The TRUTH about JFK's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech | Feli from Germany

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Did President Kennedy really embarrass himself by saying "I'm a jelly doughnut" in front of 120,000 Germans when he gave his famous speech in West Berlin in 1963? Or was all of this just a huge misunderstanding? What do Germans think about this? I've been confronted with this topic so many times in the US so I finally put it all together in this video!
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0:00 Intro
2:09 Historical background
5:43 “Ich bin ein Berliner” controversy
11:44 Origins of the misconception
14:55 Outro
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ABOUT ME: Hallo, Servus, and welcome to my channel! My name is Felicia (Feli), I'm 27, and I'm a German living in the USA! I was born and raised in Munich, Germany but have been living in Cincinnati, Ohio off and on since 2016. I first came here for an exchange semester during my undergrad at LMU Munich, then I returned for an internship, and then I got my master's degree in Cincinnati. I was lucky enough to win the Green Card lottery and have been a permanent resident since 2019! In my videos, I talk about cultural differences between America and Germany, things I like and dislike about living here, and other experiences that I have made during my time in the States. Let me know what YOU would like to hear about in the comments below. DANKE :)
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Опубликовано:

17 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 3,1 тыс.

@andersgreenspan2993 3 года назад

As a historian what I learned was that the person who told Kennedy to use the "ein" was a native German speaker who said that the ein should be included since Kennedy was not literally from Berlin but was sympathetic to those who were living there.

@oida10000 3 года назад

@@charlesstuart7290 Maybe Theodor got it from a nativ German speaker?

@andersgreenspan2993 3 года назад

@@charlesstuart7290 It was Kennedy who wanted to speak the lines and he asked for the correct grammar which was provided by Robert Lochner who was a native of Berlin.

@yasminesteinbauer8565 3 года назад

I completely agree. "Ich bin Berliner" would mean that he actually lives in Berlin. "Ich bin ein Berliner" is more along the lines of saying I'm one of you or one of many.

@j3nn3s 3 года назад

@@yasminesteinbauer8565 Exactly. What he between the line also says is: "If you attack Berlin, you're also attacking me and I'll respond accordingly." This wouldn't be true had he left out the "ein"

@paulboutchia1035 3 года назад

Thanks to all for your comments and notes!

@matthiasfleu805 2 года назад

Here is a Berliner, born and raised, writing. Some facts: What in some part of Germany is calling a "Berliner"= "jelly donut" is in Berlin callled a "Pfannkuchen". Different parts of Germany have different names for the same dish.Can be really confusing as what some parts of Germany are calling a "Pfannkuchen" is called an "Eierkuchen" in Berlin. As J.F.K was speaking in Berlin to the people in Berlin there was no way whatsoever that the audience would associate the word "Berliner" with a jelly donut. So he got it 100% right. For us in Berlin a "Berliner" is someone from Berlin. Many greetings from Berlin

@davidblockdb 2 года назад

And the "Pfannkuchen" from Berlin was known in the Rest of Germany as "Berliner Pfannekuchen" and later on only as "Berliner"

@yuleschmoetvonschandonn5856 2 года назад

👍

@franzbauer1367 2 года назад

while all that is correct, "Berliner" is the correct word for that.

@johnbb99 Год назад

She makes that clear in the video! (And it's 'jelly', not yelly [which is the US term for what is called jam in the UK.])

@rickhooton Год назад

trust me in england we have different names for food stuffs from one town to the next

@bcubed72 3 года назад

"You just saved five people from a burning building...you're a hero!" "Uh, why did you just call me a hoagie?"

@inconnu4961 3 года назад

LOL, for non-northeastern Americans, both are names for a subway sandwich! In New England they were also referred to as 'Grindahs'( grinders)!

@m.simmons7149 3 года назад

Perfect example. (For those not familiar, both "hero" and "hoagie" are American slang for sandwiches)

@paulkenny5052 3 года назад

@@m.simmons7149 The term "hoagie" originated in Philadelphia from the sandwiches the ship yard workers ate for lunch working at the shipyard on Hoag Island.

@paulkenny5052 3 года назад

@@inconnu4961 And also the nickname "submarine" from the shipyard workers at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. That nickname seems to be also popular all over the east coast. Believe that the term "hero" is the Greek-American name.

@KingoftheJuice18 2 года назад

Nice example!

@KiskeyaLife 2 года назад

As a German viewer.... the Löwenzahn fact: mind blown. 😮

@jonathanwetherell3609 2 года назад

It certainly has bite.

@dukeofspeed2072 3 года назад

To all Americans: We also have a pastry that's called "AMERIKANER"! So be careful if you tell a german where you are from 😁😁😁😁😁😁

@Pendragon667 3 года назад

Like "I have a sweet tooth for Amerikaner". That'll sure bring one in trouble :-D

@laggeryt7558 3 года назад

@@Pendragon667 Depends... are you trying to hit on an American chick? :D

@Pendragon667 3 года назад

@@laggeryt7558 Currently being single i'd say: i take what comes along; as long as it fits (partnership-wise) ^^

@keithwhisman 3 года назад

Is is red white and blue icing coated with awesome jelly filling and extra pork fat used for frying? I’m fasting for a medical procedure and am very hungry right now. I really could use a donut right now.

@matthewkopp2391 3 года назад

An Amerikaner in the USA is called a French Cruller. So everyone seem confused on their pastry origins. A Doughnut stand on the highway in Germany ought to be called: "Autobahn Bismarcks"

@timm1328 3 года назад

My german professor, who actually was at the speech in Berlin, debunked this myth in class 1986, when one of the students asked about it.

