Germany is my home away from home, a land and people that I love and a nation I could easily adjust to living full-time in. But despite the remarkable public display of unity and competence in dealing with the pandemic, I found that Germany is also a divided nation.
Observations From An American In Germany During Coronavirus Lockdown
When I heard the news that German Chancellor Angela Merkel talked all 16 German state governors into agreeing to a uniform partial lockdown during the month of November, I was so impressed. Can you imagine, no matter who was in the White House, all 50 U.S. state governors voluntarily agreeing to do anything together?
As an outsider looking in, it seemed to me that Germany was properly treating the virus as a threat to national and economic security but more importantly, battling the pandemic was not a political football like in the United States.
To some extent, that is true. But I think what surprised me most during my recent trip to Germany was the very clear division of opinion that does exist that goes well beyond the far right rallies in Berlin and other former East Germany cities.
I went to my favorite restaurant in Mainz on the last night of service before the November lockdown. Two familiar faces greeted me: two waiters I have come to know over the years due to my frequent visits. They were surprised to see me (there are not many Americans these days in Germany) and I had separate conversations with each of them.
Both were adamant. But both had very different viewpoints on the pandemic. One was fully supportive of the government’s decision to shutdown, even as it impacted his own livelihood (apparently, his salary will be subsidized, but only at 70%). He insisted, “We must battle this virus. It is too dangerous to ignore.”
But his colleague had a totally different take on the situation. “This is ridiculous. This is about control, not safety.” He angrily noted that every time businesses re-open, cases spike, and that the “cat and mouse” approach will drag out this pandemic far longer than necessary.
I spoke to more people during my brief trip and found more divergent opinions. The default answer, for most, is to express support for how the government has handled the pandemic. But dig deeper and there is the same sort of disgust, impatience, and uncertainty that Americans are condemned for harboring.
Interestingly, very few people wore masks outdoors in Mainz, located in the state of Rheinland-Paltaine. Some did, many did not…I’d say compliance was far worse than in Los Angeles. I was also surprised to see grocery stores still offering self-serve salad bars and buffets.
But despite that, I felt very safe in Germany. Every time I dined out I filled out a contact tracing form. Inside grocery stores or on trains, everyone wore masks.
COVID-19 dominates headlines in Germany too, but Germany has created a system that protects the most economically and physically vulnerable, without offering an obscene level of welfare to those who do not need it. This is something both sides of the aisle could learn from in the USA. You don’t see homeless people in Germany to the level you do in the USA. Meanwhile, homeless communities in LA serve as super-spreaders for the virus. But that’s a broader and more complicated issue, I realize.
CONCLUSION
Germany is divided too. Yet I felt a sense of tranquility in Germany that I simply do not feel in the USA, where everything is so politicized in the worst way. I personally question whether lockdowns are the answer, but I respect that Germany, via its states, seems at least organized enough to offer rapid testing to those who want it and conduct contact tracing in order to contain any potential outbreaks.
I’m curious, especially to readers currently or recently in Germany, whether you share in my American-influenced observations on German handling of the coronavirus and the division that exists (or does not exist) within.
I spent the past fifteen months living in Frankfurt, and returned to the US just last month.
I think that for the most part, you are spot on in your observations. However, I am curious about your statement that “you don’t see homeless people in Germany”. There are indeed homeless in major German cities– walk around the Banhofsviertel or the Zeil in Frankfurt at night, and you will see plenty. Granted, it is not as significant a problem as in many cities in California, but they are there and have a reputation among local residents.
I lived in Frankfurt in 2011 and parts of 2013-2014 and certainly saw some homeless people around, but it was more often those goths hanging out in front of Karstadt on the Zeil and a few gypsy roamers, not the sort of homeless encampments you see all over LA.
I’ve visited Germany several times and love it but I do agree there are homeless people there. One time I was in a train station and apparently one older man had taken all of the brochures/papers (free stuff) to use as a bed or something. I saw a couple of police trying to tell him he couldn’t have them and he was getting quite upset so I moved on.
Unfortunately I don’t have language skills short of ordering a beer or something simple but yeah, living in Germany for a while in retirement would be great. We’ve had workers in a past job work there for a few years and all the ones I knew, missed it once they came home.
Thanks for the article. An interesting read. What impresses me about many countries (Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea etc.) is how clean they are and how dirty the US is in comparison. As an American I am dismayed at how the US is going downhill so rapidly. So many Americans do not have the decency to put their trash in the garbage bins and tolerate trash everywhere – there is no outcry and this is a reflection of the decline of America. The US used to be much cleaner in the past, but sadly it is a different story today.
You haven’t been to economically on a tear California or New York in a while. Sure, spots of downtown LA are dirty, but the rest is new and clean.
See those split-air conditioners in Japan,
South Korea, Europe? Ask yourself how sophisticated a society is if they can’t afford internal ducting, even in buildings built after 1960. Candy wrappers on the street are not the only tell-tale signs one can use
Don’t underestimate how much vastly richer and better built and clean, at least in that we have the couth to put ducts inside our buildings, the United States is. Not jingoism, just economic fact.
“Can not afford internal ducting”?
What a bizarre conclusion.
Just as bizarre as using fragments of garbage on the street as sign of how advanced and clean a society is.
This is satire, right? It must be…
The climate in Europe has never necessitated indoor climate control until the last few years of heatwaves, which is why many houses are fitted with external A/C units (which also work better with the vast majority of the housing stock, which is older). It’s… just nothing to do with wealth, and assuming something as resource-intensive and unsustainable as constant climate control is a good indicator of societal sophistication demonstrates significant disregard of the world outside of the United States.
Describing LA and New York as ‘new and clean’ seems a massive overstatement – anyone who takes the subway (and series of buses) from Times Square to LaGuardia, rides a bus in LA, or ventures outside of a shopping mall would probably disagree, especially when compared with the clean, fast and punctual transportation systems and safe, accessible public spaces found across most of Europe and South Korea.
Yeah, the whole air duct thing is absurd when most Germans did not need a/c until just a few years ago. And I live in LA. It’s so full of trash it is pathetic. People are pathetic. Almost as bad as San Francisco and San Diego where the homeless defecate and shoot up on the sidewalk.
Tsk, tsk. Just because u are bereft of abstraction, doesn’t make something absurd. And yea, they put in ugly, inefficient split air conditioners because they don’t need cooling in Paris, Rome or Tokyo.
Garbage can be on the street or it can be in your design was my point.
And I am not sure what square mile of Los Angles Matt is referring to, but most of LA is clean.
People who bad mouth the US in blanket fashion by exaggerating trivialities lack perspective.
Put the jingoism aside. I love the USA and love my state of CA and my city of LA. But the Sun Valley corridor that I drive through several times a week is an absolute travesty.Trash strewn everywhere, homeless encampments, and a vile stench. It makes me ashamed that we cannot do better because I know we can do better.
Mini splits are typically more efficient than a single unit.
Germans win, again.
Yes, I have a mini-split in my back house. A Bosch. It works splendidly…
I heard the Germans also have on-demand water heaters because they’re so backwards that they can’t afford tanks.
Yep. I use a tankless at my house too and it works great.
No, No, the guy from the chimney sweep and sheet metal workers’ union told us it’s true.
What are you on about. Split ACs (ductable or non) & VRV units offer air conditioning at a lower price. In India it is only the larger office buildings and quality hotels which have centralised AC systems
I have 3 split ACs in my house. I could have installed ductable splits with a cassette type indoor unit or a VRV unit, which would also require ducting, but why pay more for something when the builder has already installed 3 quality ACs for me.
PS. I have 2 storage water geysers for my bathrooms. As it doesnt get that cold in Bombay I use these maybe 10 days a year. Some other residents use their geysers through the year. But this way the cost of their geyser usage is borne by them and not subsidised by non using residents like myself.
Very few people are wearing masks outside? Why don’t Germans follow the data and science?!?
I lived in Germany for a year in college. They are clearly a people that are good at following orders. They will wait obediently at a crosswalk for the green even if no car is around. In this case it may work to their advantage, but the second worker you spoke to has a point. Lockdowns are useless because unless the entire world also goes on full lockdown or there is a vaccine, as the moment you open back up another outbreak will happen. Seems to me a better approach is have the at risk population shelter in place, and take reasonable precautions while opening up. You control your own risk tolerance. If you feel uncomfortable dining outdoors in a restaurant, then don’t go. Lockdowns are a one size fits all solution that rarely work.
It should be a political football, because public policy debates are in the arena of politics. I would frankly find it troubling if all governors bowed to the wishes of the president. Our system is designed to spread power out for a reason. But we all know, the same people who called Trump a nazi for issuing executive orders will call governors anti-american for not buckling to the wishes of Biden…that is if he actually takes office.
