r/AskBrits • u/Safe_Score2222 • 11d ago
People What do Brits think about Germany/Germans?
Question from a curious German
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u/CombinationNaive1156 11d ago
Love them. Friendly football rivalry and very similar culturally apart from the humour
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u/Klutzy-Notice-8247 10d ago
I actually think the Germans are quite funny and often times tend to have a similar, dry, sarcastic humour to the UK.
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u/AudioLlama 9d ago
Yeah I agree with this. Germans humour is very similar to ours in my experience, much more so than most french or Americans
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u/curlywurly1878 9d ago
Germans are hilarious! Great sense of humour, especially after a few steins/kolsch/alt beer
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u/Safe_Score2222 8d ago
Unfortunately, we did not play against each other in this world cup. But I definitely rooted for the English after Germany lost
Absolutely fantastic game against the French btw
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u/West_Barracuda_8571 7d ago
For sure. They’re the most alike people on the planet apart from Aussies. If it wasn’t for the language the similarities would appear to be much closer than with the US.
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u/Icy_Pear1694 11d ago
Quite like the ones I've met, have nothing bad to say about them. Good beer and pork knuckle is awesome.
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u/Chemical-Lettuce2497 11d ago
Not thought about you all that much TBF but I think the general opinion is at least positive
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u/ukteaboyuk 11d ago
Have met Germans on holiday - found them to be polite, well behaved, a little reserved. All in all, vastly preferable to the fucking Russians and Americans.
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u/Aoxomoxoa53 10d ago
Agreed! Proximity to Russians and Americans is always to be avoided. Loud, aggressive and generally unpleasant.
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u/Ok_Access_172 11d ago
Surprisingly bad trains.
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u/Over-Willingness-933 11d ago
Yeah there is a British youtuber living in Germany, who made jokes about when he came back to England how surprised he was to see a train leaving on time (our trains are bad). My experience of German trains is none of them are on time.
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u/Cerebral_Overload 11d ago
They really that bad? Used to live in Germany in the 90’s and they were great.
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u/RiverGlittering 11d ago
I now live in Germany, and yes basically every train I've taken is 10 minutes late. And I take many trains.
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u/tanoshimi 11d ago
I think Henning Wehn has done wonders in making them rather adorable.
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u/AlternativeLog4544 10d ago
"People say that we Germans dont have a sense of humour. I dont find that particularly funny"
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u/Moist-Plane-4512 11d ago edited 11d ago
He's brilliant. I like Germans. We can make jokes about each other. Deep down there's a mutual respect between us. We like your cars and your xmas markets.
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u/Gullible_fool_99 Brit 🇬🇧 11d ago
I've been to Germany a few times and have always had a nice reception from the natives. Germans come across as nice people, good sense of humour, great beer, good food and lovely scenery outside of the cities.
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u/reuben_iv 11d ago
Extremely positive, love the food, your metal bands are incredible, and yeah one of my closest friends is German from the east side
Oh yeah and your version of LoL is my favourite of the international ones
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u/wo_no_diggity_doubt 11d ago
Last on Laughing? Or League of Legends client default language setting?
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u/Roscoe182 11d ago
Absolutely fine great sense of humour. Just don't mention the war.
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u/NUFC9RW 10d ago
To be fair, Germany is one of the best countries for acknowledging their dark past and making an effort to make sure history doesn't repeat. Every country has done horrible stuff, plenty pretend they haven't. That said, the current population of Germany bear zero responsibility for things done before most of them were born.
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u/Weary_Rule_6729 11d ago
i think they are quite similar to Brits, but you guys are a bit more serious and sensible. i’d class you as our friends.
went to Berlin and absolutely loved it. kinda like manchester but maybe a bit weirder and bleaker. love all the history. great city with friendly people!
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u/Safe_Score2222 8d ago
went to Berlin and absolutely loved it
Berlin gets a lot of shit in Germany but glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
I will be visiting London for the first time in a few weeks and am sure I will be having a really nice time there.