@lostforever773 3 года назад

More details

@not-a-theist8251 3 года назад

Nice :)

@jeromextv 2 года назад

There is hope

@wd2616 2 года назад

You can blame Republicans for the confusion

@Antaios632 Год назад

A girl in my German class (in the late 80s) told us this and thought it was hilarious, but I knew even then that it didn't sound plausible. 😂

@s2snider Год назад

I'm an older American and wanted to compliment you on your wisdom and hard work in getting things right. It's very gratifying to see younger folks who are well able to do this. Thank you so much, Feli.

@jacobhann792 2 года назад

I remember the first time I heard this controversy: I had already been studying German for a few years and when someone brought this speech to my attention. I always assumed he was identifying himself with the Berlin citizens. Despite all my friends trying to convince me that JFK had made a fool of himself, I always maintained that he spoke correctly. Glad to hear that was indeed the case! Great video, Feli, it was both entertaining and informative! Love your channel; keep up the great work!

@Delibro 2 года назад

Thank you for maintaining your thoughts. There should be more people like you :)

@thepubknight6144 9 месяцев назад

Simpsons did a parody on it where JFK was in his navy uniform on a navy boat and said that out of nowhere and Abe and his crew attacked him 😂😂😂

@ElrohirGuitar 3 года назад

I was 14 at the time and I never heard anyone refer to a jelly doughnut. We were so proud of Kennedy that we viewed the speech as a wonderful commitment between we, Americans, and the German people.

@fredlandry6170 3 года назад

I wasn’t even born till 1969 my parents hadn’t even met yet and my dad was in the Navy on a Destroyer.

@tazepat001 3 года назад

I seen a documentary years ago that had subtitles and they translated it as "I am a jelly donut." My parents even said that they always heard that thats what he meant.

@bmaurus 3 года назад

I was told about the jelly doughnut interpretation by a native German in Germany.

@Buckeystown 3 года назад

Yep. I was 12.

@niranthbanks3595 3 года назад

This speech is among my earliest memories and I remember my dad translating it for my mom and brother. The emotion displayed by my parents is the most likely reason I remember it. (The funeral for JFK is an even stronger memory.) Dad was stationed in Germany prior to their marriage. He learned the language by immersion rather than by book. Which likely explains why translated as he did. I’m am an American btw if it wasn’t clear.

@irian42 3 года назад

OK, so as a German the mind-blowing thing about this video is actually the information about Peter Lustig and Elfie Donnelly!

@fusola9612 3 года назад

You didn't know that?

@leDespicable 3 года назад

@@fusola9612 Who did? I didn't, and I know nobody who does

@fusola9612 3 года назад

@@leDespicable I knew...

@leDespicable 3 года назад

@@fusola9612 Yeah, I guessed that from your first answer. But you aren't the norm

@lizben3463 3 года назад

Same 😄

@sabbottart 3 года назад

My German teacher in 1984-85 also told us this myth incorrectly. I’m glad that you finally clarified it!

@elderhiker7787 2 года назад

Thank you very much. Your explanation makes perfect sense and it is very complete. I had just graduated high school when he made that speech and because I am of German descent, I was very proud of him. Now, I know the whole story and can put all the mis-information to rest. Thanks a million.

@FelifromGermany 2 года назад

You're welcome!

@trebor1745 3 месяца назад

+1 !

@tianshi8453 3 года назад

As a German, it was totally new information for me that Americans thought for so many decades and still think, that JFK screwed up in this speech. It totally blowes me away and makes me sad in a way... I mean in regards of JFK's reputation, if that makes sense. To this day, I feel always proud when hearing this speech and thinking what a huge thing that was when the American President of that time showed so much sympathy and commitment to the German People who were in danger of the sovjet system around them. We in the federal state of Baden Wuerttemberg were so lucky, that this part of Germany went under control of the USA. It influenced my whole childhood in a very positive way. I hope after the last 4 years of separation, America and Germany come closer together, again. Thanks for this great video!

@jamesjacocks6221 3 года назад

I do as well! It’s been a trying time and I pray the US won’t revert.

@inconnu4961 3 года назад

I am a 50 yo American and remember being taught that JFK misspoke there! This was entirely eye opening to me. Now, to the last 4 yrs of separation between Germany & the US. I need to offer you a differing perspective on the Trump administration then what Leftists will claim. The Progressive establishment, which Frau Merkel is a part, came together to oppose Donald Trumps populist movement. That was really the only significant break in relations that im familiar with. The ginned up animosity towards him by marxist-leaning Progressives, especially in the media! Just how quickly and uniformly the world media could agree to oppose, denounce a leader should be frighteningly instructive! our national medias are more propaganda then we realize!

@dennislindqvist8443 3 года назад

@@inconnu4961 You mean channels like Fox news? State owned media isn't as bad as you would think. Taxpayers don't accept biased content.

@Sphere723 3 года назад

There's no need to be sad. Even with the popularity of the urban myth, it is still commonly thought of as one of the most important speeches in American history, and in many ways still defines how we as Americans see our role in the world. And with the re-emergence of isolationism in American politics, Mr. Kennedy's words are as poignant as ever. We are still Berliners. And Minskivites, and Kievans and Hong Kongers.

@richardburke6902 3 года назад

Not all Americans thought he screwed up. I was a teenager at the time and I knew exactly what he meant. I would conclude that when the possibility of a gaffe was eventually publicized, it was pounced on by those in the opposing party to try and darken the image of a man who was widely adored. To be honest, I had never heard of the criticism until I read Phelicia’s post last week. But I don’t follow Fox News. 😎😀🤔

@philippw9267 3 года назад

Henry Kissinger, who lived his first 15 years in Germany and is hence fluent in German, was the one who translated these two sentences from English to German for Kennedy shortly before the speech. Kennedy initially wanted to say them in English, but Kissinger convinced him to say them in German because he foresaw correctly the emotional impact it would have on the audience. Kissinger dictated the phonetic spelling you see on the index card to make sure Kennedy's pronunciation was on point.

@javi8714 3 года назад

Nah..., he trained it with his German translator thats when he wrote the notes.

