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Embarrassing Chapters in German History

Guess these people, places, and things in German history that they would probably rather forget.
Also see this quiz by Gassu
Easily offended? Here are some more chapters to get mad about.
Quiz by
Quizmaster
Featured Quiz
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Last updated: April 16, 2020
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First submittedApril 16, 2020
Times taken12,117
Average score65.0%
Rating3.38
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Clue
Answer
This failed artist is appointed chancellor of the German Reich
Adolf Hitler
This zeppelin catches fire in New Jersey
Hindenburg
In a classic blunder, Germany invades this country in 1941
Soviet Union
Israelis are kidnapped and killed during the 1972 Olympics in this city
Munich
21 people die (and 500 are injured) in a stampede at this electronic music festival
The Love Parade
There is no rapid response to this invasion because no one wanted to wake up the Führer
D-Day
Germany provokes this neutral country into joining WWI against them by offering
a military alliance with Mexico
United States
This WWII encryption machine is cracked by British and Polish codebreakers
Enigma Machine
This Frenchman forces German principalities to join together in a puppet state called
"The Confederation of the Rhine"
Napoleon Bonaparte
East German doctors give Olympic athletes these drugs without their consent,
sometimes causing lasting bodily harm
Anabolic Steroids
Nazis promise that their Reich will last this many years (narrator: it didn't)
1,000
Over 1,200 German women are sexually assaulted by migrants on this holiday in 2015,
which is intially not reported by German media
New Year's Eve
Many Germans are convicted of war crimes in this city which had previously
been used to hold Nazi rallies
Nuremberg
During the Nazi era, fraudulent anti-Semitic text is taught in German schools
The Protocols of the
Elders of Zion
This company's diesel cars can't pass emissions tests - so they cheat
Volkswagen
This aspirin company hires Nazi war-criminals, sells HIV-infected blood, and markets
heroin as cough medicine
Bayer
During WWII, German wastes vast amounts of money on these ballistic missiles
V-2
This country steals Germany's colonies in Oceania during WWI
Japan
This German duo, famous for "Girl You Know its True" are busted for lip-synching in 1989
Milli Vanilli
Desperate to enter the U.S. market, Deutsche Bank loans money to this American
after no other bank will
Donald Trump
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76 Comments
Quizmaster
+50
Level ∞
Apr 16, 2020
Those of you who pay close attention to JetPunk will notice we don't talk about Nazis too much when we talk about Germany. Modern Germany has little to do with those events, and is today one of the most forward-thinking and least xenophobic nations on Earth. But for this quiz we made an exception...
Sifhraven
+4
Level 76
Apr 16, 2020
"Joining (them) against them" fried my brain, I thought huh they are joining germany to fight against whom? against themselves? or together with Germany against Germany? Is there a country that was tricked into fighting itself?. I couldn't figure that sentence out under pressure (in a foreign language). Which resulted in a shortage of time to read the rest of the quiz properly.
JohnnyYeet
+1
Level 62
Apr 16, 2020
Electronic is misspelled eletronic
mf3
+2
Level 90
Apr 16, 2020
Assaulted is misspelled assualted
mf3
+5
Level 90
Apr 16, 2020
Führer is misspelled führer (all German nouns are capitalized)
Quizmaster
+4
Level ∞
Apr 16, 2020
All misspellings now fixed.
JonOfKent
+9
Level 60
May 30, 2020
Misspelling is misspelt as... oh, no, sorry
JackintheBox
+1
Level 81
Jun 9, 2020
@JonOfKent What? Nothing misspelt.
mf3
+9
Level 90
Apr 16, 2020
I believe you need to also accept Daimler-Benz or Mercedes-Benz for the diesel emissions test cheating. (This was discovered a year after VW was caught.)
TheLastFish
+3
Level 70
Apr 16, 2020
With respect to the subtitle of this quiz, I as a German have the impression that "they" only would like to forget anything what happend between 1918 and 1945 (or maybe 1989 if you are form East Germany), including the hyperinflation. Anything else does apparently not matter, neither the good nor the bad things. The ony exception is maybe the Herero conflict.
Akula
+5
Level 79
Apr 16, 2020
Re Oceania colonies - Western Samoa was held by the Germans up to the start of WW1 when a New Zealand force booted them out and administered the islands until independence in the 1960s.
vomitingdiamonds
+11
Level 86
Apr 18, 2020
Yes, and Australia invaded German New Guinea (later PNG) and Nauru too in WWI. The answers to the question should be Japan, Australia and NZ.
camus
+2
Level 79
Apr 16, 2020
Here's a quiz on a somewhat lighter note. More obscure to foreigners, but I tried to make the clues as revealing as possible.
melack
+6
Level 77
Apr 16, 2020
Kinda tired of all this "German" quizzes. All of their subjects talk about the Nazi era, Beer, Autobahn and a long list of stereotypes. Their history is vast enough to pick other infamous examples and events from the likes of King Ludwig II, the Kriminalmuseum from Rothenburg, the 30 Years War, etc.
Quizmaster
+16
Level ∞
Apr 17, 2020
Obviously you didn't read the stickied comment. We go out of our way to NOT put Nazi stuff on our German quizzes. This quiz is an exception.
Karotto
+3
Level 67
Jun 8, 2020
And to be fair: As JetPunk is a non-german website, most of its users are as well. You'd have to have vast knowledge of german history to be able to answer questions of a broader spectrum. I as a german don't have a problem with the questions asked.

