I just had a deutsche europlate made "Luftwaffe"

BMW0 · 02-12-2007, 02:53 AM

It means "Airforce." What do you guys think?

Oh that other pic, its the roundel on the trunk.

ehhhwik · 02-12-2007, 03:11 AM

how about Messerschmitt?

Paul330d · 02-12-2007, 06:14 AM

As a Brit, I'm afraid I find that pretty offensive. You do know what the Luftwaffe got up to 60 years ago, don't you?

Masheen · 02-12-2007, 06:18 AM

The bastards did bomb the hell out of Norway, though.:mad:

Robin_NL · 02-12-2007, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul330d

As a Brit, I'm afraid I find that pretty offensive. You do know what the Luftwaffe got up to 60 years ago, don't you?

Agreed, here in EU and in my country it doesn't sound 'politically correct', though you got to do what you got to do.

Fraggy · 02-12-2007, 10:04 AM

Over the years everyones military has done something offensive, even countries that are now peaceful have had disturbing pasts.

BayerischeMW · 02-12-2007, 10:14 AM

Luftwaffe as a word sounds good, but the reference it shows is pretty bad.

daKaiser · 02-12-2007, 10:22 AM

i think there is no problem

the german airforce was always named "luftwaffe".
i think this word isn´t infamous...
even we germans haven´t any problems with this and this say a lot!

- Paul - · 02-12-2007, 10:26 AM

In German usage the word Luftwaffe can also be a generic term, so "die Britische Luftwaffe" would mean "the British Air Force"

Lifted from wiki - hence why the Germans don't have a problem with it....

E90T · 02-12-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul330d

As a Brit, I'm afraid I find that pretty offensive. You do know what the Luftwaffe got up to 60 years ago, don't you?

For sure, might as well put Gestapo.

bronco · 02-12-2007, 10:54 AM

What....why are you people so insecure???? I find nothing wrong with the word and I think it is polically safe. There are a lot more offensive words that people put on their plates.

Patman · 02-12-2007, 10:59 AM

you're right ... it is simply meaning "Air Force" ...

BMW über alles !!!!

Nikki · 02-12-2007, 11:01 AM

I don't have problem with it, but I can see how it might offend some people.

E90T · 02-12-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikki

I don't have problem with it, but I can see how it might offend some people.

Yes Luftwaffe means airforce, but it is synonymous with the Nazi Air Force. not really a huge deal, but some might find offensive.

Shäferhunde · 02-12-2007, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90T

Yes Luftwaffe means airforce, but it is synonymous with the Nazi Air Force.

The German government must be unaware of the how their language is being interpreted. Perhaps a tactfully worded letter to the German embassy is in order to clear things up.

http://www.germany.info/relaunch/pol...luftwaffe.html

King335i · 02-12-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90T

For sure, might as well put Gestapo.

You've got to be kidding me?

Saebb · 02-12-2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul330d

As a Brit, I'm afraid I find that pretty offensive. You do know what the Luftwaffe got up to 60 years ago, don't you?

And you know what the Royal Airforce did to Dresden etc.? So, this were bad times on both sides and I think it is time not to accuse Germans nowadays (also not the soldiers.) As you mentioned it is 60 years ago. Keep in mind, British bombers are flying attacks against (sometimes not so) innocent Iraqi people. In my oppinion, you have to look forward and not backwards all the time. Have you been directly involved in German attacks during the WWII? I guess not.

I don't know either why he choosed this. I wouldn't cause it is too aggressive for me in general but please stop complaining about WWII all the time.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to forget about it cause so much families have had to suffer by the consequences and it was and still is horrible but there have been several black points in the history of any european country.

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90T

For sure, might as well put Gestapo.

Very childish. Luftwaffe means Airforce, nothing more nothing less. It never has been a political or ideological institution like the Gestapo (Geheime Staats Polizei) or the SS (Schutzstaffel) or the SA (Sturmabteilung). Gestapo, SS and SA were directly subordinated to the NSDAP. Luftwaffe is and has been a unit of the armed forces.

cm3rc · 02-12-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikki

I don't have problem with it, but I can see how it might offend some people.

