As a native German I rather feel it associated with the German Empire - probably also not a desirable association (read "Der Untertan" by Heinrich Mann (in Engl

As a native German I rather feel it associated with the German Empire - probably also not a desirable association (read "Der Untertan" by Heinrich Mann (in English this book seems to be known under different names: "Man of Straw", "The Patrioteer", "The Loyal Subject")), but it has nothing to do with nazis.