The Bundeswehr Veterans Badge

[lastwalt]

We have indeed one or two words for Schadenfreue: Häme, Scheelsucht, Boshaftigkeit, Missgunst, Neid, Niedertracht, Gehässigkeit.

I shouldn't be surprised that you have lots of words for your national sport, but, I bet you have fewer words for rain than we do in Scotland.

 

[Krautman]

I shouldn't be surprised that you have lots of words for your national sport, but, I bet you have fewer words for rain than we do in Scotland.

Och aye, ah ken the rain in Scotland. But there is Regen, Niederschlag, Gewitterregen, Guss, Schauer, Wolkenbruch and so on. Our national sport isn't Schadenfreude that is knocked out on second place. Our real national sport is smart-arrsery.

 

[Glad_its_all_over]

Och aye, ah ken the rain in Scotland. But there is Regen, Niederschlag, Gewitterregen, Guss, Schauer, Wolkenbruch and so on. Our national sport isn't Schadenfreude that is knocked out on second place. Our real national sport is smart-arrsery.

I don't know, you're pretty strong on violent verbal abuse as well. I am still laughing, years later, at an old pal of mine, an inoffensive and deeply reflective HFw, asking one of his enthusiastic young SUs to calm down: "Schnauze, sonst Beule!".

 

[Rodney2q]

Do the Germans have a word for schadenfreude?

For you zis thread is over!

 

[LeoRoverman]

As a matter of interest, what did your German family side do in the war?

My grandad was originally called back up to serve with the Oldenburg Regiment 91. He was in Russia and was wounded according to mum.Repatriated and then put into a reserve regiment operating in Hamburg Bremen Hannover, wehrkreiss X I think. He rose to the glorious rank of obergefreiter.
The story goes that he was actually going home with his papers on the day he was killed, died. He was 57. That was on the day that the Canadians/ Scots launched their attack in the area. But importantly I can find no direct link either air or military directly.
My Uncle was originally a Despatch rider. He worked at the brewery in Hamburg. I have some photos of him but they are unmarked. The Barracks are generic German, But I suspect in the Hamburg area, so Im’not sure if he was inf or armed.
Recently unearthed some rather interesting papers re my aunt, she worked for the Luftwaffe in their newsreel set up And had trained as a journalist. She was in Bucharest in 1944. Mum had just left school and worked as a Bank junior for the Oldenburger Landes Bank. Grandma was at home. So all in all rather uncontroversial.

 

[XPara Mugg]

If any ex boxhead squaddie ventured into the east end wearing that, how long do you think he would last?

A quick glimpse of that on a lapel.

Who'd find it more offensive than these?

etc.

Apart from the terminally obtuse/ignorant.

Really, who'd care?

 

[Nato123]

My grandad was originally called back up to serve with the Oldenburg Regiment 91. He was in Russia and was wounded according to mum. Repatriated and then put into a reserve regiment operating in Hamburg Bremen Hannover, wehrkreiss X I think. He rose to the glorious rank of obergefreiter.
The story goes that he was actually going home with his papers on the day he was killed, died. He was 57. That was on the day that the Canadians/ Scots launched their attack in the area. But importantly I can find no direct link either air or military directly.
My Uncle was originally a Despatch rider. He worked at the brewery in Hamburg. I have some photos of him but they are unmarked. The Barracks are generic German, But I suspect in the Hamburg area, so Im’not sure if he was inf or armed.
Recently unearthed some rather interesting papers re my aunt, she worked for the Luftwaffe in their newsreel set up And had trained as a journalist. She was in Bucharest in 1944. Mum had just left school and worked as a Bank junior for the Oldenburger Landes Bank. Grandma was at home. So all in all rather uncontroversial.

That's what they all say

Did they ever mentioned what happened to all the Jewish neighbours .. or their property .... or houses?

My German Grandfather along with my German Grand Mother got the feck out of Berlin asap in the 20's and then the feck out of Krakow in 1939 ... wasn't too clever being Jewish you see.

