How is Germany so weird yet so dull?
When I lived in Berlin a decade ago, I was struck by the contrast between the dullness of young Germans and the incredible weirdness of everything else. Only in German could the word for 'gums' (Zahnfleisch) mean 'toothflesh'. And only in fleisch-mad Germany (the word for 'meat' is the same as 'flesh', which is somehow incredibly disgusting) would people snack on raw pork, a dish known as mett. Mett, also known, rather curiously, as Hackepeter, is sometimes offered at buffets in the shape of a hedgehog (what else?) with raw onion spines. It simply doesn't get stranger.
While musing on such things, I would cycle slowly around the bizarre gigantist ministries of the Nazi period near Checkpoint Charlie (itself a relic of a truly bonkers, menacing portion of the past), or past the Stasi headquarters in the almost mind-bendingly drab Lichtenberg. Or I'd drive down south with my then-boyfriend to Munich or Heidelberg and observe the particularly blood-curdling hedonism with which older West Germans took refreshment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
Veterans attend services in Normandy to mark 81 years since D-Day
Second World War Veterans have gathered in Normandy to mark the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings, ITV News Reporter Chloe Keedy is there Veterans and officials have attended memorial services in Normandy to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings. A remembrance service was held at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, which was attended by the ever-dwindling number of surviving veterans in their late 90s and older, remembering the thousands who died that day. D-Day veteran and ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial, Ken Hay, 99, and Royal Navy D-Day veteran Henry Rice, 99, laid wreaths at the memorial. Mervyn Kersh, 100, a D-Day veteran. / Credit: ITV News Mervyn Kersh was 19 on D-Day. Eight decades on, now 100 years old, his memories of being sent ashore on Gold Beach and towards German gunfire are as vivid as ever. 'In the early hours of the morning, I could see the coastline coming – it suddenly dawned on me what was happening,' he told ITV News. In Bayeux cemetery, among nearly 5,000 graves, there were just a handful of surviving Normandy veterans at Friday's remembrance service. Switchboard operator in the Women's Naval Service during World War Two, Marie Scott. / Credit: ITV News Among them was Marie Scott, who worked as a switchboard operator in the Women's Naval Service. Aged 17, she was posted to Fort Southwick in Hampshire, where she suddenly found herself sending and receiving messages from soldiers on the beaches. 'I could hear everything. Incessant machine gun fire, bombs dropping,' she said. 'I shall never forget the day they stormed the beaches because it's imprinted on my memory.' D-Day veterans Ken Hay, 99 (second left) and Henry Rice, 99 (far right) lay wreaths at the British Normany Memorial in France. / Credit: PA Hundreds of onlookers attended the commemorations across the region, which included parachute jumps, remembrance ceremonies, parades and historical re-enactments. British veterans also attended a service on Thursday in Coleville-Montgomery and visited nearby Sword Beach, where thousands of soldiers landed eight decades ago. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, for a service commemorating American troops. A memorial service was held at Bayeux Cathedral on Thursday. / Credit: PA On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France and breached Hitler's defences in Western Europe by sending the largest ever fleet of ships, troops, planes and vehicles across the English Channel. A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself. In the ensuing Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 wounded. An estimated 20,000 French civilians also died. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Shipwreck mystery solved 140 years later after extraordinary discovery
A 19th century ship that sunk off the coast of Plymouth has been found 140 years later. The SS Nantes sank in November 1888 killing 23 crew members and the ship's whereabouts have been unknown until now. It is all thanks for deep sea diver Dom Robinson that the forgotten ship has now been found – 246 feet deep, 30 miles southeast of Plymouth. He found a piece of crockery in the water and saw it bore the stamp 'Cunard Steamship Company' which helped identify the vessel. Dom told Metro: 'It was a Eureka moment when I found the plate and could make that connection. 'It feels like I've honoured those who lost their lives in the sinking because of solving that mystery. 'Out of all my deep sea dives this one was definitely up there as the best because it was so unsuspected.' Conditions were poor on the day that the steam ship was hit by the German sailing vessel Theodor Ruger. The vessel pierced into the side of the Nantes and tore a big hole on the side which eventually caused it to sink. The crews on the Nantes were unable to escape because the collision damaged the lifeboats. Out of everybody on board, only three people survived, including one man found at sea and two who jumped off. Dom shared his story on his YouTube account and said that deep water diving is his 'way of life'. 