Germans outraged as US plays Nazi version of anthem

HONOLULU: German tennis has responded with outrage after the United States Tennis Association made the embarrassing error of playing the Nazi-era version of Germany’s national anthem during a Fed Cup tie in Hawaii.

The version played included the first stanza, beginning, Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles, uber alles in der Welt which was used as Nazi propaganda.

It translates as “Germany, Germany, above all, above all in the world” and was dropped after World War II because of its association with Adolf Hitler.

But Deutschlandlied, written in 1841, is still listed as the official national anthem, with only the third verse now being sung.

Unfortunately, the male soloist on the Hawaiian island of Maui somehow sung the wrong version.

“I thought it was the epitome of ignorance, and I’ve never felt more disrespected in my whole life, let alone in Fed Cup,” Germany’s Andrea Petkovic said, adding that she considered walking off court before the singles match against Alison Riske.

German team coach Barbara Ritter said that the mistake was “an absolute scandal, a disrespectful incident and inexcusable”.

German Tennis Federation chief Ulrich Klaus said his American counterpart had apologised for the mistake.

“Our American hosts at the Fed Cup opening in Hawaii made a mistake that should not happen,” Klaus said. – Reuters