 

[medwaymud]

My grandad was originally called back up to serve with the Oldenburg Regiment 91. He was in Russia and was wounded according to mum.Repatriated and then put into a reserve regiment operating in Hamburg Bremen Hannover, wehrkreiss X I think. He rose to the glorious rank of obergefreiter.
The story goes that he was actually going home with his papers on the day he was killed, died. He was 57. That was on the day that the Canadians/ Scots launched their attack in the area. But importantly I can find no direct link either air or military directly.
My Uncle was originally a Despatch rider. He worked at the brewery in Hamburg. I have some photos of him but they are unmarked. The Barracks are generic German, But I suspect in the Hamburg area, so Im’not sure if he was inf or armed.
Recently unearthed some rather interesting papers re my aunt, she worked for the Luftwaffe in their newsreel set up And had trained as a journalist. She was in Bucharest in 1944. Mum had just left school and worked as a Bank junior for the Oldenburger Landes Bank. Grandma was at home. So all in all rather uncontroversial.

Uncontraversial - as are most people in most Nations throughout history.

They just wanted to get on with their lives.

Politics got in the way.

 

[Krautman]

That's what they all say

Did they ever mentioned what happened to all the Jewish neighbours .. or their property .... or houses?

My German Grandfather along with my German Grand Mother got the feck out of Berlin asap in the 20's and then the feck out of Krakow in 1939 ... wasn't too clever being Jewish you see.

They probably did what almost all Germans have done, look away and mind their own business. Not very brave, but certainly good to avoid problems, prison and worse.

My grandfather, who was a farmer, had to go to the local group leader of the NSDAP for interrogation because he gave normal food to Russian prisoners of war who had helped with the field work and let them have supper with the rest of his family.
As far as I recall from his story they weren't exactly nice to him. No overt threats, no violence, but the silent message that more could happen.

It wasn't to clever being part of a minority targeted by the Nazis, wrong party, wrong sexuality, wrong religion, wrong whatever and you were deep in the feces.

Most Germans did not want to know what had happened to their neighbours. That's how it works in totalitarian systems.

 

[harrythebastard]

Did they ever mentioned what happened to all the Jewish neighbours .. or their property .... or houses?

My German Grandfather along with my German Grand Mother got the feck out of Berlin asap in the 20's and then the feck out of Krakow in 1939 ... wasn't too clever being Jewish you see.

I think it quite spooky to be in some German towns and look down to see those little brass plaques set in the pavement, they normally tell you where the named person went.
One from Bremen last time I went through the Altstadt there.

 

[Nato123]

They probably did what almost all Germans have done, look away and mind their own business. Not very brave, but certainly good to avoid problems, prison and worse.

My grandfather, who was a farmer, had to go to the local group leader of the NSDAP for interrogation because he gave normal food to Russian prisoners of war who had helped with the field work and let them have supper with the rest of his family.
As far as I recall from his story they weren't exactly nice to him. No overt threats, no violence, but the silent message that more could happen.

It wasn't to clever being part of a minority targeted by the Nazis, wrong party, wrong sexuality, wrong religion, wrong whatever and you were deep in the feces.

Most Germans did not want to know what had happened to their neighbours. That's how it works in totalitarian systems.

For sure, so when safe/free, say it was terrible not deny or ignore or say you weren't aware of it.

Not sure about the looking away bit either TBH. Many had been fed the stab in the back lies for decades before WW2 and welcomed the myth of 'Regaining' what was rightfully theirs BS at any price to those who they felt were below them.

 

[LeoRoverman]

Uncontraversial - as are most people in most Nations throughout history.

They just wanted to get on with their lives.

Politics got in the way.

Now you know why I adopted dads phrase, “I’m alright it’s the others.”
response should be , “why the others”
Answer. “Because if it wasn’t for the others I wouldn’t have a problem.“
response, “What problem”
answer “The others.“

 

[LeoRoverman]

I think it quite spooky to be in some German towns and look down to see those little brass plaques set in the pavement, they normally tell you where the named person went.
One from Bremen last time I went through the Altstadt there.View attachment 510701

Hmm, I bet they have none for commies or others that just had so much from the regime they got anti.

 

[Krautman]

For sure, so when safe/free, say it was terrible not deny or ignore or say you weren't aware of it.

Not sure about the looking away bit either TBH. Many had been fed the stab in the back lies for decades before WW2 and welcomed the myth of 'Regaining' what was rightfully theirs BS at any price to those who they felt were below them.

You are absolutely right, the NSDAP had strong support and part of this support was because of the Versailles Treaty and the Dolchstosslegende. But it was far away from the majority.

