Pelzer, East Frieslanders, Saxons, etc. - all different kinds of Germans.

Regards,

[Foundahardheadedwoman]

‘BBC Make Me a German’

I watched the video and learned a lot about myself and my family. I am of German descent on my father’s side. I am very efficient in the way I work, I plan my work and work my plan and when I work for someone I work as if I own the place. In the past I have worked in a family business and have owned a couple of small ones.

On my mother’s side I am what is called ‘the old mountain people’, we were here before Daniel Boone found the trail. Her side is more into hunting, fishing, and general hell raising. Moonshining, running gambling halls, a little illegal stuff runs in the family. No drug dealing, at least that I know of.

Imagine the constant battle in my head, 1/2 of me is a risk taker and hellraiser and loner, the other is a methodical, community minded, team player. It aint easy being me. But it is entertaining since I never know from day to day which side will exert control.