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Glossary entry

Deutsch term or phrase:

Kraft durch Freude

Englisch translation:

Strength through Joy (movement)

Added to glossary by Robin Ward
Jul 2, 2004 09:12
19 yrs ago
Deutsch term

Kraft durch Freude

Deutsch > Englisch Sonstige Staatswesen/Politik Propaganda
Any ideas as to how one might translate the above, in the following (description of a TV programme broadcast by Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk on June 29, 2004):

Es sollte die größte Urlaubsmaschine des Deutschen Reiches werden: Das Kraft-durch-Freude-Bad Prora, ein Seebad für 20.000 Volksgenossen. In nur 18 Monaten klotzten 3.000 Maurer, Eisenbieger und Handlanger ein fünf Kilometer langes Betonungetüm an den Strand der Insel Rügen.

Adolf Hitler selbst hatte die Idee, hieß es immer wieder. Der NS-Freizeitorganisator Robert Ley machte es sich zur Lebensaufgabe. Seine Vision war ein monumentales Riesenseebad für den deutschen Arbeiter - und für die Ewigkeit.

.... Doch das K.d.F.-Bad war kein Freizeitklub. In Friedenszeiten war es als Erholungsapparat gedacht, im Kriegsfall als Lazarett. Durchgeplant wie ein Fließband. Im steten Wechseltakt: Sonne, Sport und Propaganda für den Arbeiter und Soldaten - fit machen für den Überlebenskampf.

"Strength through joy" immediately suggests itself, but are there any more suggestions?

Thanks,
Croc
Proposed translations (Englisch)
5 +14 Strength through joy
5 +2 Comment
4 power through pleasure
4 -1 Vigour through enjoyment
4 -3 Fit with Fun

Discussion

Textklick Jul 6, 2004:
A propos of garnix. I was talking to an ex-colleague. He has seen the building under discussion here and it is as large as THE PENTAGON! However, neither used, nor dismantled.
Reason: made of asbestos. Useful snippet for dinner parties ;-)

Proposed translations

+14
18 Min.
Selected

Strength through joy

...seems to be the common translation, see ref.

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Note added at 19 mins (2004-07-02 09:32:20 GMT)
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Sorry, link doesn\'t work as intended. Check
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q="kraft durch freude"&hl=en&...
Reference:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22kraft+durch+freude%22&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7Ccountr

Peer comment(s):
agree Orla Ryan
1 Min.
agree Klaus Herrmann
2 Min.
agree sarastro
16 Min.
agree Textklick : Duden>Oxford KdF Abk. (ns.) Kraft durch Freude Strength through Joy [movement]
35 Min.
agree langnet : Vielleicht sollte man den dt. Begriff belassen und die englische Übersetzung in Klammern hinzufügen.
41 Min.
Auf Dauer wäre das ein wenig langatmig, glaube ich. Aber "Krokodil" kann ja den Begriff und die Abküfzung am Anfang des Textes vielleicht einmal erklären und dann nur noch die Abkürzung KdF schreiben.
agree Dr. Kathleen Cross : ...although, as I've often found, 'standard translations' aren't necessarily always the best ones ,-)
1 Stunde
agree dilberlin
1 Stunde
agree NGK : also w/ langnet
2 Stunden
agree kapsaski (X) : Ich hielte es auch fuer das Beste, den dt. Begriff zu lassen mit einer Uebersetzung in Klammer. siehe auch: http://faculty-web.at.nwu.edu/sociology/witte/arbeit/ab01.ht...
4 Stunden
agree Olaf Reibedanz
4 Stunden
agree Sarah Downing : You could always mention the German once with the English in brackets and then just refer to the English in later references
4 Stunden
agree John Bowden : With Sarah - keep the German and put "strength through Joy [movement]" in brackets
5 Stunden
agree Dr. Fred Thomson : Krokodil must absolutely, positively stick with the traditional translation. It carries a great deal of package and people would just laugh at any "new" translation.
12 Stunden
agree roneill : agree with langnet
16 Stunden
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "So it would appear that my own suggestion wasn't too far off the mark. Thanks to Textklick for pointing out that this was in fact the name of a movement - I wasn't aware of this."
2 Min.

power through pleasure

How about "power through pleasure"?

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Note added at 7 mins (2004-07-02 09:20:21 GMT)
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Or \"the power of pleasure\"?
Something went wrong...
-3
12 Min.

Fit with Fun

I believe there is a magazine called Fit for Fun
Peer comment(s):
disagree tectranslate ITS GmbH : :-o ??? OMG! Guys, consider the political background! // I do NOT think there is a parallel between the "Fit for Fun" mag and Norwegian Fjord cruises for Nazi party members - historical or otherwise.
3 Min.
I am considering the political background - getting the nation fit for whatever - including fit for war! Ok, you are right. Funny though that some fitness fanatics are called body fascists ;-))
neutral Klaus Herrmann : Should you transpose a "historical" term into modern times?
11 Min.
mmhh probably not - helps to put it in perspective though and highlights modern parallels
neutral Textklick : Do you mean "Health and Efficieny"?
43 Min.
neutral Roddy Stegemann : I like your new bridge!
2 Stunden
Thanks, it's the bridge of 25th April in Lisbon, not the Golden Gate, but unusual to have all that mist there. :-)
disagree kapsaski (X) : Well, I think "Fit for Fun" shows rather bad taste . Sorry, what fun?
4 Stunden
Sorry kapsaski - I did not say "fit for fun", but "fit WITH fun" (only borrowed it). And if you can't see parallels, then try this as a thought: fitness fanatics, body facsists, bad movies with big muscle guys, army, Irak .... torture .....
disagree sylvie malich (X) : Would only fit if it were a docu-satire a la Michael Moore.
1 Tag 1 Stunde
It would equally be fitting if your aim is to make history more accessible to a younger audience. Today's Volksverblödungsexperten ala Reichspropagandaministerium, spin doctors ... would use it. We also update Shakespear to modern usage of language.
Something went wrong...
-1
53 Min.

Vigour through enjoyment

My feeling is that the more sober terms 'vigour' and 'enjoyment' fit the context a bit better.
Peer comment(s):
disagree John Bowden : There is a commonly accepted translation, as in tectrans' answer above
4 Stunden
Something went wrong...
+2
12 Stunden

Comment

It brings back memories. Beside the above slogan "Kraft durch Freude" lets not forget:
"Erst siegen, dann reisen" and "Räder müssen rollen für den Sieg".
KdF had definitely political overtones.


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Note added at 1 day 5 hrs 41 mins (2004-07-03 14:53:47 GMT)
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Ungefähr so wie man einem Kaninchen eine Mohrrübe vor die Nase hält.
Peer comment(s):
agree sylvie malich (X) : Those Who Forget History are Doomed to Repeat It.
13 Stunden
Also ich steh nicht allein da!
agree Fantutti (X) : Yes, KdF makes me puke right away!!
1 Tag 8 Stunden
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