Discord erupts at the Firefighter Championship - Association disavows actions
The German Firefighting Championships in Torgau, northern Saxony, have been overshadowed by a scandal at the opening ceremony [1][3][4]. At the event, which started on Thursday and has seen more than 600 participants competing in various disciplines such as a 100-meter obstacle run and a "wet extinguishing attack" [2], the first verse of the "Song of the Germans" was played instead of the official German national anthem.
This first verse, which begins with "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles" ("Germany, Germany above all"), has a controversial history. Originally written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1841, it was later misused by the Nazi regime and is frequently exploited by far-right groups today [1][3]. While this verse is not legally banned, it is no longer part of the official anthem.
In contrast, the official national anthem of Germany uses only the third verse of the "Song of the Germans," which starts with "Unity and justice and freedom" and reflects democratic values [1][3][4].
The German Fire Service Association strongly condemned the use of the first verse, emphasizing that ideas contrary to the free and democratic order have no place in their ranks. The person responsible for this incorrect musical choice, a representative of the association, was immediately relieved of their honorary functions in the German Fire Brigade Association [1][3].
Hermann Schreck, the vice-president of the German Firefighters' Association, stated that the association distances itself from this incident. He reiterated that firefighters and the association stand for democratic values.
The behavior at the opening ceremony was deemed intolerable. The incident serves as a reminder of the sensitivity surrounding certain historical verses and the importance of upholding democratic values in all aspects of public life.
The top three women's and men's teams at the German Firefighting Championships qualify for the international competitions of the World Firefighters' Association. Despite the controversy, the championships continue, with the focus now on the competition and the athletes' performances.
[1] German Firefighting Championships overshadowed by scandal
[2] German Firefighters' Championships: 600 Participants and Various Disciplines
[3] The Controversial First Verse of the German National Anthem
[4] The Evolution of the German National Anthem
Sports did not play a role in the scandal that overshadowed the German Firefighting Championships in Torgau, but sports-betting might have been affected by the subsequent controversies and the focus shifting from the event to the misuse of the official national anthem's first verse. Despite the scandal, the top performing teams at the championships will represent Germany in international sports competitions organized by the World Firefighters' Association.
