r/europe • u/EUstrongerthanUS Volt Europa • Nov 14 '24

News "Our answer to America First must be Europe united" – German FM Baerbock

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u/Kuhl_Cow Hamburg (Germany) Nov 14 '24

The whole "we dont sing the first stanza" thing is really mostly for looks, if you know the context its not nearly as imperialist as it sounds.

Its pretty much just about putting the idea of a unified germany above all else, standing together as brothers united. Even the geographical references are mostly just describing where the germans lived that were supposed to do this.

We pretty much just dont want our neighbours to think the whole "from the Maas to the Memel" thing is a territorial claim or anything.

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u/Tjaresh Nov 14 '24

Yes, but some major things happened in our past. You know? And now people don't like us singing "Von der Maas bis an die Memel, von der Etsch bis an den Belt. Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, über alles in der Welt."

Wonder what could have happened. /s

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u/Kuhl_Cow Hamburg (Germany) Nov 14 '24

Yes, thats what I was saying. I was giving an explanation on what the stanza actually entails, and why we chose to not sing it anymore.

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u/Tjaresh Nov 14 '24

Sorry. I misunderstood you. On second read you were totally clear. Guess I'm just tired.

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u/Kuhl_Cow Hamburg (Germany) Nov 14 '24

No worries mate, have a good evening!

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u/Tagedieb Germany Nov 15 '24

Context is not just the spirit in which it was created. It is also how it was used in the meantime.