Kraft durch Freude

English translation: Strength through Joy (movement)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Kraft durch Freude
English translation:Strength through Joy (movement)
Entered by: Robin Ward

09:12 Jul 2, 2004
German to English translations [PRO]
Government / Politics / Propaganda
German term or phrase: Kraft durch Freude
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
Robin Ward
Germany
Local time: 00:18
Strength through joy
Explanation:
...seems to be the common translation, see ref.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2004-07-02 09:32:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, link doesn\'t work as intended. Check
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q="kraft durch freude"&hl=en&...
Selected response from:

tectranslate ITS GmbH
Local time: 00:18
Grading 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.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +14Strength through joy
tectranslate ITS GmbH
5 +2Comment
Manfred Mondt
4power through pleasure
IanW (X)
4 -1Vigour through enjoyment
Dr. Kathleen Cross
4 -3Fit with Fun
Norbert Hermann


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
power through pleasure


Explanation:
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\"?

IanW (X)
Local time: 00:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 34
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -3
Fit with Fun


Explanation:
I believe there is a magazine called Fit for Fun

Norbert Hermann
Local time: 23:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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 mins
  -> 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 mins
  -> mmhh probably not - helps to put it in perspective though and highlights modern parallels

neutral  Textklick: Do you mean "Health and Efficieny"?
43 mins

neutral  Roddy Stegemann: I like your new bridge!
2 hrs
  -> 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 hrs
  -> 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 day 1 hr
  -> 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.
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18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +14
Strength through joy


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

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2004-07-02 09:32:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

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...
tectranslate ITS GmbH
Local time: 00:18
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading 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.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Orla Ryan
1 min

agree  Klaus Herrmann
2 mins

agree  sarastro
16 mins

agree  Textklick: Duden>Oxford KdF Abk. (ns.) Kraft durch Freude Strength through Joy [movement]
35 mins

agree  langnet: Vielleicht sollte man den dt. Begriff belassen und die englische Übersetzung in Klammern hinzufügen.
41 mins
  -> 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 hr

agree  dilberlin
1 hr

agree  NGK: also w/ langnet
2 hrs

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 hrs

agree  Olaf Reibedanz
4 hrs

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 hrs

agree  John Bowden: With Sarah - keep the German and put "strength through Joy [movement]" in brackets
5 hrs

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 hrs

agree  roneill: agree with langnet
16 hrs
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53 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Vigour through enjoyment


Explanation:
My feeling is that the more sober terms 'vigour' and 'enjoyment' fit the context a bit better.

Dr. Kathleen Cross
Germany
Local time: 00:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  John Bowden: There is a commonly accepted translation, as in tectrans' answer above
4 hrs
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Comment


Explanation:
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.


Manfred Mondt
United States
Local time: 19:18
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  sylvie malich (X): Those Who Forget History are Doomed to Repeat It.
13 hrs
  -> Also ich steh nicht allein da!

agree  Fantutti (X): Yes, KdF makes me puke right away!!
1 day 8 hrs
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