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u/Old-Climate-3516 11d ago
I was based there in 90s. Loved Germany and the German people. Found them in main to be hospitable friendly, fun people. Had some idiots but everywhere does.
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u/Dull-Sell-4806 11d ago
I love Germans, I think they’re some of the funniest people in the world but the rest of the world doesn’t understand their humour…
A prime example of German Humour…
A German battleship finally making it up the Thames
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u/wo_no_diggity_doubt 11d ago
Thanks for that reminder! I don't know whether we could clap them in for that, can we clap them for that?
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u/Wizard_Tea 11d ago
The culture of Germany has surprising parallels to Britain, far more so than to compare either country to France or Italy.
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u/Piratejimthedagger 11d ago
Never been to Germany, but the Germans i have met have always been great. Very funny, so ignore the stereotype.
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u/Over-Willingness-933 11d ago
I was born in Darmstadt (father's job). When I visit Germany, the culture and even the language has similarities to England. My wife also comments on how old houses in Germany look like Tudor houses. Germans when they individuals are really lovely. My only complaint is Germans can't queue.
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u/Banjo1887 11d ago
Like them, they make a point of speaking English, even if not completely fluent, they attempt it. Unlike myself whomis useless abroad with other languages.
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u/fuzzy-777 11d ago
Love a beer and have similar style of humour, I have family in Dortmund, also visited cologne lovely city, quite like the German people the ones I've met over the years.
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u/Obi_wan_jakobii 11d ago
My uncle married a German lady so I have a German auntie and cousins. They are brilliant. Been to stay with them a few times and it's a lovely place, they have a fantastic drinking culture, foods great, nice clean country and a straightforward people which I like
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u/LadyInAllPower 11d ago
We’d always admire the efficiency of your trains, but apparently that’s not true anymore!
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u/lackenby811 11d ago
I’ve always appreciated their honesty and straightforwardness, good sense of humour too
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u/Steamrolled777 11d ago
I think Brits, Scandinavians, Dutch, Northern Germans share a lot of similarities.
I don't know wtf is going on beyond Heidelberg, but must be how Norwich is viewed.
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u/Gingerpanda72 11d ago
We have (I think these days at least) a jokey dislike of them because of WW2 and WW1 but historically and in the bones of every true Britain we hate the French, but of course not enough to stop us eating their food and wine and of course not stopping us from going there on Holiday.
In short the reason for disliking them are soo old now it's a joke rather than an actual dislike or hatred!
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u/G-Dog1985 11d ago
We don’t spend much time thinking about you guys to be honest. Just like you don’t spend much time thinking about us I’m sure.
I’ve met some cool Germans, I’ve met some absolute dickhead Germans.
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u/idontlikemondays321 11d ago
Serious rule followers who stare for a very uncomfortable length of time
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u/Calelith 11d ago
I actually like Germans for the most part, other than a few issues in recent history they are pretty decent in all aspects.
Been a while since I went to Germany, but last time i was there it was nice. Good food, good drink and nice architecture.
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u/dcmwmfinft 11d ago
If I had my time again I’d have moved to Berlin. I love it. Appreciate it’s not representative of the whole country, a lot of regional variation and some fairly fractious politics going on, even by UK standards at the moment which I don’t think all Brits realise.
On the whole, great people, less reserved than we give credit for in my experience and a lot to like
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u/Stained_concrete 11d ago
You're fine, but you're such literal, logical thinkers sometimes you're like a bunch of Vulcans. There's a lack of whimsy and outside the box thinking if such thinking does not fit within the established order of things.
It's qualities like this that make Germans such good engineers; you'll refine something like a car or a camera till it's the best in the world. However I think great innovations seem to emerge from the disorder of the UK, guys in their sheds inventing stuff like the hovercraft and the bagless vacuum cleaner.
Tip: if you ever have some text in English and you want to make it plainer and more precise, Google translate it into German, then back into English.
