Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
It was meant to be the climax of a class “creativity” competition. A group of 14-year-olds and their teachers gathered in the assembly hall at a secondary school south of Nuremberg to race a collection of mouse trap cars. But then the school’s head teacher, who shall remain nameless, spoiled it all. With the toy cars poised on the starting line, she exhorted her pupils with the words: “Sieg Heil!” (“Hail victory”).
To say that Germany is still haunted by its Nazi past is no exaggeration. Adolf Hitler’s autobiography Mein Kampf and all Nazi memorabilia and symbols remain banned. So it is not surprising that the head teacher’s outburst has caused an almighty stir. “The use of phrases or remarks which derive from or glorify National Socialism is strictly forbidden,” the Bavarian Interior Ministry said.
The teacher has been suspended while the education authorities investigate. She apologised profusely for her blunder. “Politically I am more of a Green,” she told Munich’s Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. “The phrase simply slipped out and unfortunately I cannot now retract what’s already been said.” It may be that she was just trying to be ironic. In Germany, however, even 69 years on, that kind of thing is strictly “verboten”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments