► German road signs

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Sbf.Koch
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#31

Post by Sbf.Koch » 22 May 2006, 23:24

MadderCat wrote: "hier beginnt der Arsch der Welt" = You're now in the back of beyond
I don't get that translation - it simply means you are about to enter the most dirty area of this planet - the ass (arsch = ass) by which they mean the SU if I remember correctly.

Bill Murray
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#32

Post by Bill Murray » 23 May 2006, 02:36

Ok, I should probably leave this one alone, but it was an interesting sign.

As a native American English speaker, I translated it directly as "Here begins the asshole of the world".
As the Germans might interpret it, it might mean something literally rather different. Perhaps, "Here begins your nightmare" or as Maddercat said, "back of beyond".

I did not catch the dating of the sign, but given the history of the Germans, Hungarians, Italians, Romanians etc. who entered Russia in 1941, it was a prescient message that you are entering Hell and you will not return as you entered.

A very literal "translation" on my part, perhaps more a warning to those on the way to the East.

No political statement intended.
Bill


Phil Bishop
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#33

Post by Phil Bishop » 23 May 2006, 21:45

@Phil Bishop
okay, you're the native english speking person while i'm the native german speaker



MadderCat


Hmmmm

Didn't mean to appear to be laughing at you MadderCat, if you thought I was my apologies. I just found the subject matter amusing, not your translation. And your English is far better than my German I'm sure.

Phil

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#34

Post by MadderCat » 24 May 2006, 08:18

Arsch der Welt or back of beyond meaning in german:
you're now where no one want's to stay for long, a place far far far far far any from any semblance of civilization
sometimes meaning some place away from a city where only some old people live


@Phil Bishop
okay, accepted



MadderCat

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ChrisMAg2
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#35

Post by ChrisMAg2 » 24 May 2006, 15:23

Bill Murray wrote:...
As a native American English speaker, I translated it directly as "Here begins the asshole of the world".
...
Bill,
even an american shouldn't add a "hole" where there is none. (Just to be picky or more precise). "Asshole" has a german counterpart: "Arschloch". So Arsch is just plain "ass" ...or butt as you would say, just as Sbf.Koch said. With that the meaning is more evident as being "the most distant or remote area".

@ Sbf.Koch,
I don't get that translation - it simply means you are about to enter the most dirty area of this planet - the ass (arsch = ass) by which they mean the SU if I remember correctly.
This expression ("Hier beginnt der Arsch der Welt") is already so old, it was already part of the slang language even for that time. It is just an expression and ist not specific to a certain country or location. It is still in use today.

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Sbf.Koch
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#36

Post by Sbf.Koch » 24 May 2006, 16:25

Thanks for clearing that up, Chris.

Although I think there was (and perhaps still is) some kind of double layer in the meaning of the sentence, regarding the colliding ideologies of the USSR and Nazi Germany. In that case, Arsch would be very appropriate ;)

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#37

Post by Bill 13 » 25 May 2006, 05:56

Day All
This is why when I posted the Vidcap I did not give translations.(I sometimes have enough problems with English)
Just as an aside its from a June 1942 Wochenschau report from the Lenningrad front. Both the Arsch & Götz von sign are from the same clip.
Bill
:roll:

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Maigewitter
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#38

Post by Maigewitter » 28 May 2006, 19:15

Image

Bill Murray
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#39

Post by Bill Murray » 28 May 2006, 19:27

Thank you Chris for your comments. And.....I really was not trying to be a "SmartAss" in my literal interpretation of those words 8-) .

My other two languages are Swedish and Spanish and I had to learn the hard way in both that there are many phrases that can have more than the meaning of just the words themselves. Exactly as you pointed out concerning the expression we are discussing here and I thank you for teaching me that one.

Cheers
Bill

TadPortly
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#40

Post by TadPortly » 06 Jun 2006, 14:44

From Ebay:
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Xavier
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#41

Post by Xavier » 08 Jun 2006, 16:36

well, not WWII vintage, but somewhat related, from an article on today's cnn.com:

http://www.signspotting.com/

Xavier
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FRANCY RITTER
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#42

Post by FRANCY RITTER » 08 Jun 2006, 16:43

Thanks to all for these nice pics!! :) :D :wink:

For Mariupol...

From exp.ebay auction.

Image

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FRANCY RITTER
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#43

Post by FRANCY RITTER » 09 Jun 2006, 09:26

German road signs and in the background...Sdkfz 8 with a British tank Matilda.

From..ebay

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TadPortly
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#44

Post by TadPortly » 09 Jun 2006, 10:13

From ebay too:
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Joseph_Porta
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#45

Post by Joseph_Porta » 09 Jun 2006, 22:50

Jihlava, March 1939. As Hitler has comed to stay (to 1945), the Czech people are now forced to drive on the right side of the road.
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