A scandal at the opening ceremony overshadows the German Firefighting Championships in Torgau in the north of Saxony. Instead of the national anthem, the controversial first verse of the German song was played. "We distance ourselves very clearly from this event," explained Hermann Schreck, Vice President of the German Fire Service Association. The fire departments and the association stand for basic democratic values. "Ideas that are not in line with the free and democratic basic order have no place in our ranks."
The Song of the Germans was written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben on Heligoland in 1841. However, it was misused by the National Socialists for propaganda purposes ("Deutschland, Deutschland über alles ..."). Today, only the third verse with the words "Unity and justice and freedom" is the national anthem. However, the other verses are not banned.
The behavior is not to be tolerated and the person responsible has been relieved of his honorary functions in the German Fire Brigade Association "with immediate effect", informed Schreck.
More than 600 participants in the competitions
More than 600 firefighters have been choosing their German champions in firefighting sports in Torgau since Thursday. There are various disciplines such as a 100-meter run with obstacles and a "wet firefighting attack". The three best women's and men's teams qualify for the international competitions of the World Firefighting Association.
The "Leipziger Volkszeitung" and the "Sächsische Zeitung" had previously reported on the scandal at the opening ceremony.
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