German Football Team Visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau Criticized

The German National Football Team was criticized over a recent visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau ahead of the Euro 2012 Football Championships that begin on 8 June 2012. Pictured above is German team captain Philipp Lahm (front left), German Ambassador to Poland Rüdiger Freiherr von Fritsch (cente) and national team trainer Joachim Löw (right) in Auschwitz. Spiegel on line has reported that

 Germany's Jewish community has criticized the country's national football team for sending a small delegation to Auschwitz-Birkenau last week instead of visiting the site as a group. It also accused team manager Oliver Bierhoff of 'colossal insensitivity' in his choice of words ahead of the visit.

 

According to Spiegel "Graumann, who had urged the German team in March to visit Auschwitz, on Sunday accused the director of the German team, Oliver Bierhoff, of being insensitive in his choice of words on the matter. Bierhoff, in charge of public relations for the national team, had said in March that the squad would address the Holocaust during the tournament but had not decided in what form that would happen. "It can be a fireside chat or a lecture," he had said. Bierhoff used the German word "Kamingespräch" for fireside chat -- a reference to an informal discussion or briefing. Kamin means fireplace but can also mean chimney, which Graumann said evoked the chimneys of Auschwitz. He said the use of the word Kamingespräch showed "colossal insensitivity and tastelessness" and was unbearable given "that people in Auschwitz, my grandparents for example, were gassed, incinerated and sent up the chimney."
The DFB delegation that visited Auschwitz last Friday consisted of team coach Joachim Löw, Bierhoff, DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach, team captain Philipp Lahm as well two Polish-born players Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose.

Once again, the specificity of language is an important element to consider when addressing any historical issue. CLICK HERE to read the entire article on Spiegel Online.