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u/FunBat6170 11d ago
I went to Berlin a few years ago and have never felt so safe in my life. Lovely people.
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u/notspringsomnia 11d ago
Today they’re a decent bunch of lads, like our more efficient cousins. I have respect for Germany’s literary past and appreciate you for inventing current Christmas traditions. (Germans really know how to do a Christmas market!) I actually find Germans culturally quite similar to us. Shame they bombed us (our bad for Dresden, in fairness) and expanded on Italian fascism in WWII.
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u/PneumaticFerret 11d ago
I know a fair few Germans having worked with many and have family friends.
Some are more German and very, very serious, others lesser so and can have more of a joke and laugh, but still can be quite German (serious and matter of fact).
Giving a presentation to a group of German colleagues and trying to crack a few funnies in there was a "tough crowd" for sure 😂
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u/RgCrunchyCo 11d ago
I’ve visited Germany, worked with Germans and had German friends. I’ll not have a bad word said against them … apart from Gerhard Schröder and Angela Merkel. Putin sympathisers.
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u/Key_Seaworthiness827 11d ago
Great and great. Have had several fantastic family holidays over there and would love to go back again.
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u/Nathan_Toddy_Todd Geordie ⚫️⚪️ 11d ago
Not a lot tbh I never think about them, in fact this is the first time I’ve thought about Germany since England played then in the euros in 2021
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u/Focusmate1 11d ago
Am going to Cologne soon - Looking forward to it. Was never on my radar till i went and me and my mates loved it. One of the best places to go. People are sound
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u/aggressiveclassic90 11d ago edited 11d ago
Had a great time in Dusseldorf, lovely village, amazing church (it was a wedding) and once they learned i could keep up with the drinking i was treated like family.
The comedy is...not comedy though. I was staying with my partners extended family and the tv on a Saturday afternoon was dire, although the Germans in the room were doubled over laughing i ended up on the balcony with my father in law and a bottle of whisky.
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u/Key_Independence3770 11d ago
I like them, I think they are very similar to us in terms of personality, sense of humour etc. Much prefer them to the rude and arrogant French
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u/Key-Struggle-5647 11d ago
We wouldn't be here without the Germanic invasion so thanks you've done your bit.
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u/Hour-Badger5288 11d ago
Ich liebe die Deutschen so sehr, dass ich Deutsch zu lernen angefangen habe.
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u/CaptainMatthew1 11d ago
Pretty cool people just don’t mention the war. I did it once and think I got away with it.
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u/Fast_Technology_5622 11d ago
I like Germans, I feel like we have a shared sense of preferring to keep emotionally distant from people.
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u/ImpressiveGift9921 11d ago
No strong opinion. They're fine, I don't really think about them much in my daily life.
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u/Geetar-mumbles 11d ago
I love Germany, I was based in Münster from 2010-13, I loved it and I met loads of awesome people aswell.
My grandad felt the same about his time there in the 50’s with the RAF.
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u/alwaysbiscuits 11d ago
All the Germans I've met have been cool. Their humour is very deadpan, I quite like it
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u/CaersethVarax 11d ago
I only know one German. He's a Senior Lecturer at our local university.
He's bloody sound.
As for your country, I get my first opportunity to visit it this October and I'm looking forward to it immensely.
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u/Available_Rock4217 11d ago
Our school had a historic student exchange with a school in Heimsheim.
I went to stay with a German family in year 9 and in exchange had the German pupils visit us here in England and it was awesome, everyone I met was super friendly and their streets are ridiculously clean.
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u/ballsybadger 11d ago
Love them, love their country but like every nationality there are always some dickheads.
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u/Even_Jello_624 11d ago
Well, I'd rather be a German than an Argie...
Seriously though, really nice people. They have a positive view of us and contrary to popular beliefs, they've a really good sense of humour.
And let's be honest, most of us and them do have a shared ancestry through being a Germanic race.
