German of the day: Abzug

That means withdrawal.

Vance floats US troop withdrawal from Germany over free-speech concerns – The U.S. vice president links continued military support to Berlin’s speech policies.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday night suggested that the Trump administration could reconsider its military presence in Germany, tying continued American defense commitments to Berlin’s stance on free speech.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Vance took direct aim at Germany’s handling of online speech restrictions, warning that the American public would not support funding the country’s defense while its government cracks down on political expression.

“Think about this,” Vance said. “Germany’s entire defense is subsidized by the American taxpayer. There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think that the American taxpayer is going to stand for that if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet? Of course, they’re not.”

German of the day: Niedrigenergiehaus

That means low-energy house. You know, a Green energy house?

This low-energy house looks like it had plenty of energy to me.

On Wednesday evening, the fire department was called to Schönberg in Schleswig-Holstein: A deafening rumble shook the neighborhood! There was an explosion in a single family house that blew away an entire wall…

The initial assumption is that a lithium battery storage system in the low-energy house could be the reason.

German of the day: Bedrohung von innen

That means threat from within.

At Munich conference, US VP Vance warns European allies of ‘threat from within’ – Vice President JD Vance warned European allies attending the security conference in Munich, Germany, against “the threat from within,” arguing that European governments are exercising extreme censorship and have failed to adequately get a handle on “out-of-control migration.”

“The threat that I worry the most about vis a vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor,” he said Friday. “What I worry about is the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America.”

German of the day: Anschlag

That means attack. As in terrorist attack. As in the next one.

Munich: Söder speaks of attack – driver 24-year-old Afghan – A car has driven into a crowd of strikers in Munich. At least 28 people were injured, including children. Bavaria’s Minister President speaks of a “suspected attack”. The driver of the car was an Afghan asylum seeker.

German of the day: Größenwahn

That means megalomania or having delusions of grandeur.

Also see Lachnummer. That means being a joke or a laughing stock.

Annalena Baerbock: Russia wanted to prevent me from becoming chancellor – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wants to thwart the US Gaza plans. Talks with partners are underway, she said on “Maischberger” – and emphasized her claim to power within the Greens.

German of the day: Schlagabtausch

That means an exchange of blows. Or a debate, if you prefer.

German Chancellor candidates clash on Trump, the far-right and NATO – In the first duel ahead of the February 23 election, Merz portrayed Scholz as a ditherer who had led Germany into economic crisis, while the Social Democrat presented himself as an experienced leader in command of the details…

Merz, far ahead in the polls and the favourite to become Germany’s next chancellor, expressed reluctance to raise taxes or borrow to reach the NATO alliance’s defence spending target of 2% of gross domestic product, far short of the 5% Trump is demanding.

German of the day: Handelsüberschuss

That means trade surplus.

As Trump threatens EU with tariffs, Germany announces trade surplus worth $74.1 billion with U.S. – Germany logged a record trade surplus with the United States last year, data showed Friday, news that could stoke tensions with US President Donald Trump as he threatens the EU with tariffs.

The United States also returned as the top trading partner for Europe’s biggest economy last year, it showed, overtaking China which had been in the number one spot since 2016…

Germany accounts for a hefty chunk of the European Union’s large trade surplus with the United States, which has been a source of anger for Trump.

German of the day: „Riviera des Nahen Ostens“

That means “Riviera of the Middle East.”

Book early or something.

Das Kernzitat lautet: “Die USA werden den Gazastreifen übernehmen, und wir werden dort ganze Arbeit leisten.“ Im englischen Original: „The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too.“ Zudem sagte er: „Wir werden ihn besitzen.“

The core quote is: “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too.” In the original English: “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too.” He also said: “We will own it.”

German of the day: Abweichler

That means dissenters.

As in dissenters within your own party. In this case, Germany’s CDU.

Germany’s parliament rejects radical migration plan – Greens and SPD earlier refused to support the Influx Limitation Act amid fierce criticism from Merkel over Merz’s cooperation with AfD…

The highly-controversial proposal, put forward by the CDU/CSU opposition party which leads in the polls, failed to secure a majority in the Bundestag, despite the backing of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland.