Not that it matters much, but the name “German” comes from an ancient Latin word for “Warrior”. They do have a noteworthy military history. Had they historically had more land mass, and subsequently more people and resources, they might indeed have come to rule the world.
You wrote:
“Not that it matters much, but the name “German” comes from an ancient Latin word for “Warrior”.”
I don’t think so. Philogolists commonly believe the word is actually a Celtic word, not Latin. It also probably doesn’t mean “warrior” but “neighbor” or maybe “battle-cry”.
At least if you believe the OED2.
My observation of the Germans is as follows:
— They are very direct with a low tolerance for fluff. Don’t look to a German for empathy.
— They are (obviously) smart and good with machines. The latter can be somewhat of a weakness as they often make things more mechanically complicated than they need to be.
— They are highly disciplined and industrious
— They often suffer from group think and can have blind spots the size of Bavaria. They also prone to mood swings
— In many ways, they are the European versions of the Japanese (which explains a lot)
Given their national character, it is tough to believe that Political Correctness has taken root there. But it has. However, I am not sure how deep it goes. If push comes to shove, their old characteristics will likely emerge—with a vengence.
Truth in advertising: I am half German and half Russian. This probably explains why I often feel conflicted.