What People Get WRONG About GERMANY

There are some things which surprised me about Germany. It's taken a while but looking back I can now see the value (or not) of Generalisations and stereotypes.

What has your experience been?

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About Me:
I am a Brit who lives Germany. After completing University in the UK I moved to China where I taught English for two years. I’ve learned a thing or two about cultural integration, language learning and everything else that goes with upping sticks and moving to a foreign country. I make videos about Germany, cultural differences and tend to pose a lot of questions. Join me on my exploration of life abroad.

#germanculture #cultureshocks #stereotypes

[familiecole]

Not only do the Germans think I’m from London, but recently there’s also been an assumption that the British are all monarchists. Amongst other things, as a Republican, a Yorkshireman, and a stay-at-home father of a disabled child, I surprise and silence many, particularly here in provincial Ostthüringen.

A comment on efficiency. Bureaucracy does enable efficient organisation: One person, one function, no waste, what could be more efficient? However, if Person A responsible for some admin' function is not available then the process grinds to a halt. So it’s not an efficient use of the individual's time.


I think it just demonstrates how there is a greater separation between the State (organised activity) and the individual here in Germany. I’ve attended appointments that had been cancelled without any warning, faced surly, patronising employees, and been completely ignored; but we as individuals have to accept it as we are subservient to the ‘bigger picture’. According to my neighbours, during Mittagsruhe, the individual householder is prevented from essentially making any noise whatsoever, whereas the tradesman/the organisation is free work. This separation is essentially built into the laws of the land!

BTW an excellent, calming presentation. I shall be watching more…

[arnodobler]

The Germans are not exactly patriotic, but they are very REGIONAL patriotic! The reputation for efficiency probably comes more from engineering and labor.

[schoppi]

You're a really good storyteller with a very pleasant voice. In German I would say "In der Ruhe liegt die Kraft" and you certainly have that. Keep up the good and balanced contributions.

[eisikater]

I'm Bavarian, and I like beer. So much for the stereotype. I'm not interested in football, however. Punctuality, yes, more or less. Accuracy, yes, definitely, but for a reason: If you do things right in the first place, you'll have less work afterwards and don't need a "customer relationship" department to fend off complaints.
With immigrants, you forgot the Greek. When I was young, we used to have three Greek restaurants in my area, and I love Greek food. Now there's only one left because the younger generation follow their own path of life, and running a restaurant has never been easy. (btw, where's my Ouzo?)
Contrary to what many people think, most Germans are more relaxed than it seems. We have a proverb, "Es wird nichts so heiß gegessen wie es gekocht wird." If there's an English counterpart to it, please let me know.

[michaelutech]

I'm from close to Heidelberg. When I started to move around in Germany, I was utterly shocked about Germans (being one myself). For example, I worked for a year in Berlin and it felt like everybody was at war with me. When I returned and first entered a bakery, getting greeted with a warm smile and having a lengthy chat about nothing, I understood I'm back in Germany.

[FFM]

I'm an Irish guy who lived happily in Frankfurt for 28 years. Then I moved 10 miles outside the city and it's a different world. I now live in the land of the Handtuch Krieger. You know, the ones who go on holiday and get up at 6 O'Clock to put their towel on a sunbed close to the pool.

[cesbi]

As a German, I really appreciate your critically honest takes on this country. It is very interesting to see things from an outsider's perspective.

[miskatonic]

Well, germany IS efficient compared to dozens of countries. In general: Low corruption, high industrialisation, moderate climate that allows you to work all day, high education, high identification with jobs...

[Kristina_S-O]

Now you have mentioned it - it's true, most Germans don't know much about the UK aside from London. I unfortunately am no exception, I've only visited London and some places in the south. Why don't you help us out a bit? I would really enjoy a video about the differences of people and culture of the various regions of your beautiful island.
I would also love a video on resemblance and common grounds of British and German people - there have to be some!? After all we're (distant) cousins with Saxons, Anglians and Danes being large groups of early settlers (aka invaders). I am from northern Germany and I often fell like we "Fischköppe" have more in common with the British and Scandinavian people and languages than with those in Southern Germany.
Keep up the good job you're doing, I find your videos always to be very insightful and inspiring.

[kulturfreund]

Germany has a capital city for each field.
While Paris and London represent almost all top levels in the centralized country, Germany has a variety of them. (Pattern of a Federation)
Berlin: Parliament/Administration, theatres, broadcasting, film, music, advertising, start up business, biggest population
Hamburg: Research, Press, Commerce, Major Port,
Stuttgart: High tech, automobiles
Frankfurt: Finance, traffic and Aviation hub
Munich: BioTech, Football, Tourism, Folklore, fashion, Film Business
Ruhr area: Energy, coal, steel, heavy industry
Leipzig: Book publishers, Culture, industrial fair
Hannover: Biggest industrial fairs
Cologne: broadcasting, amusement, modern art
... plus many other specific strongholds.

[HS-wpvb]

Your airport experience has nothing to do with German efficiency or business-style. During Corona, most airport staff was laid off and now they just refuse to come back! Isn't that mean? So we now ALL have to wait just because A FEW people refuse to load 25 kg suitcases by crawling into planes between 5 am and 2 am for minimum wage. What a shame ...

[DeLambada]

My personal theory on the efficency stereotype:

In many parts of the world there seems to be a logic in place that sees some people do the thinking and decision making and others do the working (I am exagerating). I believe in Germany traditionally the two were less separated which made it possible to adapt to everyday problems more quickly. 2 examples:

The Bundeswehr (German Military) has a principle called 'inner leadership". Soldiers are not just meant to follow orders and carry out missions, but to understand the mission, its purpose and how it connects to conditions around it. In case these conditions change the soldiers are encouraged to update or adapt their mission without having to wait for new orders from their superiors. Basically they ask WWJD and lead themselves.

Likewise German factory workers used to be highly trained in 3-4 years apprenticeshipments. Many daily decisions and a lot of problem solving were left to people on the shop floor. People were not just taught how this particular machine or that particular process worked but they were taught the basic principles that govern any machine or process (obviously there was some level of specialization). As these principles are universal you achieve a certain level of standardization without actually having to standardize individual processes. All of this makes for a more efficient production. On top of the good education workers would get more experienced over time more easily. It's easier to learn when you already have a system in your head that helps you connect the dots.

In both cases, army and production, the idea of more autonomous workers/soldiers seems to be on a downward trend. I read an article recently titled 'Crisis of inner leadership'.

In production today everything has to be idiot prove. You have to make 100% sure a process is carried out the exact same way everytime so you have ti regulate everything and cannot leave any decision to the shop floor. The logic is that you can gather some people of the street any time, show them their work for 5 min. and fire them if you don't need them any more.

I am not sure though if that development is a German thing or if it's happening everywhere. But if I am right it explains why 'German Efficiency' isn't what it used to be. We are becoming more like the rest of the world, which includes good things and bad things.

[Matahalii]

Cheers! I like your calm reflected and broad view. As a German I am always curious about the "outside view" on my own country. And in your videos I appreciate the love that shines through your explanations.
Maybe one factor to Germany's diversity is the fact that Germany as one state is quite young. No, not 1989, but 1870.

[suserockle]

Considering efficiency, you just have to look at the working hours/productivity-ratio. this compared to other western countries shows you very clearly where this stereotype comes from and that there is something to it

[PianistStefanBoetel]

Thoroughness is a better word than efficiency to describe German culture. Everything runs slowly, but it runs.

[nopartyforpapke]

This is really pretty accurate as far as generalizations can be accurate. I'm German myself and I can absolutely affirm that the regional differences are really huge, and sometimes I think that being grumpy is considered as being authentic in Germany. However there are lots of stellar experiences to be made if you take the time (caveat: maybe also in stellar dimensions).

[thof]

I'm moderately tall (for my age, the young folk tend to be taller), and I like beer. Absolutely none of the other stereotypes apply to me, and yet, people will always easily recognize me as German. It's a mystery. ;)

[dankarubarth]

Good morning!🌞 Greetings from Berlin!🙋 Have you ever been in the north of Germany, like Baltic Sea area or North Sea area? Really that's also again a bigger difference to the middle or south of Germany.😍👍(... to the point of diversity...)

[obenohnebohne]

I enjoy your calm and collected thoughts. Thanks for sharing them.

[holger_p]

It's a common use of "the Germans" or "the Americans" to talk about an average, or something that applies to 60% ...a majority. Comments "it doesn't apply to all .." are just annoying, everybody knows hat.