My only problem is with the wording of the text above. Many of the events directly or indirectly referred to (like war crimes, genocide, ...) should definitely not be forgotten - for very obvious reasons.

BlackJohn
+4
Level 77
Jun 8, 2020
There is a reason for that. You, as Americans, have no idea of German atrocities. Like always, you fought a war away from your land and your biggest destruction was Pearl Harbour. But there are other countries that suffered under the Nazi yoke with people still alive who witnessed those events. My grandfather had three of his brothers tortured and executed. To this day he refuses to speak to any German or hear about them.

And they were GERMAN. Yes, modern Germany is a different state with different people but the Nazis were German. And everyone must know what happened, especially given how many of them escaped, were pardoned by Americans to use against the Soviets and how many neonazis exist in the world today.

We must NEVER forget. Their descendants in Germany least of all.

rustwat
+6
Level 63
Jun 8, 2020
But the guilt modern-day Germans seem to carry, is a bit too much for me, they are not responsible for the actions that were done back then. Yes, it is important for them, and for everybody, to know about these atrocities, but history is done and Germans should not have to look back as much on that black page of their history as they seem to be forced to now. Every country did horrible things in its history, if you look at WW2, all participants were guilty of war crimes, but only the Germans were severely punished for them.
jmellor13
+7
Level 68
Jun 9, 2020
Yes, rustwat, but the Germans have done a remarkable 180, and are now the vanguard of democratic values. Given the choice between the Germans' acceptance of their past vs. the practiced ignorance or revisionism in which most countries engage, the German way is definitely the better way. Many Americans, by contrast, seem to think any acknowledgment of our past misdeeds amounts to treason. It's just foolishness. Not coincidentally, many of those same Americans are now plunging, headlong and happily, into fascist tendencies.
nerdalert
+4
Level 88
Jun 9, 2020
Are the fascists the ones who are disarming the population or the ones locking people down in their homes for a disease which is almost always non-fatal if you're under the age of 65? Or are the fascists the ones who are trying to ban any speech not approved by right-thinking people? I'm confused.
oranje
+2
Level 66
Jun 9, 2020
@rustwat it's in your statement itself. All countries committed war crimes during WW2. Nazi Germany committed genocide. These 2 are not the same thing.
johnnyrdnck
+2
Level 48
Jan 21, 2021
@rustwat yes, all nations should feel more guilt for their atrocities during their history. ESPECIALLY the USA
CosmicCalamity
+1
Level 74
Oct 24, 2024
Please don't paint all Americans with such a broad brush.
CosmicCalamity
+1
Level 74
Oct 24, 2024
Then don't take the "German quizzes."
DonTheLamplighter
+5
Level 86
Apr 16, 2020
Was thinking "Springtime for Hitler" would be on here, but then remembered it turned out to be a resounding success!

Oh, and de Führer never said, "Baby!"

camus
+2
Level 79
Apr 17, 2020
Looking at the thumbnail, I wondered what Batman has to do with Germany for a minute.
ing
+1
Level 73
Apr 17, 2020
Look in Wikipedia for "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman".
bilkent
+4
Level 78
Apr 17, 2020
Possibly exchange one nazi-question with something on this?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herero_and_Namaqua_genocide

QRU
+3
Level 75
Apr 17, 2020
Maybe a few more possible questions for later diversification, if needed:

In 1968, Chancellor Kiesinger gets punched in the face for having been that - (Member of the Nazi Party)

In 1989, this building falls when the top government spokesman misreads a law - (Berlin wall)

Several members of this group commit suicide in the same night, even though they're kept in a supermax prison - (RAF)

Every year, this festival leads to a spike in thefts, violent fights and sexual assaults - (Oktoberfest)

To this day, gay and bi men are verboten to do this - (Donate blood)