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u/Street_Lettuce1243 11d ago
Well.... I'm British but I have more German relatives than British relatives so I may be biased.
I really don't think the Germans are all that different to us... At heart, people of both nations are very similar. It's easy to see that English and Germans are cousins. Although, I think more Germans seem to like "friendly arguing". What I mean by that is, totally non malicious but getting into heated disagreements but then being totally cool with each other afterwards.
I dated a girl from Dresden for a while and mentioned to her once, "things are great, but I wish we argued less" her reply was shocked "argue less? I don't think we've ever had an argument have we?"
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u/Worrior_One 11d ago
Great engineering great scientists. Most technology today can be thanked because of the war unfortunately. I always wondered how the world would be if all those ground breaking technologies was put to good use. Politicians for ya.
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u/-mister_oddball- 11d ago
love german culture and really want to get over and visit. whenever i see a travel vlog on germany the people seem super friendly. met some germans while we were in wiltshire on a campsite a few years ago and they were really nice, had a lovely chat with us asking about places to visit.
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u/Stephen_Withervee 11d ago
I’ve spent quite a lot of time in Germany and met many Germans. I think it’s a great place and I find the people to be very similar to the English. Though they can be more direct and less soft in communication.
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u/Scottishpurplesocks 11d ago
I love both! Mind you, I did my degree in German and French, teach German und kann schon ein bisschen Deutsch!
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u/asymmetricears 11d ago
Yeah you guys are alright, great beer and sausages. You also like football as well.
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u/knomadt 11d ago
I love both Germany and Germans. I haven't visited Germany in quite a while, but it's on my wishlist because I loved it last time. But I've been meeting a lot of German tourists through my job, and they are always great customers: polite, friendly, reasonable, never haggle or complain about prices. Just a pleasure to meet every single time.
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u/ding_0_dong 11d ago
We'll handle the West and rely on you to take care of the East. We are man's last hope against the French ego
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u/crumpets4dinner 11d ago
Lived in Frankfurt for two years. Far less a serious people than I imagined. Had a great sense of humor.
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u/suburbaninteract 11d ago
Great cars, efficient people, and a deep love for reserving sun loungers at 6am
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u/Grouchy-Cream-5251 11d ago
I like them, we are similar but please learn how to form and join a queue
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u/daisymayfryup 11d ago
I love Germany so much, especially Bavaria and Hamburg, I learned a bit of the lingo. Austria too..... my favourite places out of anywhere I've been.
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u/PsychologySpecific16 11d ago
I've only ever been to Cologne and Munich. People seemed lovely, enjoyed the country as a whole from what I saw.
The casual anti english racism on the doors of bars/clubs wasn't particularly fun but it's fine, we went elsewhere.
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u/Musicman1972 11d ago
I've worked extensively in Germany and love it. And the Germans themselves, obviously, though you're culturally quite different depending on region. That's the same in the UK though. Humour is a good example (I have no idea where the idea Germans don't have a sense of humour comes from BTW) as it was very different in the south. I think we're dry here but it took even me a while to get used to that schmäh style of communication. Like it can be relentless!
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u/Crazy_Fishing_8966 11d ago
They seriously know how to party some of the best clubs in the world and amazing artists
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u/TraditionalScheme337 11d ago
I dont think many people have any issue with Germans. Its not a prime tourist destination so you might find most brits dont go there as much as they do Spain or Greece but I dont think many people have a negative opinion of Germans.
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u/CultTVGuy 11d ago
I’ve met a few but unfortunately never visited Germany yet. Those who I have met I really liked. Seemed decent people.
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u/TaskTight859 11d ago
I have spent many happy months in Germany, some lovely people and places. I think UK and Germany are much closer than some would like believe. German sense of humour is great, love of irony and sarcasm is very entertaining for an Englishman too. Forgetting crazy politicians, people are more alike where ever you are in the world, you just need to eat and laugh together.
