# Soup Nazi in Germany **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178 "2016-01-04T20:30:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpusThePenguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7bcc69/32.png) [@OpusThePenguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpusThePenguin)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/1 "2016-01-04T20:30:29Z")
A few years ago, I saw Seinfeld in Germany and that got me wondering. What does Soup Nazi translate to over there? I’m guess it translates to something else given German sensitivity over the Nazism. ---
**Author:** ![Found\_In\_Translation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ebca7d/32.png) [@Found\_In\_Translation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Found_In_Translation)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/2 "2016-01-04T20:54:00Z")
[Suppennazi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhNc3oaEUUE) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/3 "2016-01-04T21:01:26Z")
I don’t know if attitudes have changed, but Hogan’s Heroes was translated into German and broadcast over German TV in the 90s. The scripts were rewritten to broaden the humor so that viewers were made aware that they were watching a satire and it became a popular show in Germany. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/4 "2016-01-04T21:40:37Z")
I wonder - does Germany have \*any \*mainstream Nazi humor? ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/5 "2016-01-04T21:44:33Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I wonder - does Germany have \*any \*mainstream Nazi humor? I did read about this recently: > **[Hitler comedy Look Who's Back becomes Germany's No 1 movie](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/27/hitler-comedy-look-whos-back-germany-movie-box-office)** > > The Borat-style film about the return of the Nazi leader to contemporary society knocked Pixar’s Inside Out off the top spot to become a big hit in its homeland ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/6 "2016-01-04T22:34:14Z")
I don’t see why Germans should avoid anything referring to Nazis, any more than Americans should avoid anything referring to slavery. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/7 "2016-01-04T23:00:19Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I don’t know if attitudes have changed, but Hogan’s Heroes was translated into German and broadcast over German TV in the 90s. The scripts were rewritten to broaden the humor so that viewers were made aware that they were watching a satire and it became a popular show in Germany. How much more could the humor be broadened?!😕🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/8 "2016-01-04T23:07:53Z")
I read the title wrong. I thought this was about soup in Nazi Germany. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/9 "2016-01-04T23:09:14Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I don’t see why Germans should avoid anything referring to Nazis, any more than Americans should avoid anything referring to slavery. Slavery-based sit-coms continue to fail to be a big seller here. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/10 "2016-01-04T23:47:48Z")
[An article](http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/24/8809723/jerry-seinfeld-tv-show-international-translation) that discusses various issues that came up with attempting to translate Seinfeld into German - English language wordplay, Jewish-oriented jokes, WW2 references, etc. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/11 "2016-01-05T00:27:31Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > How much more could the humor be broadened?!😕🙂 The German language version was just 25 minutes of guys in Nazi uniforms doing comic pratfalls after getting hit in the balls with assorted objects. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/12 "2016-01-05T01:12:26Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > [An article](http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/24/8809723/jerry-seinfeld-tv-show-international-translation) that discusses various issues that came up with attempting to translate Seinfeld into German - English language wordplay, Jewish-oriented jokes, WW2 references, etc. [This podcast](http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2015/07/lexicon_valley_seinfeld_doesn_t_translate_well_into_other_cultures_and_languages.html) on language discusses the issue, and includes an interview of that article’s author. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/13 "2016-01-05T07:16:32Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I don’t see why Germans should avoid anything referring to Nazis, any more than Americans should avoid anything referring to slavery. After WWII ended the Allies-led civilian German government made laws that specifically made symbols of Nazism: Swastikas, saying ‘Heil Hitler’ or giving the raised hand Nazi salute, a criminal act. AFAIK these laws are still in place. Apparently just saying the word ‘Nazi’ (as in the German-dubbed Seinfeld) is not prohibited. Hogan’s Heroes was kind of a special case. Although it contained those actually things it was dubbed to make some of them nonsensical (when they gave the Nazi salute the line was dubbed as, "The wheat grows _this high!_). Plus the German media was desperate for comedy programs (the Germans don’t do comedy well) and therefore it was felt that it would be ok to make an exception for it. Monty Python was invited to make some specials for German TV in the 70s because they were so desperate for good comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/14 "2016-01-05T10:22:42Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > After WWII ended the Allies-led civilian German government made laws that specifically made symbols of Nazism: Swastikas, saying ‘Heil Hitler’ or giving the raised hand Nazi salute, a criminal act. AFAIK these laws are still in place. Apparently just saying the word ‘Nazi’ (as in the German-dubbed Seinfeld) is not prohibited. > > Hogan’s Heroes was kind of a special case. Although it contained those actually things it was dubbed to make some of them nonsensical (when they gave the Nazi salute the line was dubbed as, "The wheat grows _this high!_). Plus the German media was desperate for comedy programs (the Germans don’t do comedy well) and therefore it was felt that it would be ok to make an exception for it. Monty Python was invited to make some specials for German TV in the 70s because they were so desperate for good comedy. People tend to overstate the effect of the anti-Nazi-symbol laws. They’re mainly to give the authorities something to charge far-rightists with if they don’t have anything more substantial. TV shows and movies and so on can apply for exemptions, as can museums etc. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/15 "2016-01-05T10:29:42Z")
For example, [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a#/media/File:Me163.jpg) is a German warplane in a German museum with correct markings including swastikas. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/16 "2016-01-05T12:05:17Z")
The (American) English expression “nazi” (i. e. an individual who is obsessed with something, pedantic, strict, uncompromising) cannot be translated into German. Many, if not most German speakers do not immediately understand the literal translation _Suppennazi_. The ones that do get it prefer the original version of the show anyway. Seinfeld more ore less completely flopped in Germany. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/17 "2016-01-05T14:17:30Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > (the Germans don’t do comedy well) They killed all the Germans who _did_. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/18 "2016-01-05T14:54:23Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > The (American) English expression “nazi” (i. e. an individual who is obsessed with something, pedantic, strict, uncompromising) cannot be translated into German. Many, if not most German speakers do not immediately understand the literal translation _Suppennazi_. The ones that do get it prefer the original version of the show anyway. Seinfeld more ore less completely flopped in Germany. Huh? Something can’t be translated into _German_? They can’t string together “suppenpedantiknitwit”, or whatever the equivalent concept would be? ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/19 "2016-01-05T15:04:22Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > They killed all the Germans who _did_. Yes, there is certainly some truth to that. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178/20 "2016-01-05T15:05:25Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Huh? Something can’t be translated into _German_? They can’t string together “suppenpedantiknitwit”, or whatever the equivalent concept would be? You can, somehow, paraphrase the meaning, but I am at loss to find a short, catchy German equivalent (but maybe that’s just me). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-nazi-in-germany/742178.md?page=2)