Den Dingen auf den Grund gehen. Translation: Get to the bottom of things. Meaning: Investigate thoroughly to understand the real reasons behind a conflict or problem.
The Broken Jug
Heinrich von Kleist – Der zerbrochne Krug (The Broken Jug, 1808). This classic play centers on a village court case in which a judge must determine who broke a jug belonging to a local woman. The entire plot revolves around the careful reconstruction of events, examination of evidence, and the search for truth through witness testimony and logical deduction. The play is a brilliant satire of the judicial process, but at its core, it exemplifies the German logic of conflict resolution: reconstructing causes, scrutinizing evidence, and striving for objective truth, even as human flaws complicate the process.
In dubio pro reo
In German conflict situations, such as criminal law, the general rule “in dubio pro reo” (when in doubt, for the accused) applies. During the examination of a conflict and in reconstruction of the facts, it is requird that the judiciary be extremely accurate.
This means among other things, that subjective evidence, such as taking testimonies on the basis of assumptions (even though they might be accurate), are not sufficient indications of the facts. This protects the German defendants from unlawful decisions.
However, this also means that even if the subjective evidence is convincing, the prosecutor does not have the right to use it, unless and until objective evidence (e.g. reviewed testimonies, video- or tape recordings, images) verifies it.
If the prosecutor is not able to find such evidence and tries to support his argument by using subjective testimony, he still carries the burden of proof.
Let’s take the example of a prosecutor whose house was graffitied. The prosecutor does not know with certainty that the graffiti was actually done by the defendant, but he has a strong subjective presumption since the defendant is a well-known graffiti artist in the neighborhood.
The prosecutor carries the burden of proof. Relying only on subjective reasoning will lead to the lawsuit being rejected due to lack of conclusiveness.
Vergangenheitsbewältigung
Postwar Trials and Vergangenheitsbewältigung (Coming to Terms with the Past). After World War II, Germany’s approach to dealing with Nazi crimes was grounded in the collection and presentation of objective evidence—such as documents, photographs, and testimonies—during the Nuremberg Trials and subsequent legal proceedings. This process set a precedent for addressing historical wrongdoing through meticulous reconstruction of facts and causes.
German Reunification
The reunification of East and West Germany is a landmark case of conflict resolution managed through careful negotiation, legal frameworks, and evidence-based policymaking. The process involved extensive documentation, transparent communication, and step-by-step integration of political, economic, and legal systems. While not mediated by a single agency, the approach relied on traditional German strengths: methodical problem-solving, inclusion of multiple stakeholders, and a commitment to transparency and rule of law.
Tischtuch zerschnitten
Der Tischtuch ist zerschnitten. The tablecloth has been ripped in two.
In the German context, to escalate a conflict within the team to the next management level is considered to be a sign of failure. Failure of the conflict parties to resolve their problem. Failure to at least come up with a proposed resolution which they can take to their team lead for her input, and perhaps her decision.
Escalation is the equivalent of going to court, of one party suing the other. For Germans, the severity of such a step just about rules out any chance that the two parties will be able to work together again. And regardless of how their German manager assists in the resolution, regardless of the outcome, she will view her two team members as having failed themselves, the team and her.
“Patience is the strongest of weapons”
Max Weber described politics as “slowly drilling through the thickest boards”, meaning it demands patience and perseverance to reach one’s goals.
Konrad Adenauer – West German chancellor form 1949 until 1963 – had the same thought in mind when in 1946 he said:
“Patience is the strongest of weapons, of a defeated people laid so low.” Germany after the Second World War lay in ruins. And due to the crimes committed by its Nazi-regime was an occupied pariah state.
Because Adenauer knew it would be many years before Germany would be reunited, he stressed patience and perseverance not only to the West Germans, but also to the Western Allies – the occupying forces.
Adenauer referred time and again to German history, to the two world wars and the centuries further back. His approach, his long-term perspective, his stamina, proved to be right. Twenty years after his Adenauer’s death the two Germanies were reunited and has become one of the great forces for stability in and for Europe.
Inspector Bärlach
Friedrich Dürrenmatt – Der Richter und sein Henker (The Judge and His Hangman, 1950). This crime novel follows Inspector Bärlach as he investigates the murder of a police officer. The story is a masterclass in methodical investigation, weighing of evidence, and unraveling of motives and circumstances. Dürrenmatt’s work reflects the German tradition of meticulously reconstructing events and motives to reach a just resolution.
Katharina Blum
Heinrich Böll – Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum (The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum, 1974). This novel tells the story of a woman’s life being destroyed by tabloid journalism and public suspicion. The narrative is structured as a quasi-investigative report, presenting evidence, testimonies, and different perspectives to reconstruct the truth behind the scandal. Böll’s novel is a critique of media sensationalism but also a literary experiment in objective reporting and evidence-based narrative, mirroring the German mediator’s analytical approach.
Peinlich
Konflikt. Conflict. Latin conflictus. Collision, hitting, crashing together; a difficult situation caused by opposing opinions; to go against something, to argue, battle, fight with another.
Streit. Argument. Old High German strīt. To go against, uproar, to argue against each other vociferously; to bicker, to argue loudly, emotionally, intensely, including physical attacks. A term used in the past for battle, military confrontation. To arm yourself for a Streit.
Auseinandersetzung. To address an issue at length; discuss, debate, argue; sharp, bitter verbal confrontation; conflict between peoples fought militarily.
Peinlich. Embarrassing. From Middle High German pīnlich. Painful, from pein, pain; Latin poena, punishment; feeling of discomfort, unease, shame.
Überspielen. To hide something negative, cover up; to distract from an embarrassment; to refer to a negative situation with humour so as to mask it.
Petzen. To „rat on“ another person. Germans team members are very reluctant to go to their team lead in order to inform about a problem or another team member‘s poor work.
Denunzieren. To denounce. To go to an authority in order to provide negative or incriminating information about another person. To be an informant.