Maybe this is the result of the Trump effect, or perhaps this is just an innocent mistake. Either way, the United States Tennis Association had to apologize after a Nazi version of the German national anthem was sung at a Hawaii Fed Cup tournament.
According to the dailymail here is the verse the soloist should have sung.
However at the ceremony ahead of the first singles clash, the soloist should have sang the words ‘Unity and justice and freedom for the German fatherland’ but instead sang ‘Germany, Germany above all else’ – a verse banned after the fall of the Berlin wall.
According to dpa-international.com, players and coaches were shocked by the verse.
The German team was visibly shocked when the soloist on the Centre Court began singing “Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles” (Germany, Germany above all else) during the welcome ceremony before the match between Andrea Petkovic of Germany and Alison Riske of the United States.
The words are from the obsolete first verse of the national anthem. Since the fall of Nazi Germany only the third stanza is used.
Julia Goerges was in tears as the soloist began singing while assistant coach Dirk Dier put his hands to his face as players and coaches looked at each other in disbelief. Team chief Barbara Rittner said she considered snatching the microphone from the singer.
The players, coaches and a smattering of German fans in the stands tried singing the third verse, “Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit” (Unity, justice and freedom) but had little chance of being heard against the loudspeaker.
An angry Petkovic, who then lost her match 7-6 (12-10), 6-2, said she had considered walking off the court.
“It was a shocking moment. This is by far the worst that has ever happened to me in my life,” she said.
“That was the essence of ignorance. We are in 2017, we are in the 21st century. Something like this simply cannot happen.”
Rittner said: “I couldn’t believe it. I could have cried. It was just an incredibly sad and shocking moment. I was stunned by how this could happen. I find it inexcusable. It’s a scandal.”
After realizing the mistake, the USTA issued this apology.
The USTA extends a sincere apology to the German Fed Cup team & fans 4 the outdated National Anthem. This mistake will not occur again. pic.twitter.com/4LyG3ACe5u
— USTA (@usta) February 11, 2017
It is unclear if the soloist did this intentionally, but with the rise of Nazism during the past election cycle, this act raises serious questions about the soloist’s intent.
Flip the page to see the video of the Nazi German anthem.