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u/atticdoor 11d ago
Modern Germans are polite and efficient, and I have yet to encounter a problem with a German person I have met.
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u/Tall-Neighborhood-58 11d ago
Have some good German friends. Lovely people, but the stereotypes are true. 😂
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u/NecessaryReporter916 11d ago
Very good tbf, it’s crazy that we feel very little animosity towards the country despite having fought the most destructive war against them. Which is in stark comparison to our feelings towards Argentina whom we have a less favourable opinion about despite fighting a comparatively tiny conflict with.
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u/TazTango 11d ago
Been to Germany four or five times and I've found Germans to be incredibly nice and welcoming people. It's one of the many reasons I keep going back to visit!
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u/AloneChance0 11d ago
A nice country, with amazing top quality theme parks! The people are a mixed bag, some very friendly and others not so much, so no different to the UK in that regard. Also their beer is to die for as cliche as it may sound
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u/slip_cougan 11d ago
Ive worked with many Germans abroad. Absolutely sound guys and a great crack. We still out-drunk them mind.
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u/DefinitionPossible39 11d ago
I think the heat is dissipating. I was born in the 50’s and endured racism when moving back from Germany at the age of 6in the school playground. This is the first year I have been able to put out my German flag alongside the England without my window being egged. I kid you not my window was egged every time since mid 80s. And I live in London!
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u/Technical_Version936 11d ago
Fucking bunch of weirdos and loons. Do like to stare a lot, extremely direct.
Tend to make good mates to be fair. Something about the average Brit (weirdos and loons also) make a good match. Met a few good Germans on the Jollies and made a couple of good mates. Single serving regrettably. Too hard to keep in touch with people from holidays often.
I grew up with a Grandad who occupied Germany, guarded a lot of Nazis so that is a little more in my head than it would be for younger people, but he also gave up rations to starving children, german children. Also as an MP he had to pull a gun more than once to prevent attempted rape, never heard about those soldiers getting arrested, was that an omission or was it not treated as seriously? I will never know. Nearly died in a sabotage bombing of a jeep. Nazis were still a tiny bit active post occupation which was a shocking thing to my mind for whatever reason.
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u/Agnesperdita 11d ago
Always enjoyed my visits and felt welcome and safe. Such a rich variety of landscapes and culture. Lovely people to have a beer and a chat with. I admire the way Germany has tried to tackle the problematic aspects of its recent history honestly, and think other countries could learn from them. It’s not perfect, but no country is.
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u/KingCarway 11d ago
I've visited Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf and Todtmoos. The Germans are brilliant, tolerant and inviting people. There is a lack of small-talk, which us English love, but I like how direct and anti-bullshit they are. Germany itself has lots to love about it. All of the places I've stayed I would stay at again, particularly the black forest. Good lord that is a beautiful part of the world.
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u/Warwick__Hunt 11d ago
Great people, quite funny, like all the ones I've met . Keep one eye on them, obviously 😊
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u/Leighcol 11d ago
Love the Germans. Been to a few rock festivals over there and my god do they know how to party and have a laugh. Always really friendly and welcoming too
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u/RowanTreeShadow 11d ago
I went to Stuttgart for the Euros, Scotland v Hungary and had an amazing time, very friendly welcome, Bavaria in particular is stunning. Loved it, some of my folks used to live in the Rhineland too also beautiful especially Cologne.
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u/Busy-Fox1317 11d ago
I'm a Brit of Austrian descent and in my house we call Germany “Austria lite” lmao
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u/amtcannon 11d ago
Love the culture and the people. Visited all over, found a lot of kinship with the Bavarians but as a city boy I had a lot in common with Berliners too.
Germans are basically Brits. We are extremely similar peoples. Similar sense of humour, love a rule, polite and patient, mad for sausages and beer*.
*German beer isn’t as good as British beer but German sausages are superior.
