What do Americans think about Germany and Germans?

Question

BadMedicine95 · Accepted Answer

I've been to Germany. Berlin and Munich. It is a nice country. Berlin was like a mini New York City in that it is like a melting pot of cultures. Munich seems to have a nice culture of its own as well.
Something I took away was that Germans are upfront and don't do small talk, but are polite. I also was so grateful that almost everyone spoke English. I tried my damnedest to learn German, but it wasn't working out well, but because the rest of the Western world learns more than one language, I was able to get by well.
I went during Oktoberfest. That is a breathtaking time to be there. It was one thing that drew me in. I love the beer culture of the world, so obviously Oktoberfest is going to be on my radar because of that. Good beer and food.
As for my preconceived thoughts before I went there, I thought that, for some reason, you wanted to do your best to disguise the fact that you're American. I read don't wear sneakers or jeans because that will give away the fact that you're American, but I saw Jeans and sneakers everywhere. Maybe because I was in touristy places, but still. I'm not gonna stick out just because of that. I was also made a little nervous because I have really short hair and I'm really pale, so I thought people were gonna think I was a Neo-Nazi because of some of things I read, but that wasn't the case, either.
During our tours of museums, no one made any bones about what happened during the second world war. The way they presented it to us was the same way we're presented it over here in school. They talk about what happened matter-of-factually, not nuanced or watered down.
Some Americans, very ignorant Americans, only know about Germany because of what they were taught in school, because all they teach us about Germany in school is the wars. I for one wanted to learn more about it. Also, as mentioned earlier, I am a beer nerd with aspirations to be in the beer brewing business, and you cannot talk about beer without talking about Germany, and you especially can't talk about my favorite styles, lagers, without talking about Germany, so if I wanted to learn about beer, I had to learn about Germany, and I'm so glad I did.
Beautiful country, good people, good beer, good food, good culture. I would recommend to any American who wants to travel abroad but is nervous about trying new food and culture to go to Germany. It's just similar enough to understand how to get by, but different enough to be worth the experience.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

The usual stereotypes are of a Nazi death merchant or a guy wearing lederhosen and standing ankle deep in beer. Americans with any sort of education know Germany is a very modern country, easily further advanced than the USA in many ways, with a socialist/capitalist economy. Germans can seem humorless, severe, and formal to Americans, but those who’ve visited (or served in the military in Germany) generally love the country and its people. Germans are well known for building and driving cool cars and driving them very fast. German porn is considered particularly freakish. German food doesn’t have a haute cuisine reputation, not like French or Italian cuisines do, but it’s definitely held in higher regard than British food. I’m happy to add detail if you have more specific questions.

Tamera952 · Accepted Answer

That they're awesome, stoic, pragmatic, forward-thinking, smart, efficient, have an impressive level of English proficiency, an advanced society, tend to be reserved and quiet on the outside, but are fun and freaky once they open up!

Yads_Is_Back · Accepted Answer

I don’t have a current view on the country, as far as current stance so excluding history, but the men are very attractive 😊

raven6933 · Answer

I have no qualms with them except when have heard some speak they sounded angry not hateful. Such as were several of my friends and neighbors. And yes Germany is trying to do something about their past, however the US is not. And as someone stated "modern American's should not be held responsible for slavery" it pre-tains to that some still thinks it was and should be OK. That is why they are still trying to hold onto the confederacy. If the only claim to that was what it stood for then something is wrong. If they would have freed the slaves they would have had no other reason for killing their fellow countrymen and then surrendered.

Miristheiss · Answer

Great Country, great people, WW1 was such an idiotic war for the entire continent of Europe... just let Austria and the Bosnian Serbs deal with their own issues... had nothing to do with Russia, Germany, France, England, Belgium... but we all know what happened. Germany totally got the shaft of being blamed for the war and abused with reparations and penalties not due it... no one was to blame and no one was innocent... a total waste of a war.
That led to the bitterness and revenge many leaders had in the 30's and we know what came about from 39' to 45'.
Still a great country, I totally disagree with Merkel on a lot... the mass immigration push, to big world government EU belief... aber ich liebe Deutschland und ich hab Deutsch mehrere Jahre studiert und ich hab viele Freunde aus Deutschland. I hatte vor deises Jahr Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz zu besuchen bis die Weltweit Krankheit kamm. Was für eine Enttäuschung.

Jersey2 · Answer

The largest ethnic heritage of the IS is German. Then Irish. The Germans settled in the Midwest of the US but of course they are all over here. I like Germans in general. I do not like that they are a weak Allie. They don’t pay their NATO bill and they really didn’t help with Afghanistan and Iraq. So I think of them as the worst Allie as they are undependable.

