The under-12 team of the German American Kickers (GAK) wear their new nickname with great pride – and see it as a sign of their belonging to the wider VfB family. The club, based in Trenton, New Jersey, changed the name within a few hours after the original nickname caused disconcertment among VfB fans in Germany. This not only shows how important the relationship with the cooperation partner in Bad Cannstatt is to those responsible in New Jersey. Above all, it shows that an international football partnership goes far beyond sport and highlights the importance of intercultural exchange. This includes respecting each other and learning from each other.
To strengthen mutual understanding in this sense, VfB organised a historical workshop with the GAK in May. Why is the term ‘Blitzkrieg’ problematic for Germans and not for Americans? VfB historian Florian Gauß gave a lecture on this and other questions about the history of Germany and VfB, outlining the club’s development from its beginnings to the present. Gauß explained in detail how VfB had submitted to the Nazi regime and excluded so-called non-Aryan members from the club – and how this history has shaped VfB’s values and positioning today.
Preserving customs and cooperating through football
The history of the German-American Society in Trenton dates back to 1881. Like the GAK, it honours and preserves the customs, culture and origins of their ancestors, some of whom emigrated to the USA more than 200 years ago.
“This workshop was important and very helpful. In America, many terms have a completely different meaning and we were not aware that some of the things we see here as typically German, neutral or positive are perceived quite differently in Germany,” said GAK president and chairman Paul Bette.