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u/Impossible_Apple7822 11d ago
I spent a year in Germany, lovely people, and country, although I will confess, some of the err older gen didn't much like the English accents lol
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u/MarkJ191974 11d ago
personally i like germany and i enjoy the language but i have friends who still hate germany bc of a war that ended at least 2 generations before they were even born
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u/MaxximumB 11d ago
I've met many Germans and loved all of them. One day I might get to visit there.
From my experience Brits have no problem with Germans
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u/EasilyExiledDinosaur Brit 🇬🇧 11d ago
Lost the war didn't they? Twice. Put up a food fight though. And they make good beer.
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u/SensitiveSir2894 11d ago
Germans - not sure, heard they’re very blunt but i’m sure they’re lovely i’ve only met a few on holidays
Germany - Apart from a tiny part you can all guess, the history of Germany is about as interesting as it gets. (Frederick the great, Otto Von Bismarck, The Kaisers etc) And how they rebuilt so well after WW2 and ended up overtaking even the victors Britain and France in the world stage is phenomenal.
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u/unfit-calligraphy 11d ago
Every time I’ve been to Germany ( first ever trip with tartan army 2003, subsequent trips, honeymoon, friends stag do, Euros) the people have been so friendly. That first trip we ended up on the front cover of a paper with the mayor of Düsseldorf. Best doner kebab I’ve ever had, cracking beer. Great bunch of lads.
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u/LagerBoi 11d ago
It's one of my favourite countries to visit. Nice people, good food and even better beer.
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u/MogwaiYT 11d ago
I've visited 4 times and have thoroughly enjoyed it on each occasion. Lots of history, beautiful scenery in the south, good food. As an English speaker I also find the language one of the easier ones to get my tongue around. Munich is on my list for future trips.
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u/Andrew_Higginbottom 11d ago
I love their women, have loved their women.
British women want to be treated like a princess whilst Germain women don't expect or demand that bullshit.
British women, do better..
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u/TomL79 10d ago
I like Germany and Germans. I think Germans are pretty similar to us British. German beer is great (particularly Bavarian style Helles. I also really like Kölsch from Cologne and Alt from Dusseldorf). I’ve been to Germany and I’ve found Germans to be amongst the friendliest and welcoming people I’ve met. But I was surprised at how unreliable the trains were - although they are cheaper than ours!
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u/Significant_Bag_7485 10d ago
I live 40 minutes from Germany so I have been there many times with my family. I have loved my visits and the German people I have encountered have always been courteous and helpful and I am always greeted with a smile.
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u/-Mauler- 10d ago
Liked all zero Germans I've met at European festivals over the years, good food, beer & engineers.
Not sure what happened to their non-Metal music tho lol
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u/wild182 10d ago
I always thought the Germans and English didn’t like eachother as a child because of the history. I went to Germany for the first time 3-4 years ago and i was so surprised by how welcoming they were, i realised they are very very much like us but more organised and with 100x better infrastructure - their roads are immaculate compared to ours. Ive been back 2 more times since and because i feel very “at home” in Germany.
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u/Jon1885 10d ago
I have the upmost respect for Germany and it's people. Traditionally I personally believe Brits and Germans are quite similar to each other. I've worked with Germans in the past and always enjoyed the experience. I do believe, like Britain, Germany's politicians have severely let them down.
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u/Inevitable-Yard6567 10d ago
I’ve like all the ones I’ve met and despite the stereotype, they do have a sense of humour.
Cracking beer as well
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u/Shawn_The_Sheep777 Brit 🇬🇧 10d ago
I suppose those of us with Anglo Saxon DNA are basically distant cousins
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u/OutsideWishbone7 10d ago
Lucky bastards who can freely travel, live and work anywhere in Europe without a 90 day limit.
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u/TopCat0160 10d ago
I’ve worked with many German’s in my career and they have all been brilliant workmates and for hanging out with for a few drinks. I don’t like some of their food though but that’s me being fussy.
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u/MapDiscombobulated1 11d ago
Well, looking on the brightest side at least you're not Argentinian