From Bismarck's Reich Hounds to Kohl's Pig Stomachs

A potted history of German diplomatic blunders

Bismarck and his dogs Tyras II and Rebecca. He was by no means the only political figure to make use of dogs in diplomacy, but his Great Dane Tyras I caused an unusually outrageous international incident. Img: public domain.

As a country of significant scale, size and weight, Germany should be very good at diplomacy. With its crucial position in the centre of Europe, its export economy and its many dependencies on other countries, it should have foreign-political schmoozing down to a fine art. Yet Germany has often proved surprisingly gaffe-prone on the world stage.

From Bismarck’s political pooches in the 19th century to Friedrich Merz’s Brazil bashing last week, here’s a potted history of German leaders offending countries they seek to have good relations with.