@arrow1414 3 года назад

@@javi8714 Evidence?

@javi8714 3 года назад

@@arrow1414 A German TV documentary on this. I think Egon Bahr (some important aide of Willi Brandt, then-time mayor of West-Berlin and later Federal Chancellor) was telling about this. And actually, I'm not sure if Kissinger was actually there, as he's Republican.

@gustavmeyrink_2.0 3 года назад

@@javi8714 Kissinger founded the Center for International Affairs with Robert R. Bowie (Lyndon B Johnson's policy advisor) before making a massive political turn to the right.

@arrow1414 3 года назад

@@javi8714 You likely are right but Kennedy and Kissinger could've been friends despite the Party differences since politics weren't nearly as toxic then as it is now. Kennedy and Richard Nixon were friends themselves for example. As another example, Republican President Ronald Reagan and Democrat Speaker of the House Thomas "Tip" O'Neal were also good friends despite Tip trying to block or water down Reagan's policies.

@sarelras4103 2 года назад

Very well explained I never thought JFK got it wrong.

@davidhorridge8029 Год назад

One of my lawn care customers is an elderly German lady who lived through Nazi Germany. She told me that her daughter, who speaks fluent perfect German failed German class in school her in the US because the curriculum was wrong. She(a native German speaker) said the teacher( a non native German speaker) told her she had a degree in German language. My customer said she politely told the teacher she needed to "re-learn German". Made me laugh so hard. Our foreign language classes here in the US are usually terrible unless taught by a native speaker

@skallagrimr_kveldulfsson 3 года назад

Whenever I watch one of your videos I think "She explained this so well". You don't leave out anything important but you still keep it short and concise. Great job! And I agree with you, "Ich bin EIN Berliner" is clearly the more powerful way of saying this.

@needdamemes2757 3 года назад

this was almost word for word from the wiki

@jpdj2715 3 года назад

She could have mentioned the 1660s carriage design called "Berlin" or "Berline" in France - note that a regular sedan car is still called, can still be called, berline in French. Note that most of the Germanic Franks that gave their name to France and its language, probably still spoke Frankish by 1800, as only about 5% of the French spoke a pretty good version of the language that we would call French today. These Franks in France would have called that carriage a Berliner. Or if you ask American car buff Jay Leno what "I'm a Berliner" means, then you might get a joke along these lines.

@uwehansen2915 3 года назад

That why the German´s love JFK that mutch at the time it wars needet.

@matthewmorrisdon6906 3 года назад

Germans don't fart on trains?

@jpdj2715 3 года назад

@@matthewmorrisdon6906 they fart everywhere and even have a fart school

@jandubbers66 3 года назад

Today… I learned something new… 🙂 As a German native speaker I really never heard of this misconception before 🙂

@johnf-americanreacts1287 2 года назад

Thank you so much for this. Really well done. I’m glad you set the record straight.

@comsartoo1722 11 месяцев назад

Nice video well done Feli. Your enthusiasm is contagious!

@Wandderer 3 года назад

Ich bin ein Krapfen Seriously Me as a german didn't know how much that went wrong on a different continent... His speach still gives me chills by listening to it.

@craigh.9810 3 года назад

Me too as an American. I remember that speech well, and those were very tense times!

@darthzayexeet3653 3 года назад

Ich bin aus Berlin und mir wäre es nie in den Sinn gekommen das EIN wegzulassen. „Ich bin ein Berliner“ hört sich einfach natürlicher an, finde ich. Moreover „I am a Berliner“ sounds more powerful in my opinion. It gives me a somewhat „solidary“ feeling, like he’s trying to say „I’m one of you, guys“. Would’ve been funnier if he said „Ich bin ein Pfannkuchen“ tho 😂

@markoutlaw7702 Год назад

Feli - Again Happy Easter! Thanks for reminding me to watch this episode. Really good information.

@WowplayerMe Год назад

This is a very interesting topic. As a person who loves to study events of WWII & Then the Cold War, This speech is indeed very Iconic. I have to be honest, I only very recently found out that some people interpret that sentence as Kennedy calling himself a Jelly Doughnut. So, like you, Feli, to me it sounded quite normal for him to say the sentence the way he did. I'm new to this channel & I'm loving it. I watch all the new content you put out & of course I'm trying to catch up on all of your past videos. 😊

@bonch43 3 года назад

You don't even need to know German to know this. The crowd cheers, they don't laugh at him.

@andrewlynch4126 3 года назад

They might have just really liked jelly donuts

@abalada 2 года назад

@@andrewlynch4126 Those donuts are however not called Berliner in Berlin itself. Esp. not back at this time. Berliner, Hamburger, Frankfurter, etc. means somebody or something from these cities. If it comes to food those names were not used in these cities themselves. Often this was also just a shortcut and the second word got omitted. Frankfurter Würstchen - Frankfurter sausages. There are also examples where this for some reason never happened Aachener Printen (kind of gingerbread) Lübecker Marzipan (marcipane) Those names would be also abroad more difficult to pronounce.

@saskoreacts 3 года назад

Totally agree with you, as a German it never even occured to me that he could've made a mistake here. I never thought about the grammatically correct rule you mention at 9:00, I mean if you think about it, it makes sense, but I don't think anyone who grew up with German as their first language would bother or even realise that this phrase might be misunderstanding or grammatically incorrect.

@nightcorelove2626 3 года назад

Aber ich muss auch immer an den Krapfen denken. Genauso wenn jemand „Amerikaner“ sagt, da denk ich oft an einen Amerikaner (Gebäck) mit Armen, Beinen und Kopf

@mundron5290 3 года назад

Exactly my thoughts.

@silverstreettalks343 3 года назад

@@nightcorelove2626 Ja. Vieles von dem, was man sagt, ist mehrdeutig. Das bedeutet aber nicht, daß alle Optionen gleichwertig sind.

