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Nazi-Era Anthem "Revived" By Swiss
Swiss television made an enormous faux pas by broadcasting subtitles from the wartime "Nazi" version of the German national anthem as the German team lined up against Austria during the European Championship earlier this week.
Viewers, including thousands of fans watching on giant screens in public squares - were startled to see subtitles reading "Germany, Germany above everything, above everything in the world!" on their tellies. Since unification in 1991, Germany has only ever used the third verse of the Deutschlandlied, which has the more conciliatory text "unity and justice and liberty for the German fatherland."
The old version speaks of Germany stretching its bordersfrom Belgium to Lithuania and northern Italy to the middle of Denmark. One German fan said: "People couldn't believe their ears. The only people who sing this version are the neo-Nazis. It's completely illegal and very shameful."
Fans watching the giant screens reportedly booed the anthem and threw beer bottles at the screen as the subtitles were broadcast.
Swiss TV claims that two young researchers charged with finding the lyrics to national anthems came up with the wrong version following a search on the Internet.
ABOVE: Exclusive footage of the REAL German national anthem.
