Berlin, February 14 (RHC)-- The German tennis association 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 Federation Cup tie in Hawaii.
The version played included the first stanza, beginning "Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles," which was used as Nazi propaganda. It was dropped after World War Two.
"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 was reported as saying, adding that she considered walking off court before the singles match against Alison Riske.
German team coach Barbara Ritter said the mistake was "an absolute scandal, a disrespectful incident and inexcusable." The USTA tweeted its apologies, saying: "The USTA extends a sincere apology to the German Fed Cup team & fans 4 the outdated National Anthem. This mistake will not occur again." The Deutscher Tennis Bund responded on Twitter: "We hope so."
Germans Outraged as U.S. Plays Nazi-Era Version of Anthem
Related Articles
Commentaries
MAKE A COMMENT
All fields requiredMore Views
- Secretary General of UN Tourism arrives in Cuba
- Tigres de Ciego and Leñadores de Las Tunas for retaliation in the Baseball Series
- New Freedom Flotilla to set sail for Gaza in defiance of Israel's naval blockade
- Thousands march through the streets of Madrid to demand Spain stop arms sales to apartheid Israel
- U.S. political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal turns 70, imprisoned for more than 42 years