@HalfEye79 3 года назад

@@nightcorelove2626 In den Namen so manches Gebäcks und so mancher Würstchen, gibt es "Kannibalismus". Berliner, Amerikaner, Frankfurter, Nürnberger und bestimmt noch andere.

@juliomunoz6468 3 года назад

Now, I want to eat a Berliner!

@Fuff63 2 года назад

Thank you for covering this! That was such an important speech to all people.

@Paradise-on-Earth 9 месяцев назад

Awesome! VERY helpful and insightful. And you do all the explanation in such a friendly, interesting way. It's a pleasure to watch you!

@wncjan 3 года назад

Never seen it the US way as a mistake, but in Denmark we were joking that he was fortunate not to give the speech in Hamburg or Frankfurt. And btw in Denmark we call the pastry Berliner Pfannkuchen 😁

@gravellegb 3 года назад

He could have given the speech in Weimar, as well.

@lynchmob72 3 года назад

"I am a Hamburger" would have been worth the price of admission!

@agn855 3 года назад

So in Frankfurt, it would have ended up with "Ich bin ein Kreppel!" Priceless.

@dnocturn84 3 года назад

The city of Kassel would have also been really bad. "Ich bin ein Kassler" would have turned him into a roast pork. Or Nürnberger into a sausage as well as Wiener. Or a Wiener Schnitzel...

@TruthPoliceLegend 3 года назад

Being from Denmark yourself then why do you not call the pastry a 'Danish'? Pun intended my friend

@Belgarion2601 3 года назад

I just want to stress this again, "Ich bin EIN Berliner" was the perfect way to phrase it. "Ich bin Berliner" would have come across slightly strange. Not the other way around.

@alexejfrohlich5869 3 года назад

yepp, since we all know that the only useful of such a construct is in the sentence "wir sind papst!" :D

@matthewmorrisdon6906 3 года назад

It does not matter do to context. Amerikaner sind grammatikalische Nationalsozialisten. The same people demand potatoe to be spelled P-O-T-A-T-O.😁

@sleepingcity85 3 года назад

Honestly no. If somebody ask me, i would answer "Ich bin Berliner", but not say the "ein". But thats just true the context of actually being born in Berlin. Foreigners mostly add the "ein" and it make sense more there. The "ein" is not necessary for the sentence. The "ein" just specify its just one (of other millions).

@PiepsiPanic 3 года назад

@sleepingcity85 No, the "ein" in JFK's speech fits way better than without it because it has the slight touch of the meaning "I am one of you guys, I feel with you!". Without "ein" it wouldn't emphasize his solidarity to the Berliners that much, it only would sound like he just wanna pass on the information to you that he's from Berlin. At least that's how it sounds to me as a German. Yes, of course I also would say "Ich bin Berliner" if I just wanna let the other one know that I'm from Berlin - but I'm not JFK trying to show my solidarity to the Berliners, so in my case an "ein" would be senseless and sound weird. JFK did it absolutely right.

@gustavmeyrink_2.0 3 года назад

@@matthewmorrisdon6906 it is spelt P-O-T-A-T-O unless you are a moron like former Vice President Dan Quayle who became an international joke for insisting to spell it with an E at the end.

@johnburgon8597 3 года назад

Great “ myth buster “ Great presentation, detailed and scholarly. Thanks ever so much.

@russellcohen640 3 года назад

And this is why talking to people from different parts of the world is so enlightening. What you read or hear from non-native sources may have value, an informed native offers greater value still.

@MarkDDG 3 года назад

I'm from the Netherlands and I always just thought he said it right!

@SluttChops 3 года назад

Ik ben een aap met cimbalen.

@yellowdoor9548 2 года назад

@@SluttChops @Mark_DDG in Berlin slang we say !Ick bin een Berlina or Ick bin Berlina"

@brigittelacour5055 2 года назад

I'm french and always thought so.

@daveshep 3 года назад

Ich bin Deutschlehrer (im Ruhestand). I started teaching at about the same time the NY Times started the ridiculous myth about this speech. I always found it a bit stupid. I wonder how anybody who has seen the film of the speech and the audience's reaction can possibly imagine that they felt anything other than deep love and appreciation for JFK for essentially promising to keep them safe. Grad students and teachers sometimes get very hung up on what is "correct" about language (like podcast Josh) and ignore how language actually works: people speak to other people and make themselves understood. That's how it works. There is no Biblically-proclaimed "correct" grammar when it comes to the language that people speak. Feli, you have done an excellent job in this short video of explaining the context and making clear why the silly "jelly doughnut" myth persists.

@joecal2360 3 года назад

There was no misunderstanding. The Times propagated this myth knowingly and maliciously. The New York Times has always been, and continues to be, composed of repugnant communist propagandists, deserving only our most visceral disgust and contempt.

@HalfEye79 3 года назад

And even if he made a mistake, the crowd would interprete the saying in the way he intended it as he is no native speaker.

@ZechsMerquise73 3 года назад

@@joecal2360 It's not like all you need for a virulent idea is to mention it in a book review. You blame communist sympathizers, and completely incorrectly attributing communism to a hyper-capitalist and (at the time) conservative news organization... But more likely it was his domestic enemies (80s Republican Conservatives), though he was long-dead, who first propagated the story with malicious intent, but also people who just thought it was an interesting fact.

@craigh.9810 3 года назад

@@joecal2360 You are absolutely correct. This was all COMMIE inspired, and JFK was very much anti-Communist unlike the democrats today.

@snappingbear 3 года назад

@@ZechsMerquise73 You're clueless. The well known corrupt and proven fake news NYT have ALWAYS been a pro-leftist organization. They celebrated the Russian communist revolution FFS. There weren't any conservative news organizations that had a national presence at that time and there wouldn't be for many years.

@honorsherman4667 2 года назад

Love this. I took a little German in high school. Emphatically told to drop the article and that Kennedy got it wrong, but you’re the native speaker. :)

@davidtaylor8688 3 года назад

I have heard the Jelly Doughnut literally my entire life. Thank you for dispelling it. BTW, I'm an oldster, and I remember hearing this story in the '60's.

@reen_oderso 3 года назад

As a german, I also was really confused about that "urban myth". I never thought of this and would argue, that using the article in front is a totally fine german expression. It just puts emphasis on the word. Like for example I could say "Ich bin ein Europäer" to make it clear, that I identify with europe and the european idea more than just with my nationality or geographic residency. And in addition I want to add, that using the term "Berliner" in the context of the Berlin Wall in that time also puts emphasis on the fact, that there is only one city, no division. He didn't say Westberliner

@thegorgon7063 3 года назад

I heard the urban myth on TV rather than in my German language classes whilst at school in the UK in the 80's. Considering how polarised the US is politically there'll be one group of people who enjoy spreading the rumour, what is surprising is that the NYT played a role.

@Anon54387 3 года назад

I'm an American who had never heard this until just now. The New York Times. What can I say? They were getting things wrong even way back in 1983. Feli might get some grief for pointing out that people try to escape communism/socialism.

@tonycook7679 3 года назад

We do exactly the same in English, no difference at all between us and you. I am Australian, means I was born in Australia, I am an Australian means that I am one of the group of citizens of Australia. I never understood how this was considered to be an Irrtum, but there you go. Mind you his pronunciation is not so good, he made it sound like bee-leener instead of bear-leener

@matthewmorrisdon6906 3 года назад

I had heard from a German speaker speaker that the context corrected it (from the same person I heard the punchline story) like Germans say while in English "sex" not six. It makes Americans smile but the intent is clear like farting on a train.

@lynndaria7716 3 года назад

@@matthewmorrisdon6906 we say sechs - but the spoken version is "zzzexx", which can truely sound a bit like sex. Isn´t the german language funny?

@mikeleader5075 3 года назад

I just wanted to add that, growning up in Chicago 60 years ago, we called jelly doughnuts "Bismarks".

@jensgoerke3819 3 года назад

Come to Germany and try a Bismarkhering - a pickled herring named to honor Otto von Bismark.

@MrJanml 3 года назад

Actually Berlin pancakes are from that episode...eh epoche...

@jennifermoody487 2 года назад

Feli, this is only my second of your videos. But, I'm loving them! Thank you for explaining this. As someone with a PhD in history, and as a speaker of German as a third language (French was my second), I was with your friend on this for years and have even taught it in my history class that Kennedy slipped up there. Vielen Dank or as they say in Strasbourg, merci vielmals! Now, I can correctly tell the kids that Kennedy got it right instead of talking about his goof! Again, many thanks!

@compassionandwisdom4311 2 года назад

Thanks for setting us all straight, I always thought he was wrong. Feli, good luck with the new branding. Please reupload your older successful videos with with your new intro. Especially since you will save some time from all the headaches you have with the copyright issue. Alles gute!

@dcuerdon 3 года назад

Thank you so much for this! I feel such a sense of relief! I had always loved this speech until I had heard the jelly donut reference in 1988. I feel so much better now!

@wd2616 2 года назад

It was the Republicans that started the whole jelly donut thing

@alfredfreedomjones5105 Год назад

@@wd2616 so incredibly dumb, even if berliner meant jelly donut, he was in the city of Berlin talking about the Berlin Wall *of course* he was referring to the people of Berlin and not the food! Is common sense not common anymore?

@elvinjonas5451 3 года назад

Ms. Felicia, you did a great job on this video. The detailed explanation of the Berlin blockade, Kennedy's speech and the film clips you included took some diligent research. Thank you for your hard work!

@mannyromero4511 2 года назад

You should be doing this on Public Broadcast (PBS) you are brilliant and talented.

@FelifromGermany 2 года назад

Thank you!

@kikikoko607 2 года назад

My grandma lived in the GDR and she said that this speach and his visit felt like a little reunion of the two parts of Germany.

@theoriginaldayne 3 года назад

I'm an American learning German, and I vaguely remember being taught (incorrectly) about the jelly donut embarrassment. I'm thankful for you going into such detail to explain why JFK said it correctly. Your examples, "I'm American vs I'm an American" were helpful as well. Also, I got chills when he said "Ich bin ein Berliner" and the crowd went wild.... what an amazing moment in history! :)

@_volder 3 года назад

As an American who only learned German at school, I'm glad you explained how a sentence could work with or without the "ein". I've heard before that he got it right, but never a clear reason why. I think a big part of the problem is that we're taught using example sentences, and example sentences in which characters tell where they're from are just more common than example sentences in which they say they feel philosophically connected to a place they aren't from, so the version with no "ein" ends up being the only one we see at first.

@tonyperotti9212 3 года назад

Thanks for running this urban legend to ground. I never believed it and had forgotten I ever heard it until seeing your video.

@SkeeterDraws 11 месяцев назад

Very interesting! Thank you for this video! When I visited in 1991, many shops had t-shirts with the quote and jelly Donuts depicted. This fueled the urban legend for many if us exchange students.

@raybergmann4455 3 года назад

As an American dependent living in Germany from '58-'62, I remember the Berlin Wall event. My dad's tour was extended 6 months (ergo the entire family too). Personally I didn't know that Kennedy's speech had any confusion as to interpretation. This was a very interesting and informative video. Well researched. Thanks Feli!

@moi01887 3 года назад

To a certain degree, I think the characterization of this event as "embarrassing" is a politically-motivated attempt to disparage Kennedy.

@Buckeystown 3 года назад

Me as well though we went back to the states in '58

@ML-ul2zq 3 года назад

@@moi01887 Exactly.

@yaff1851 3 года назад

Some additional context: 1) That sentence was not just not embarrassing, it is considered one of the best quotes in history by the Germans. 2) This is by far not the only example where you have synonyms that can either mean “inhabitant of city or region x” and a typical food or drink of the said city or region. Like the slogan “Für’s Leben gern ein Stuttgarter”, which can be translated as “I love being from the city of Stuttgart” or “I’d love to have a beer from the brewery called Stuttgarter Hofbräu” 3) If you happen to be from Paris, you have to be even more careful saying in German where you’re from. You might maliciously be misunderstood as “I am a condom” 😁

@ContesHistoireEtLegendes 3 года назад

What, I don't know that about Paris 😂

@IceMetalPunk 3 года назад

But what if you're a condom from Paris? 🤔

@nicolassalathe6905 2 года назад

@@IceMetalPunk then you would actually say "ich bin ein Pariser Pariser"😂 or you wouldn't say anything as you are a condom😅🤣

@MichaelBurggraf-gm8vl Год назад

@@IceMetalPunk Then you're a pariser Pariser (engl. Parisian Parisian/condom).

@tillneumann406 8 месяцев назад

Also, not everyone from Frankfurt or Vienna (Wien in German) is a kind of sausage. Nor is someone from Hamburg a beef patty.

@joelpless4214 Год назад

Thank you for the clarification, Feli. I had heard the jelly donut joke repeatedly.

@salbuda6957 2 года назад

Interesting and very informative, Thanks Feli! Another famous quote of JFK’s was given during his 1961 Presidential Inauguration, “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country,” which imo not enough Americans follow today and that today’s generation mat not even be aware of. 😢

@Ainspost 3 года назад

In the Fall of 1983, my university German professor told the jelly doughnut story in class. Sadly, I believed him, though he loved to tell overblown stories. After 38 years, thanks for the clarity!

@noone-tq7cs 3 года назад

I come from Lorraine (France) which happens to be right next to Germany, we speak German a lot here (not good German tho) and that's one of the phrase we all know, but I've never ever heard anyone saying that it is not a correct sentence

@SenorJuan2023 2 года назад

Thanks for clearing that up! I heard the jelly donut slant many years ago.

@bobshea6523 2 года назад

Thank you. I tried to explain this to one of my history professors a few years ago. I'll send this link to him.

@515aleon 3 года назад

This is all news to me, funny thing. His audience certainly loved it--he connected for sure. He was an amazing orator--perhaps one of the very best presidential orators. I always thought it meant something like; "my struggles are your's and your's are mine".

@FreezyAbitKT7A 3 года назад

Unless he needed to park a car or buy a tuba

@toddwebb7521 3 года назад

I think he's overrated ad an orator but then again I'm not a fanboi of the barely intelligible as English Masshole accent

@alexejfrohlich5869 3 года назад

"I always thought it meant something like; "my struggles are your's and your's are mine". " -- it actually does! just not literally. and that is the reason why the people loved this speech. their ethusiasm is clearly heard in the recording and it is NOT a funny laugh, that one comes in when he talks about the translator. neventheless, the "berliner" joke is very very strong with this one. and i can even remember when we were at school and learned about it or when you see documentaries about it, someone is always pointing out this "funny coincedence" and even in contemporary german comedy, this is sometimes used for jokes. so it is a hard-to-die urban legend since it is so easy to "exploit". just listen to felicia, she got the details right ;)

3 года назад

@@alexejfrohlich5869 Who makes jokes about "Berliner" in german comedy? Granted, I'm not up to date on that, not having a TV. And if they do… I hope they also make jokes about the inhabitants of Hamburg. ;-)

@billace90 3 года назад

I doubt he was as good as Joe Biden ( sarcasm intended).

@BKPrice 3 года назад

Came for the jelly donuts, stayed for the history and grammar lesson.

@freeguy77 Год назад

What flavor of jelly donuts do you like best?

@BKPrice Год назад

@@freeguy77 Well, ever since I got diabetes, the kind that have neither jelly nor donut.

@freeguy77 Год назад

@@BKPrice Aw, what a shame you have been denied one of the greatest breakfast foods ever made! Good luck to you, and hope you can have something sweet and neat that doesn't affect your health.

@brassmule 2 года назад

This was a really great video. Thank you for taking the time to put such a comprehensive look into the history behind the event, the event itself, and the grammatical and colloquial variations of relevant German words and phrases. It was especially interesting to see how the US media reported this as compared to the actual video of the event itself. Great video that deserves more views, however!

@kayebowling8225 3 года назад

Thank you for this wonderful explanation! Yes, I’d always heard the myth, and I’m glad President Kennedy’s words weren’t misunderstood by the people attending the speech.

@LeutnantJoker 10 месяцев назад

Quite the opposite. It's the most famous American speech known to Germans and why JFK is highly regarded in Germany ( even though recent historical research shows that its likely he would not have risked war to defend Berlin if the ussr had called his bluff )

@usaverageguy 3 года назад

This video was the most interesting and educational you have done so far. I never knew that Berlin was annexed inside East Germany. I always assumed it was on the border between East and West Germany. More videos like this please.

@karinland8533 3 года назад

Have you heared of the Berlin air lift?

@usaverageguy 3 года назад

@@karinland8533 No. I am an American. Woefully ignorant of international events

@Baritone45 Год назад

@@usaverageguy Dude, if you're an American born before 1980, you should definitely have heard of the Berlin Air Lift. That should have made you wonder why they had to fly over "the Iron Curtain" to get supplies into West Berlin. I went through that thought process when I was about 12.

@libertycosworth8675 3 года назад

I learned my limited German language from my Grandmother, Father and High School German teacher well before that book was written, and well before the idiot from the NYT missed the concept of a false narrative in a fiction book, starting the myth or urban legend about JFK's speech. Thank you so much for reinforcing the truth of JFK's speech in Berlin!

@alterfritz5105 3 года назад

I learned about Kennedy's grammatical "mistake" in a college German class in the late 1970s when we were learning the rule about omitting the indefinite article when identifying citizenship, nationality, profession, etc. So I learned about it well before Len Deighton's novel (which I really enjoyed when I read it decades ago) was published. Anyway, in that grammar lesson from 1978 or so, the professor simply pointed out that Kennedy's "ein" was unnecessary and that grammatically the proper way to say "I am a resident of Berlin" is "ich bin Berliner." The professor also said that even if Kennedy's grammar was wrong, it didn't matter because the Berliners who listened to the speech knew exactly what Kennedy meant by it. I didn't hear the connection to a Pfannkuchen until years after my grammar lesson.

@terrys2735 3 месяца назад

Thank you for the comprehensive and correct explanation. When I was taking a community college German class a few years ago, before I researched this and read "Berlin Game", I walked into class one day and asked my professor, a native German, "Was JFK a jelly doughnut?" She immediately knew what I meant and said, "No". She then explained why.

@michaelchesny656 3 года назад

Thank you for correcting this impression. Great stuff.

@Rocketsong 3 года назад

My father who was born in Germany always said, "Technically grammatically incorrect, but everyone knew what he meant" Also the way people speak German is pretty different from how it's written.

@hankkingsley2976 2 года назад

Let's all craunch a marmoset.

@occupier1 3 года назад

I'm 48 and English and I didn't have a great understanding of that situation. Thanks for explaining. And do more history. Very good. Gold star.

@Hogtownboy1 2 года назад

When I watch you I always think of a great Robin Williams quote " I'm lateral thinking theater'.

@andrewjones8575 2 года назад

I so appreciate your thoroughness in your thinking and in your talking points. Well done! decades of accepted misinformation finally put to rest in an entertaining way. Loved the clips from the speech! There are times when we, myself included, as Americans need an infusion of German common sense! Keep up the good work! And Thanks. 👍🏻😎

@dieterspillner342 3 года назад

As a Berliner the residents of Berlin would never thought for one second that JFK was talking about a Donaught because Berliner don’t use that word we call it Pfannkuchen!

@phimtown 3 года назад

And the rest of Germany calls pancakes Pfann(en)kuchen.

@misss7777 3 года назад

And in the South most people call it Krapfen, Kräpple, ... all kind of different names that don't have anything to do with Berlin. As someone from a region where "pancake-soup" is a common dish (which confuses the hell out of people who visit and read THAT in the menu), the "pancake"-thing actually always got me confused before I knew it 😂 Even today I find it strange when someone calls pancakes "Eierkuchen" ("egg cakes") since eggs are within the ingredient list of almost every cake...😂

@seethingnuclearchaos 3 года назад

My German teacher actually told me that Kennedy was just fine in his usage and we had a laugh at the urban legend.

@craigh.9810 3 года назад

Yes, I read some articles years ago that dispelled that urban legend, probably spread by Communists in the MSM.

@the0ne809 3 года назад

@@craigh.9810 tell me your brain is still in the 1960s without telling me your brain is still in the 1960s. Lol

@thunfischente 3 года назад

@@craigh.9810 as felicia statet, the urban legend started with an american novelist ;)

@ronaldcammarata3422 3 года назад

@@craigh.9810 Or more likely Republicans who hated Kennedy.

@-datolith2775 2 года назад

Super Feli ! Ich mag deine Videos, einfach, liefert mit viele Einblicke in die Amerikanische Denkweise und super zum Englisch Lernen, wegen deiner sehr korrekten Aussprache.

@Bakchoi13 Год назад

This was a wonderful summary! Thank you... I think I finally got it!!! 😘😘😘

@Cleto991 3 года назад

Thank you Felicia for clearing this. As always, so gentle and kind. Regards.

@petereggers7603 3 года назад

Great research Feli, chapeau. Never heard of this misconception. How would I, I'm german. The historic context and reference to "l'm a roman..." was way to often cut off. What remained as THE german narrative was, that an US president spoke german!

@mikec9810 Год назад

Thanks for the clarification. Up until now, I understood that the missing 'ein' made him a jam doughnut.

@schyllic 2 года назад

Thanks for clearing this up. I heard of that mistake when I was in school and wasn’t sure for many years. I’m so glad that it was well received, and nobody turned into a pastry. But hopefully by the magic of Bakery, many donuts were enjoyed by the good people.

@harktischris 3 года назад

This is fascinating as both an American who repeatedly was told this myth, and also as a German learner who also learned about the "don't use an article here" grammatical rule. Great having someone clear up the grammatical nuance here, as well as the actual historicity of the "Berliner" term for the pastry.

@OurWayOfLife 3 года назад

The historical meaning is far more present for the germans that lived at this time. I've seen the Peter Lustig Interview where he talked about doing the sound recording of that speech - he himself said he did not know what kind of historical meaning this speech will have one day. Good video! Greetings from the Virginia Germans Rick and Tamara

@droe2570 3 года назад

I have never heard of this "jelly donut" thing before, and I'm American.

@laggeryt7558 3 года назад

As a German, it comes up frequently when you speak to Americans. It's a bit embarassing, you don't want to make them feel stupid, but at the same time it's silly to let such a foolish mistake stand and let the American run around telling silly stories. What to do, what to do... :)

@TheGalacticWest 3 года назад

@@laggeryt7558 You must crush them for this mistake.

@Nomercy721 3 года назад

@@laggeryt7558 I too as an American have never heard of this, so not sure how many actually know about this "mistake"

@dannyshaw2975 3 года назад

Same here. I never herd of a so called "flub" ,but for da first time here in this post( born in maine),( was in FLA when he said it),(now l ive on da Left Cost).