+1

baltik · 02-12-2007, 01:37 PM

to 95% of non Germans Luftwaffe is synonymous with the nazi war machine, airforce isn't really a word you would learn in a foreign language unless you were very advanced, but if you watched war movies or taken a WWII history course you would immediately recognize the word in this context.

Putting that on your license plate would be similar to calling people that are in a good mood gay. Both terms technically correct but both terms much more likely to be taken out of context and likely taken offensively.

Not making a moral call on either term but merely suggesting that your car will be inevitably vandalized.

shragon · 02-12-2007, 02:08 PM

i don't take any offense to it, but i do see how it could be taken the wrong way.

mike138 · 02-12-2007, 02:10 PM

stop ......... .......

King335i · 02-12-2007, 02:22 PM

Sure, airforce isn't a word you would learn in a language unless you were at least fairly advanced in its dialect, but in this case the Luftwaffe gained its notoriety because it was part of a villified nation.

That makes sense and all, but wouldn't it then be offensive if I put USAF on my car because the united states air force both fire bombed dresden, and dropped 2 atomic bombs on civilian cities? Funny, I seem to see people putting USAF stuff on their car all the time..

The only reason people would get flustered about this is because of their own insecurities and ignorance about history. I agree the the word Luftwaffe has its negative connotations but if you have any education whatsoever you will probably know that it simply means 'airforce'. Also, it is hilariously ironic that some people would take offense to this, but not the fact that BMW was a major contributer to the Nazi war machine, and their very emblem symbolizes their beginnings in Nazi aviation as well.

I'm not saying you should or shouldn't do it, but in my opinion people shouldn't find it offensive. They probably will though.

If you think it will get vandalized then you should probably buy this. Now.
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812...e.thrower.car/