Yanni47
+3
Level 79
Jun 8, 2020
Or how about: During this hostage crisis in 1988, German police fail to stop the public and journalists from nicely chatting with the bank robbers and hostages, and through their actions ultimately cause the death of two hostages - (Gladbeck).
johnnyrdnck
+1
Level 48
Jan 21, 2021
was "verboten" on purpose or were you speaking denglish
xyzzy
+3
Level 72
Apr 18, 2020
Girl, you know it's

Girl, you know it's

Girl, you know it's

siranderu
+5
Level 18
Apr 20, 2020
Isn't the migrant question... made up. I recall it being trumpeted by right wing "news" outlets and it came to light that the footage of it wasn't even from Germany
bn91
+7
Level 70
Jun 8, 2020
oh yes, those migrants were very friendly with women, they just hugged them. :D :D

We see how Arabs treat women in their country, why would they behave other in Europe?

Yanni47
+4
Level 79
Jun 8, 2020
Because they can.
stusum
+3
Level 65
Jun 8, 2020
I think there were multiple incidents of migrants raping/sexually assaulting women. A certain incident was considered to be straight out lies by right wing media. Unfortunately this lie distracted from the very real assaults that had been covered up.
camus
+7
Level 79
Jun 8, 2020
While many right-wing reports on migrants in Germany are distorted, massively inflated or simply made up, the Cologne mass assault definitely happened.
WillemLAif
+3
Level 79
Apr 22, 2020
How about embarrassing chapters in Australian history, to throw in Oceania?
HighFidelity
+2
Level 59
Jun 8, 2020
We undoubtedly deserve one as much if not more than Germany. Germany has reinvented itself twice since the end of WW2, and I honestly think the constant association of "Nazi" and "Germany", as historically accurate as it may be, is not particularly helpful when you look at the modern day countries that actually have a problem with neo-facism. Yes I know you've made an exception for this quiz. Australia on the other hand, continues to hold its national day on the day it was colonised, continues to deride those who question the heroics of Cook and others, and actively tries to deny we have the same problem with the police and indigenous Australians as the US has with treatment of African Americans.

I'm not really a fan of these "embarrassing chapters..." quizzes, but that's my 2 Australian cents.

sumguy
+2
Level 87
Apr 22, 2020
"During WWII, Germany wastes..."
Chris19
+3
Level 50
Apr 26, 2020
"The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" - never heard of that, though I went to school in Germany. Do you mean it was taught at some point in the past?
blizzrd33
+5
Level 80
Apr 27, 2020
The question about German colonies in Oceania is poor. Firstly, Japan didn't steal anything. It entered WW1 with its allies and declared war on Germany in 1914, subsequently seizing many German colonies (without much opposition). The Treaty of Versailles made the ex-German colonies in Oceania into League of Nations mandates. Those north of the equator were transferred to Japan after the war, which does not constitute stealing. Also Japan wasn't the only nation to gain control of German colonies in Oceania after WW1, with Britain, Australia and New Zealand all part of it too (south of the equator). These weren't "stolen" either, they were ceded as an outcome of a war.
GeoPhilia
+1
Level 57
Jun 8, 2020
Can someone please explain me the thumbnail?
KingEureka
+1
Level 62
Jun 8, 2020
The moustache of Adolf Hitler.
GeoPhilia
+1
Level 57
Jun 8, 2020
Ohhh, never thought that way. very clever. thanks.
ander217
+1
Level 74
Jun 8, 2020
Thanks for explaining it. When I first saw it, I thought Rohrschach would be on the quiz, not knowing until I looked it up just now that he was Swiss rather than German.
Jacktheguy
+1
Level 93
Jun 8, 2020
I thought it was the Batman logo for a second.
Cwej
+3
Level 67
Jun 8, 2020
Interesting quiz. I feel it could be improved immensely by including a date (or time period) in all of the questions, rather than just a few of them, so as to put the rest of them into better context. For example, the Protocols being taught to schoolchildren was very much a product of the Nazi regime; whereas phrased as it currently stands, it could imply that this practice was still going on in the 50s, the 70s, the 90s or yesterday.
tomwinkler95
+7
Level 72
Jun 8, 2020
As a German, I can only say that decent German people should always make sure that nobody forgets, or tries to make people forget, the horrible things that happened here. This quiz can be a reminder that we should think twice before we vote for people with authoritarian and separatist tendencies... or buy a Volkswagen diesel.
Gumbledalf
+6
Level 76
Jun 8, 2020
As a German, I think it's weird to call the Nuremberg trials and D-Day embarrassing (most Germans would agree that they were good things, and necessary), but then not say anything about the Holocaust, the most shameful chapter of all.