@captainobvious5177 2 года назад

I'm happy to hear that

@johnbb99 Год назад

Great video, concise, clear, informative and entertaining. Being in the UK, I'd never heard the suggestion that he'd made an error. :)

@Rufio_Cristiforus_Tucarus 3 года назад

So I also heard "ein Berliner" being used for the name of a jelly-filled pastry years ago and I decided in the middle of this Facebook message conversation I was having with this one German girl to try and insert it in as a joke hoping she'd see the humor I was driving at. She didn't get the joke and preceeded to tell me that you'd just be saying you're from the city Berlin by uttering it.

@owenshebbeare2999 3 года назад

And she was absolutely correct!

@claudiakarl7888 3 года назад

If someone in Germany says „I‘m a Frankfurter“ or someone in Austria „I‘m a Wiener“, none of them wants to express he‘s a sausage or something else. It’s just an expression to state which city you‘re from. And it will never be mistaken in Europe.

@craigh.9810 3 года назад

@@claudiakarl7888 or: ein Hamburger

@richardburke6902 3 года назад

Now that you have announced your merch store, how about a T-shirt that says “I am jelly donut“ as a joke (with no article). Maybe on one side but on the other side it will say “Ich bin ein Berliner”. Just a suggestion. You know, for the next round of merch that you suggested people comment on. 😇

@FelifromGermany 3 года назад

I love that idea! 😁

@javi8714 3 года назад

@@FelifromGermany nah... That would just promote the misunderstanding... But in German, sold in Berlin that would be great. 😁

@MrNice-zm9qk 2 года назад

No, not funny, just awkward...

@cmartin_ok 2 года назад

Great idea - with a picture of the Brandenburg gate with a jelly donut on top to accompany it

@yellowdoor9548 2 года назад

sound better than the word "Bulette" nickname for Berlin native.

@biofueler 2 года назад

thanks for straightening this out i heard he callled himself a bagel.

@jesseaddisonmoore2054 3 года назад

I don't think I've heard of this, however the whole video is well done / edited. thx for the content

@schwesterella862 3 года назад

I am almost in 7th grade and I am trying to learn German. I have a lot of German heritage and I want to keep my grandma’s culture alive. I appreciate your videos!

@swaggytoast5242 3 года назад

@jamescurfman3284 3 года назад

That's cool! Keep at it! :)

@alexs3447 3 года назад

Better get a warm coat for when you visit Moscow

@stephenpelletier8947 2 года назад

Thanks, Felcia. On this terrible day to be an American (Afghanistan betrayal), it's good to remind us of a time we Americans can be proud of. The support and commitment the US gave to Germany (and Japan) post war are amongst the most truly magnanimous events in world history. When I look today at the success of Germany and Japan -- and South Korea and Taiwan -- I can take some pride in knowing that we helped.

@midorimashintaro2092 9 месяцев назад

Afghanistan was bound to happen one way or another. As a non American, the most recent debacle which really brought into question American reliability was your abandonment of the Kurds in Syria.

@SUBcyclist Год назад

I have watched this video much later than all of you, so my comment is not too relevant to the conversation. However, I want to highlight the high quality education I received at my high school here in the US - and, it is a public high school! My German teacher, Herr Kress, talked to us about this famous speech, and correctly informed us of what you explained here, Feli. Herr Kress was born in New York to German immigrant parents, so he was certainly immersed in the environment of misinterpretation of President Kennedy’s statement; however, he knew what sentiment the president was trying to convey. I was very fortunate to have such fantastic teacher; one among many - but, my favorite. Vielen Dank, Herr Kress!

@michaelshockley4270 3 года назад

So, i learned about this in school in the early 80's. This subject was covered in our textbook at the time. i was taught JFK said in German " I am a doughnut ". Thank you for clearing up this for us.

@williamivey5296 3 года назад

Many years ago I heard an interview with the woman who'd provided the phrase for the speech as part of her translating job at the Whitehouse. She said her boss had gone over it and made a minor change, adding "ein". Probably for exactly the reason you gave - to imply solidarity rather than being literally from Berlin. She said it was fine with her and would be totally understood by the audience. She couldn't believe how the myth took off years later.

@johndittmer8488 3 года назад

I am proud to say that I kicked that evil wall a few times in 1990.

@Jack_Callcott_AU Год назад

Thanks for clarifying this issue.

@debi7227 3 года назад

Thank you for this video! I’m an American who speaks no German; thanks to you, I finally understand the confusion over the sentence.

@jeremiahdanielson5642 3 года назад

Sometimes I look in the mirror and tell myself. “I’m a jelly doughnut.”

@atticstattic 3 года назад

As long as there's no reply...

@timmmahhhh 3 года назад

@@atticstattic there might be one if I eat too many.

@btsr2553 3 года назад

You make my day. This brings me to the question of questions. In Bavaria it is tradition to fill one of the many doughnuts (as you learned, we call them "Krapfen") with mustard. Since we have the sweet or the spicy mustard here. No, not really. Unless you make them yourself and fill them yourself. But it's fun to irritate someone with it. So you got the doughnut filled with mustard? The question of the questions is now? So with which filling doughnut are you now, when you look in the mirror? I always say that to my wife, that she is my very sweet "Krapfen".

@namarie325 3 года назад

“What is that, Private Pyle?!” “Sir, a jelly donut, Sir!”

@SenorJuan2023 2 года назад

I actually visited that city hall when I visited there many years ago! I was staying nearby and heard Charles and Diane were there and I got a photo.

@claudradford 3 года назад

Thanks for this clarity. This is one of my cities and areas of Berlin!!!

@oxigenarian9763 3 года назад

Awesome job Felicia! I feel you are SO respectful when you discuss how Americans interact with Germany and the German people!! I grew up during this period of our history and have never heard of this controversy.

@heldt952 3 года назад

I remember this speech from history class (in Germany). Let's just say that JFK put lots of hope into those poor people with these five words. Great explanation, thanks for the video.