I think recent German influence on Europe to accept massive immigration has been disastrous and has destroyed European culture in the long run. Europe won’t be Europe soon Anna it is sad. Germany tried to destroy Europe twice last century and they have succeeded this century it seems.

But the people, culture, food I like. Octoberfest was a lot of fun!

007kingifrit · Answer

germans are technical people that miss the big picture. their lack of worldliness makes them hyper idealistic and idealism leads to dogma, dogma to extremism.

this is a product of their geography with flat terrain on all sides and 8 rival regional powers all around them leading to constant war and political ploys ususally at the expense of the germans because they are the biggest country in the region and everyone is scared of them

world war 2 was not an anomaly, in the past 10,000 years that exact scenario has happened 18 times. the cycle is always the same. germany gets bigger and better and everyone else gets scared and they all come together in a coalition to knock germany down... and the cycle begins again

superQ · Answer

I think that Germans are an interesting people. Generally associate them with leftist politics (European conservative). They export a good amount of culture that many enjoy. I like guns and you get H&K and Sig Sauer from Germany so that's pretty cool.

HungLikeAHorsefly · Answer

I like Germans a lot, but when I'm there I'm always a little off-put by the fact that they aren't typically as gregarious as a lot of Americans are. I find a lot of Germans to be reserved, but with strong feelings if you can get them to express themselves.

BeenThereLovedIt · Answer

Nice place. It's on my bucket list to backpack the black forest trails.

The people I'm told are old-school decent, open-arms, etc. I imagine it's different in big cities, where everyone is pretty much a pile of shit no matter what country, but I'll stick to villages and small towns.

_SOARER · Answer

I love Germany! Germans are great people. I met some in high school because of an exchange program.
I like their history, culture, art, their philosophy (even though its crazy! Hegel, Nietzsche etc) I also think the people are beautiful. Even there music is good only thing that they lack is great cuisine. But their beer is the best. Best engineering too.

AmandaYVR · Answer

Well-educated, excel in English and learning other languages; generally speaking a well-run and well-respected industrialized nation.  (And I love our Rouladen and Weisswurst.)

bigmisssunshine · Answer

I don’t know why you invited me, because I’m Dutch 🤷🏻‍♀️

WadeDanielSmith2 · Answer

Germans are evil and we never should have allowed them to unify again. It hasn't been enough tim since WWII for them to repent for real for being Nazis.

errorgoodnameunfound · Answer

Pretty cool I guess. I know quite a few who wanted to move there. But I will say, their products like Bosch, Mercedes, BMW, and Thyssenkrupp? Overrated/overpriced af. Period.

AaronKrieger · Answer

Depends on the person's past experience. Outside of the U. K. anyone else in Europe is seen as mysterious and weird/interesting to most americans until we actually talk to them a good amount.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

There seems to be a sort of stereotypical expectation: each time I met Americans, they told me that I ''... don't ACT' like a German''.
My impression: most 'Americans' are unaware that G'mny's culture does NOT end north of Frankfurt :)

DCooper · Answer

I think they have a weird tendency to cram together ridiculously long compound words.

Natashakir72 · Answer

I think they live in germany and I think they are just like everyone else except speak German

matheus_mb · Answer

I'm not American, but I miss Germany so much!! I've had an awesome experience there when I visited.

Bratsondanielle · Answer

Wolkswagons is what comes to mind for me personally but otherwise... I don't know

scarlett774 · Answer

I haven’t met much native Germans but I have been to Germany and it’s very beautiful.

Hermes-Paris · Answer

You guys make the best dogs! German Shepherds rock!

blutwolfe · Answer

Good food and good beer, I mean i don't agree with their politics but economically they're a powerhouse

Iron_Man · Answer

I’ve seen the HBO documentary on how they don’t like Black people and they make fun of them at soccer events making ape 🦍 noises and throwing banana peels at the Opponents black players on the field

Conspiracy_Theorist · Answer

They like to conserve ammo, We don't...

hknmhmn4 · Answer

German is the largest ethnic group in America after British. For example Donald Trump the US President’s father is a German

Jack9949 · Answer

The only thing we learn about Germany in American schools is the Nazis. Hahaha 😂😂👍

OddBeMe · Answer

Prob not a lot. But the german economy is holding up Europe.

Anonymous · Answer

I am American and I think Germans have a good work ethic.

iFarted · Answer

Ich liebe deutschland

Mystic_Nova · Answer

The ones I've met are pretty cool.

SuccessfulHornDog · Answer

Dislike the government, Like the people.

mistixs · Answer

They're cool.

Cryptic-Game · Answer

Some of them think they're arrogant.

Anonymous · Answer

I neutral. Same way I feel about most of Europe.

Anonymous · Answer

They caused two World Wars.

Jakeofalltrades93 · Answer

that they are weird

Anonymous · Answer

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What do Americans think about Germany and Germans?

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