Also, I think it would be good to mention when the Protocols of the Elders of Zion were taught, namely in the 20s and 30s. Such a thing would be unthinkable in Germany after 1949, but the clue makes it seem as if this could be recent (I was confused myself).

camus
+1
Level 79
Jun 8, 2020
Did you click the correction button?
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Jun 8, 2020
Changed the question so that no one could think it is happening now.
redsplat
+1
Level 72
Jan 27, 2021
Yes, odd and inappropriate that this quiz still does not mention the Holocaust at all. Given emerging data on widespread ignorance of the Holocaust, especially young folks, it is essential to include it.
cinekhak
+1
Level 49
Jun 8, 2020
There's a mistake, only Polish codebreakers cracked Enigma code.
amm14
+2
Level 65
Jun 9, 2020
Tell that to Turing.
PeregrineFalcon
+1
Level 78
Jun 8, 2020
Fradulent should be Fraudulent
Prettydumb
+4
Level 90
Jun 8, 2020
Millli Vanilli and Hitler in one quiz: Definetely the two worst things Germany has added to the history of our beautiful planet during the last 100 years. ;-)
kalbahamut
+1
Level 80
Jun 8, 2020
Schuld daran sind die Juden ... (yeah yeah)
Damangio
+3
Level 64
Jun 8, 2020
I appreciate the Princess Bride reference.
gurkenpeter
+1
Level 42
Jun 8, 2020
Good selection. But there's so much more you left out, you could make an entire sequel of it. (For example humanitarian situation during industrialization and another big one: the entire GDR circus).
tales
+1
Level 81
Jun 8, 2020
I couldn't help and read the narrator's phrase in Ron Howard's voice, like in Arrested Development.
Julotek
+2
Level 65
Jun 9, 2020
As a French I remember another thing to add to the list :

the agression Schumacher did to Batiston during Football World Cup in 1982.

The goalkeeper should have been deserved a red card for this and got nothing...

camus
+2
Level 79
Jun 10, 2020
True. Schumacher's comment after the game: "If it's just about his jacket crowns, I'll gladly pay for those". The same World Cup had Germany and Austria conspiring in a "Non-agression Pact" or "Disgrace of Gijón". Germany scored early, and realizing the result would take both teams to the next round, they lazily passed around the ball for 80 minutes. We really were the supervillains of football in those times, although the aggressive attitude has changed a lot since then.
JackintheBox
+1
Level 81
Jun 9, 2020
I suggest adding a 'this' in the 14th clue.
Arang
+1
Level 65
Mar 1, 2021
Aren't the trials of Nuremberg rather a giant achievement than a embarrassing chapter in German history? Most of the accused war criminals were sentenced to high prison sentences or even death sentences...
JWatson24
+1
Level 71
Apr 14, 2021
I think it may be more due to the fact that 1. so many Germans HAD to be tried for war crimes in the first place and 2. it was also a place where massive Nazi rallies took place.
JWatson24
+1
Level 71
Apr 14, 2021
I don't think it's completely accurate to call the Enigma Code an "embarrassing chapter" of German history. After all, it was pretty well-encrypted and difficult to crack. I'd say that that event is less a German embarrassment and more a British/Polish success.

For the record, I think the question is fine as is and should be kept on here. I just wanted to point this out.

gewehr6628
+1
Level 46
Apr 29, 2021
"initially" on the New Year's Eve question is misspelled "intially"
DenAm
+1
Level 65
Jun 26, 2021
I tried Silvester for New Year's Eve and then assumed I had the wrong holiday
FlickerP
+1
Level 76
Oct 20, 2021
I thought that was Tweety Pie's nemesis
Rokuhara
+1
Level 71
Dec 6, 2021
I feel that the Deutsche Bank gave loans to Trump was not to gain entry into the US market. Actually, in the late 2000s the bank sued him to get some former debts back. But there was a generally leniency towards shady dealings as well that Trump had inside connections which lobbied for him. The bank management flip-flopped, revoked his claims and instead gave him new loans.
ErenJaeger2005
+2
Level 67
Jun 14, 2023
The only actually emberassing thing was the migrant rapes. Other than that, most stuff is either completely irrelevant or tactical blunders during WW2, which every country had.
Fergy586
+1
Level 79
Jul 31, 2023
Agreed. Oh no they gave a guy who would later become a US president some money, how embarrassing for the entire country
Xtrordinary
+1
Level 74
Jan 31, 2025
This is a comment just waiting to get ratioed
Koopa
+1
Level 85
May 5, 2024
There's a typo in your V-2 clue. It should read "Germany" or "Germans", not "German"
loganite
+1
Level 92
Jul 11, 2024
Instead of calling this "embarrassing chapters..." it should probably be called "embarrassing incidents, most of which came from one chapter..." ;)
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