'To be able to solve mysteries and have this sense of adventure is exciting,' he said. 'By doing this it feels good because it brings these people's stories back to life. 'I won't stop deep water diving.' More Trending Dr Harry Bennett is an expert in maritime history at Plymouth University and gave his reaction to Metro. He said: 'Every wreck tells a story and this one is important because it tells a human story. 'It highlights the every day perils of maritime travel, particularly during a time when many ships ended up crashing. 'We have forgotten a lot of our history and finds like this highlight the dangers of maritime travel even today. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Arsenal hero Jack Wilshere named favourite to take Wayne Rooney's old job
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
D-Day veterans mark anniversary to ‘remember our friends who never came home'
The Rev Simon d'Albertanson, a Royal Navy chaplain and the chaplain for the Spirit of Normandy Trust, led a memorial service at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, describing D-Day as a 'seminal moment in history'. He reminded veterans, officials and members of the public that the legacy of D-Day was vitally important given the conflict and 'troubled times that we live in'. (Left to right) Royal Navy D-Day veteran John Dennett, D-Day veteran and ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial Ken Hay, Royal Navy D-Day veteran Henry Rice, Royal Marines D-Day veteran Jim Grant, Royal Navy D-Day veteran Ken Benbow, Royal Navy veteran George Boothby, D-Day Army veteran Richard Brock, ATS veteran Marjorie Hanson and RAF veteran Gilbert Clarke during a wreath-laying ceremony at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France (Gareth Fuller/PA) The Normandy landings took place on June 6 1944, when Allied forces opened a Second Front by invading Nazi-occupied France. A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself. Mr d'Albertanson said: 'This was a seminal moment in history, and we forget it at our peril. 'There's a legacy that builds from the different conflicts, and we live in very troubled times right now, and we need men and women who are fighting for peace. 'As a Christian, one of the lines in the Bible is 'Blessed are the peacemakers'. 'We're called to make peace and sometimes that means we have to bring violence, but that's the last resort. 'We want to be peacemakers.' Two of the chaplain's own relatives fought during the Second World War. His grandfather, Fred Hawker, joined the Royal Marines in 1942 and served on a number of ships including HMS Ark Royal, while his great-uncle, a Royal Navy sailor, lost his life during the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Mr d'Albertanson said: 'It's an absolute honour and a privilege to be a part of this. 'This is all about the veterans and honouring the fallen, those who gave their lives, for our freedom. 'Being here brings it to life. 'It makes you realise what you're involved in, the men and women of the armed forces today – and as chaplains we go with them.' One veteran in attendance, Ken Hay MBE, 99, was just 18 when he landed at Courseulles-sur-Mer on D-Day +5. He was captured on the night of July 7-8 and was taken to Zabrze in Poland where he worked as a prisoner of war in a coal mine. D-Day veteran and ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial Ken Hay, 99, at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer (Gareth Fuller/PA) As the Russians approached, the prisoners were taken to a new location, approximately 1,000 miles away, during which many of them died. Eventually they were liberated by American troops and Mr Hay returned to the UK via Reims, arriving on May 4. He laid a wreath at the memorial service in Ver-sur-Mer alongside other veterans. Mr Hay said: 'Even though the 80th anniversary has passed, we veterans still feel it is our duty to come back here and remember all our friends who never came home. 'We get applauded, even though they are the ones who gave it all. 'Sharing my stories with children in the UK and France is something I am very passionate about. 'We are the age of their great-grandparents – we experienced it, understand it and know that it should never happen again.' Defence Secretary John Healey also attended events commemorating D-Day, alongside politicians from the United States and France. Defence Secretary John Healey (centre) lays a wreath during a ceremony at the British Normandy Memorial to mark the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings (Gareth Fuller/PA) He said: 'We forever owe an enormous debt to the British and Allied forces who landed in Normandy 81 years ago today, determined to defeat Nazi tyranny and restore peace to western Europe. 'As we reset the nation's contract with our armed forces, we will continue to remember all those who served to defend our values.' Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed in France on D-Day. Of those, 73,000 were from the United States and 83,000 from Britain and Canada. Forces from several other countries were also involved, including French troops fighting with General Charles de Gaulle. The Allies faced around 50,000 German forces.
