The Great Escape

[snopes]

Comment: Possibly just a UK legend, but told to me as the actual
experience of [ ... the proverbial friend's relative]. I'm only in any
doubt about it because it just doesn't appear to be a widespread legend on
the web, at least in this form ... :

The upper echelons of a British company recently acquired by a German one
were flown to meet their counterparts on an "away day" to a third country,
to help the two managements overcome cultural barriers and cement a new
working relationship (All mention of the Second World War - a popular
jingoistic theme in the UK whenever Germany is the topic of discussion -
being firmly off the agenda).

At the end of the polite and politic sessions, the newly 'united' teams
flew in one charter plane to Germany, where the German managers decanted,
before taking everyone else back to Britain. As the jet left [german
airport x], the Brits remaining on the plane let off steam with a
spontaneous whistled rendition of the theme tune to the war movie, The
Great Escape (in which Brits confound their German captors and escape a
POW camp).

On arrival in London, they discovered that their new German CEO and key
leaders remained aboard at the front of the plane ... and were not amused.

I think I was told this story in the early 1990s.

[Andrew of Ware]

I've never heard of this, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was true (or at least based on a true story). British squaddies can have a wicked sense of humour, especially when their superior officers (whether British or German) are concerned. Thus, when the soldiers thought they were free of their senior commanders they would celebrate their 'escape' from authority.

In addition the theme to 'The Great Escape' is very well known today as it is often played (or whistled) at English football matches. This is done when the England team comes from behind to win or draw a match.

[Tarquin Farquart]

I thought this was going to be about the "Good luck"/"Thanks" line.

[Loyhargil]

Well, along the same lines...

A few years ago, my husband worked for a British company that was bought out by a German company.

DH works in IT, and was working on a report to assist with the necessary change-ups. Unfortunately, and obliviously, he concluded his report with the section heading, "Final Solution."

He was quickly told to change it before it went to any German counterpart.

[Horse Chestnut]

Originally Posted by snopes

On arrival in London, they discovered that their new German CEO and key
leaders remained aboard at the front of the plane ... and were not amused.

What really teed them off was when the English started throwing baseballs against the seat backs.

[Troberg]

OK someone has to do it:

"Don't mention the war!"

[Andrew of Ware]

Originally Posted by Horse Chestnut

What really teed them off was when the English started throwing baseballs against the seat backs.

cricket balls, dear lady, cricket balls ( )

[gopher]

Originally Posted by Andrew of Ware

cricket balls, dear lady, cricket balls ( )

We could compromise on rounders' balls.

[Griffin2020]

Originally Posted by gopher

We could compromise on rounders' balls.

Don't you mean hard spheroids with a cork centre, approximately the size of a tennis ball, covered in white leather?

[Jay Tea]

Originally Posted by Griffin2020

Don't you mean hard spheroids with a cork centre, approximately the size of a tennis ball, covered in white leather?

Those would be baseballs?

Rounders balls are denser and smaller, harder to hit in their own right, especially as rounders is played with a tiny bat, and you can only use one hand to wield it. They are also harder to catch given their dimensions, and the fact that the fielders don't wear massive scoops.

It's also a girls game.

Baseball is a girls game made easier.

Originally Posted by Jay Tea

Baseball is a girls game made easier.

Ooh, that's nice. I have to write this one down for future use!

[Don Enrico]

Originally Posted by Andrew of Ware

In addition the theme to 'The Great Escape' is very well known today as it is often played (or whistled) at English football matches. This is done when the England team comes from behind to win or draw a match.

The theme may be well known in England, but definitely not in Germany (even if the movie has been on TV here, too). I wonder whether the German CEO would have recognized it. On the other hand, he could have had an English advisor sitting beside him...

Don Enrico