02-12-2007, 02:53 AM	#1
BMW0 Colonel 235 Rep 2,059 Posts Drives: AW E90 330i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Spokane, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I just had a deutsche europlate made "Luftwaffe" It means "Airforce." What do you guys think? Oh that other pic, its the roundel on the trunk. Attached Images __________________ 330i 6MT l 255 HP @ 5900 rpm 214 lb-ft Torque @ 3500 rpm l Alpine White l Beige l Aluminum l ZSP l 494 l PDC "Freude am Fahren" = "Joy to Drive"
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02-12-2007, 03:11 AM	#2
ehhhwik Brigadier General 114 Rep 3,431 Posts Drives: 09' BMW 335d, 07' BMW E92 328i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (5)	how about Messerschmitt? __________________ Current: 09' E90 335d - Titanium Silver/Black Leatherette/Sports Package/6AT Paddle Shift/USB Integration/19" Staggered Breyton GT Gloss Black Retired: 07' E92 328i (Jet Black)
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02-12-2007, 06:14 AM	#3
Paul330d Torque junky 115 Rep 1,688 Posts Drives: Remapped e90 330d Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: France (UK expat) iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330d [0.00] 2005 Fiat Panda 4x4 [0.00]	As a Brit, I'm afraid I find that pretty offensive. You do know what the Luftwaffe got up to 60 years ago, don't you? __________________ www.greenkeepers.fr - spécialiste des tondeuses à gazon hélicoïdales atco qualcast ransomes lawnflite
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02-12-2007, 06:18 AM	#4
Masheen Major 116 Rep 1,027 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Hills in Lyngen iTrader: (0)	The bastards did bomb the hell out of Norway, though.:mad: __________________ BMW M4 2016. Sakhir Orange. M Performance.
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02-12-2007, 10:04 AM	#6
Fraggy Brigadier General 193 Rep 3,469 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Diego iTrader: (11)	Over the years everyones military has done something offensive, even countries that are now peaceful have had disturbing pasts. __________________ 2016 Alpine White M3 (gone) 2019 Alfa Romeo Guilia (Totaled) 2020 Car-less 😁 (no more) 2020 M340
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02-12-2007, 10:14 AM	#7
BayerischeMW Man with No Name 21 Rep 441 Posts Drives: '07 E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	Luftwaffe as a word sounds good, but the reference it shows is pretty bad. __________________ *E92 335i coupe March 2007*
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02-12-2007, 10:22 AM	#8
daKaiser Second Lieutenant 35 Rep 204 Posts Drives: ... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	i think there is no problem the german airforce was always named "luftwaffe". i think this word isn´t infamous... even we germans haven´t any problems with this and this say a lot!
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02-12-2007, 10:26 AM	#9
- Paul - Major General 689 Rep 7,308 Posts Drives: see above. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yorkshire, UK iTrader: (5) Garage List 2005 320D SE [10.00] 2005 645 [9.00]	In German usage the word Luftwaffe can also be a generic term, so "die Britische Luftwaffe" would mean "the British Air Force" Lifted from wiki - hence why the Germans don't have a problem with it.... __________________ My Photos
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02-12-2007, 10:54 AM	#11
bronco Colonel 76 Rep 2,104 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	What....why are you people so insecure???? I find nothing wrong with the word and I think it is polically safe. There are a lot more offensive words that people put on their plates. __________________ SaaS - The world of tomorrow is already here...www.saaschronicles.com
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02-12-2007, 10:59 AM	#12
Patman Lieutenant 39 Rep 440 Posts Drives: E91 Touring 320d Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tavannes, Switzerland iTrader: (3) Garage List 2014 M4 F82 [0.00] 2008 X5 E70 3.0sd ( ... [0.00]	you're right ... it is simply meaning "Air Force" ... BMW über alles !!!! __________________ E70 X5 35d & M4 F82 Mods to come for the M4, X5 is only for carrying horses and driving in winter
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02-12-2007, 11:01 AM	#13
Nikki Major General 990 Rep 6,381 Posts Drives: Sepang Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: LA iTrader: (9)	I don't have problem with it, but I can see how it might offend some people. __________________ Nikki
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02-12-2007, 01:37 PM	#19
baltik Lieutenant 25 Rep 434 Posts Drives: porsche 944 turbo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 94920 iTrader: (0)	to 95% of non Germans Luftwaffe is synonymous with the nazi war machine, airforce isn't really a word you would learn in a foreign language unless you were very advanced, but if you watched war movies or taken a WWII history course you would immediately recognize the word in this context. Putting that on your license plate would be similar to calling people that are in a good mood gay. Both terms technically correct but both terms much more likely to be taken out of context and likely taken offensively. Not making a moral call on either term but merely suggesting that your car will be inevitably vandalized.
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02-12-2007, 02:08 PM	#20
shragon Moderator 497 Rep 27,441 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (7)	i don't take any offense to it, but i do see how it could be taken the wrong way. __________________ www.cardomain.com/id/shragon
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02-12-2007, 02:10 PM	#21
mike138 Private First Class 15 Rep 187 Posts Drives: 335i (c) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: your moms house iTrader: (0)	stop ......... ....... __________________ i do hate that enter key Last edited by mike138; 02-12-2007 at 09:31 PM.. Reason: cause
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02-12-2007, 02:22 PM	#22
King335i Captain 47 Rep 726 Posts Drives: '13 E92 M3 CP 6MT, '13 X1 35i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon iTrader: (1)	Sure, airforce isn't a word you would learn in a language unless you were at least fairly advanced in its dialect, but in this case the Luftwaffe gained its notoriety because it was part of a villified nation. That makes sense and all, but wouldn't it then be offensive if I put USAF on my car because the united states air force both fire bombed dresden, and dropped 2 atomic bombs on civilian cities? Funny, I seem to see people putting USAF stuff on their car all the time.. The only reason people would get flustered about this is because of their own insecurities and ignorance about history. I agree the the word Luftwaffe has its negative connotations but if you have any education whatsoever you will probably know that it simply means 'airforce'. Also, it is hilariously ironic that some people would take offense to this, but not the fact that BMW was a major contributer to the Nazi war machine, and their very emblem symbolizes their beginnings in Nazi aviation as well. I'm not saying you should or shouldn't do it, but in my opinion people shouldn't find it offensive. They probably will though. If you think it will get vandalized then you should probably buy this. Now. http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812...e.thrower.car/ __________________ 2007 E92 335i--SG, Fully loaded, minus the dead weight..err..iDrive and Active Steering.
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