The first thing the Nazis did was to consolidate their power. The first unofficial concentration camps were established immediately after Hitler became Chancellor of the Reich. Opponents of the Nazis were kidnapped, tortured and even murdered in these camps. Freedom of assembly and freedom of the press were abolished. Göring, the provisional Minister of the Interior of Prussia, the last part of Germany to resist National Socialism, dissolved the Prussian state parliament and all local councils. Mayors and municipal councils were removed from office under threat of violence. New elections were called for the Reichstag and the Prussian Landtag.The SS and SA were declared auxiliary policemen, then came the Reichstag fire, more arrests, more torture, more murder, and the restriction of all basic rights of the Weimar Constitution by the "Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten zum Schutz von Volk und Staat". New elections, ban of the KPD, thereby getting the necessary two-thirds majority for the "Ermächtigungsgesetz". Goebbels' Ministry of Propaganda is established. The first official concentration camps Oranienburg and Dachau are set up.
This all happened in less than two months from 30 January 1933 to 23 March 1933.
This was followed by the "Gesetz zur Sicherung der Einheit von Partei und Staat", all civil servants and public employees who were not dismissed were made members of the NSDAP by law.
The Nazis covered the country with terror from the beginning and took over or eliminated everything that could have resisted, after that there was practically no chance to get rid of Hitler and the NSDAP.

The Germans stumbled blindly and too willingly into this catastrophe and by the time at least some of them realised what was happening it was too late.

 

[Krautman]

Hmm, I bet they have none for commies or others that just had so much from the regime they got anti.

The stumbling blocks are set by Deming for all victims of National Socialism. Regardless of religion, political affiliation or sexuality. Also for those who were killed in the euthanasia action or for the so-called asocials.

 

[DB216LOKDVR]

Can ex BAOR OLD & BOLD P!ss heads apply.

It's a well known fact the 'HEER' as well as our 'BENELUX/DUTCH' brothers in arms knocked it on the head for the weekend and went home to Mummy in thier Beatles/BMW/Merc's etc, long hair and flared jeans for some fun and pleasures with thier childhood loved ones.

The BAOR troops* stayed around the barracks, town centres and grotty fleshpots awaiting the call to arms to fight the 3rd Shock Army and anybody else who upset them, (whilsts very slightly under the effects of booze).

*(That is thoses who did not jump into thier XR3i etc and dash to the channel ports to spend time with Mummy in thier ice blue Levi, bomber jackets, doc's or desert wellies for some fun and pleasure with thier childhood loved ones)**.

**I think I may have spotted the flaw in my argument.

 

[truck_trasher]

Oh Look !
(A43-3) Bundeswehr Veteranenabzeichen zweite Serie 16 mm Abzeichen | eBay

Oooooo, more than ten available and 314 sold already, apparently . . .

 

[Krautman]

Can ex BAOR OLD & BOLD P!ss heads apply.

It's a well known fact the 'HEER' as well as our 'BENELUX/DUTCH' brothers in arms knocked it on the head for the weekend and went home to Mummy in thier Beatles/BMW/Merc's etc, long hair and flared jeans for some fun and pleasures with thier childhood loved ones.

The BAOR troops* stayed around the barracks, town centres and grotty fleshpots awaiting the call to arms to fight the 3rd Shock Army and anybody else who upset them, (whilsts very slightly under the effects of booze).

*(That is thoses who did not jump into thier XR3i etc and dash to the channel ports to spend time with Mummy in thier ice blue Levi, bomber jackets, doc's or desert wellies for some fun and pleasure with thier childhood loved ones)**.

**I think I may have spotted the flaw in my argument.

Here you go:

 

[PapaGolf]

It’s about time Germany started recognising its veterans. I’ve got a sh1t load of mates in the Bundeswehr and the Luftwaffe, some I class as some of my closest friends. They certainly deserve it, more so than some of the coward sh1t cnut never deployed scum in this country who flounce around in their Veterans badges

 

[JackSofty]

The only thing with an 'end' is your grasp of reality.

I get that Holocaust survivors and some others may dislike the Germans, but the rest, and in that I mean 99.999999%, of the world has moved on.

Has Stan Boardman moved on yet?
'Eh, eh. De Jeeermans? Are youse Jeeerman?'
Mind you, back in the day I would have done his daughter.

Sent from my karzi while losing several pounds