What are your associations / thoughts on Germany?

Well, this question was inspired by the recent Fluther question ‘What is a good German name for a kitten?’ and some of the responses it generated. My answer was this:

Please no names from the Third Reich. When you have visitors from Germany (maybe at some point in the future, you never know) and you introduce your cat as Himmler or Der Führer, the visitors will be very offended. I’m not kidding. Panzerfaust might be viewed as being mildly funny, especially when your cat is very aggressive, but again it gives the impression that your association with Germany is mainly about Nazism and the second world war. Your German visitors would silently pity you as an ignorant American while trying to remain polite.

Suppose Barack Obama visits Germany and Angela Merkel introduces her cat to him, a tomcat she named Jim Crow. Now what would Mr. President think of that?

Seriously, when you think of Germany are the first things that come to mind Hitler, the holocaust and anti-tank weapons? What about Martin Luther, Bach, Goethe, Einstein and Heisenberg? What about the peaceful revolution and reunification? What about Audi, Mercedes and BMW? Do you think the Germany of 2009 is different from the one in 1933 or 1939?

Please share with me what your associations / your thoughts on Germany are. The answers don’t have to be nice. Please be honest.