Some years ago a German friend remarked that Americans must be very patriotic, based on the number of American flags he had seen on display during a visit to the United States.

I think he meant the flags on display at private homes and businesses, like the huge ones sometimes seen at car dealerships. He could have said the same thing about Switzerland, too, since the Swiss flag is often quite visible on a visit to that country. If his comment is our guide, it seems that the World Cup football ("soccer") tournament being played in Germany has transformed the Germans into very patrtiotic people. In the last few days prior to today’s opening game between Germany and Costa Rica (Germany won 4-2) German flags have been on display everywhere, like the young lady in the picture who is about to drape herself in one at a World Cup pre-game rally in the northern German city of Hannover. The German discounter ALDI had small flags on sale, too, so this week an increasing number of cars are sporting the German flag, attached to the top of one of the doors. Some drivers are even flying a flag on both sides of the car.

It is amazing what a unifying effect the World Cup can have. Germany’s surprise victory in the 1954 World Cup gave the German people what is considered today to be an incredible boost in their self-confidence. One of the reporters who covered the final game, Germany’s 3-2 victory over Hungary, remarked later that the victory allowed the Germans "to walk upright once again." According to political scientist Arthur Heinrich and historian Joachim C. Fest, the real starting point for the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was the 1954 World Cup victory, which gave the Germans a sense of national identity again. Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, currently president of Germany’s national soccer federation, described the effect the victory had on Germany’s international standing: "It felt like we had been accepted back into the community of nations. It felt like we were being treated with respect again, and that felt good." Judging by the number of German flags visible these days, the Germans are feeling pretty good again. 🙂