Agree 100%. But every time you or I suggest this, we are called out for being uncaring and heartless,
I don’t disagree in the sense that part of this is inherently political. What I meant was that elements of leadership on both sides in the USA treated COVID-19 as a political tool to hurt their opponent. That is tragic and I don’t see that in Germany.
You had a semi-interesting discourse…until you went and shat all over yourself with your last sentence. “If he actually takes office”…GTFOH. You people truly are terrible.
Yeesh, You just cant helop but shove your politics into every comment can you? What a sad life.
The lack of international travel, over time, will eventually make everyone incorrectly assume all countries are very different (and probably think they are worse or better based on their own bias). Travel makes people better, sitting at home does not.
You are not required to wear a mask outside here in Germany, only in public transport and public indoors (like shops, banks, etc).
Does that vary by Länder?
Yes, and it can also vary within one town! For example, in the central part of Frankfurt everyone is required to wear a mask everywhere when outside (there is a special map depicting the “mask compulsory zone”). In other parts of Frankfurt one is allowed to walk outside without a mask; just required to put it on in public transport, shops, etc.). The fact that you see some people outside in Mainz wearing masks is their own choice (for example, a short walk between a Ubahn and a shop, or just a general precaution). Those not wearing masks while outside are not breaking the rules. I know, tricky, right? 😉
Thanks! I did not make it to central Frankfurt on this trip.
I live in München and it is the same here. Only downtown in Marienplatz are you required to wear masks outside.
We should be like singapore. Cane people that litter. Doesnt matter if homeless or rich. Cane them.
Are we punishing poverty? Who told you to live in la and sf if you can’t afford the rents. Need universal basic income. And make homelessness a crime. Take your $1000 and move to a cheap place in the country and live decently. If you continue to live as homeless in LA, first cane them, then prison, then cane them again and then move them to an apartment in a cheap city. And provide UBI
Stop pandering to the political extremes.
This is Communist propaganda. The penalty for littering in Singapore is about $200. No caning.
Caning is banned for children and older people (50 years old or more) as well as women. Caning is only for rape, murder, and massive graffiti. Little graffiti is not caned. Just read the news and not Communist news. That is like saying everyone in the US gets the death penalty.
Disclosure: I am not Singapore, have never lived there, only flown there a few times on frequent flyer awards mostly.
I dont understand why this post is so anti communist and so pro-singapore
Not quite. Caning can , and has, been applied in much less serious cases…including of an American citizen ( Michael Fay), caught vandalising cars . Sentenced to 6 , got 4. The case caused uproar in the USA, including entreaties from Bill Clinton. Very ironic given the severity of the US system, including the current attempts to extradite Julian Assange of Wikileaks …his crime? Exposing war crimes.
Matthew you’re spot on. My experience is slightly different given I grew up spending nearly every summer and/or Christmas in more small town Germany (Rosenheim, Germany ) visiting my aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Still to this day I return almost annually (will be next month for Christmas) I very much consider south of Munich to Salzburg my “hoam”. I’m sure it’s also a regional thing but my family that still resides there is a bit divided with a majority disagreeing on how things are being addressed in Berlin. However, the primary difference I see is they don’t let politics rule their lives. Political differences are not something they get upset about and respect is always shown at the end of the day. That being said, my wife was born and raised near Berlin and I definitely feel the attitude much more like that of the US relative to Bayern.
Now that Trump is out, you will see a lot of red state governors exercising their freedom (from Trump’s wrath) to follow the science and pursue more rational approaches to counter Covid.
North Dakota and Iowa are already doing what was “unthinkable” pre Nov. 3rd regarding masks…Biden will get more cooperation from the states to fight this now that it is a mooted political issue.
I commend Germany but not sure if it’s a fair comparison to the USA since USA is much larger and diverse in terms of population.
“I personally question whether lockdowns are the answer…”
Thats pretty clear from your posts. Seems like you are doing more than the necessary level of travel. You said previously that you get tested regularly, but that is also taking up testing capacity that isn’t at the level for weekly testing for all Americans. NYC now has lines outside testing sites and its not from high covid infection rates. Its from people who are traveling for Thanksgiving who want to get tested before and after they reach their destination. While that is responsible, it’s better for people not to travel and those who can to live their life in a socially distant manner.
Great perspective. Such a change from this summer being there. Interesting to read how fluid this all is over the course of just weeks.