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German translation help

Well, I'll too give it a try then (even though Roger Wilco and Count Zero pretty much covered it already)...

Halt/Stop, raise/put up your hands!

'Halt! Hände hoch!'

We are German soldiers returning home.

'Wir sind Deutsche Soldaten auf dem Heimweg.'
or
'Wir sind Deutsche Soldaten. Wir wollen nach Hause.'

But I think this is a response to another German soldier, the one who told them to stop, right?
If so, then I'd leave out the 'German soldiers/Deutsche Soldaten' bit, since that would be obvious information (unless they are not in uniform) and only have them say:

'Wir wollen nach Hause.'

Show me your papers/identification

'Die Papiere!'

Sorry to bother you, Major. How are you getting home?

A reaction from the same soldier who asked for their papers?
If so:

'Verzeihung, Herr Major. Wie kommen Sie nach Hause?'

We have a car hidden nearby.

'Wir haben in der Nähe ein Auto versteckt.'
 
Which sounds more formal/harsher from the soldier to people he doesn't know, "Die Papiere!" or "Zeigen Sie mir ihre Papiere!" ?

And again, please PM me with your real names for inclusion in the acknowledgements if you want them there.
 
Which sounds more formal/harsher from the soldier to people he doesn't know, "Die Papiere!" or "Zeigen Sie mir ihre Papiere!" ?

And again, please PM me with your real names for inclusion in the acknowledgements if you want them there.

Definitely 'Die Papiere!'

kurz und zackig, as a German soldier should sound ;)
 
Which sounds more formal/harsher from the soldier to people he doesn't know, "Die Papiere!" or "Zeigen Sie mir ihre Papiere!" ?

And again, please PM me with your real names for inclusion in the acknowledgements if you want them there.

Definitely 'Die Papiere!'

kurz und zackig, as a German soldier should sound ;)

^Right, the other option sounds more like a traffic cop talking to a lorry driver :p
 
Which sounds more formal/harsher from the soldier to people he doesn't know, "Die Papiere!" or "Zeigen Sie mir ihre Papiere!" ?

And again, please PM me with your real names for inclusion in the acknowledgements if you want them there.

Definitely 'Die Papiere!'

kurz und zackig, as a German soldier should sound ;)

Or just "Papiere!", that would be the harshest version. I wish I could remember what exactly people who lived through German occupation said soldiers would say. I'm inclined to believe it was just that, but I'm not sure.
 
Which sounds more formal/harsher from the soldier to people he doesn't know, "Die Papiere!" or "Zeigen Sie mir ihre Papiere!" ?

And again, please PM me with your real names for inclusion in the acknowledgements if you want them there.

Definitely 'Die Papiere!'

kurz und zackig, as a German soldier should sound ;)

Or just "Papiere!", that would be the harshest version. I wish I could remember what exactly people who lived through German occupation said soldiers would say. I'm inclined to believe it was just that, but I'm not sure.

I think you are right.
 
I need some more translation assistance.

1. Step out of the car.

2. What's happening?

3. You are not Major _______. I was in basic training with him. Who are you?

3. He is dead. I was authorized to use his identity for my assignment.

4. What assignment? Authorized by whom?

5. It's classified, and I am working under the direct authority of the Fuhrer himself.

6. I don't believe you. Come with us. You are being detained for questioning.

7. You don't have the authority.

8. Give me proof of your true identity.

9. I don't have it. This is a covert operation.

10. You are lying. Come this way.

Thanks in advance.
 
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And sometimes its just stupid; the Esso named their petrol station shops 'on the run' :rolleyes:

That's because that's what they're called in the United States.

It used to be "Mobil On The Run", but of course Exxon (Esso) and Mobile merged, so all the Esso stores became "On the Run" stores.
 
I need some more translation assistance.

1. Step out of the car.

Steigen Sie aus dem Auto aus!
Or simply: Aussteigen!

2. What's happening?

Was ist los?

3. You are not Major _______. I was in basic training with him. Who are you?

Sie sind nicht Major ___. Ich war mit ihm in der Grundausbildung. Wer sind Sie?

3. He is dead. I was authorized to use his identity for my assignment.

Er ist tot. Ich wurde ermächtigt seine Identität für meinen Auftrag zu benutzen.

[that sounds somewhat weird to me but I can't think of anything better, maybe someone else has a better idea. Maybe just "Ausweis" instead of Identität?]

4. What assignment? Authorized by whom?

Was für ein Auftrag? Ermächtigt von wem?

5. It's classified, and I am working under the direct authority of the Fuhrer himself.

Das ist geheim, und ich arbeite unter dem direkten Befehl des Führers persönlich.

6. I don't believe you. Come with us. You are being detained for questioning.

Ich glaube Ihnen nicht. Kommen Sie mit uns. Sie werden für eine weitere Befragung festgenommen.

7. You don't have the authority.

Dazu sind Sie nicht befugt.

8. Give me proof of your true identity.

Zeigen Sie mir einen Beweis ihrer Identität.

9. I don't have it. This is a covert operation.

Ich habe keinen. Das ist eine Geheimoperation.

10. You are lying. Come this way.

Sie lügen. Mitkommen!

Thanks in advance.

You're welcome. Maybe one of the real Germans here can prussify the translations again and make it more "zackig". ;)
 
Actually being Prussian, I feel obligated. ;)

I feel that some of the sentences don't feel quite right but I can't come up with anything better. How close are we supposed to stay to the English sentences, by the way? Also, I have my doubts whether they really called it 'Grundausbildung' in the Wehrmacht, sounds a bit modern, but a quick search didn't yield any results, and I don't know anyone who served in that army.
 
Ok, here are some alternatives and tweaks:

3. He is dead. I was authorized to use his identity for my assignment.

Er ist tot. Ich bin berechtigt, seine Papiere für diesen Auftrag zu verwenden.

4. What assignment? Authorized by whom?

Was für ein Auftrag? Berechtigt von wem? (Alternatively: Wer hat Sie dazu berechtigt?)


5. It's classified, and I am working under the direct authority of the Fuhrer himself.

Das ist geheim, und ich arbeite auf direkte Weisung des Führers. (Not really happy with that one.)


6. I don't believe you. Come with us. You are being detained for questioning.

Ich glaube Ihnen nicht. Kommen Sie mit. Sie sind zum Verhör festgenommen.


7. You don't have the authority.

Das dürfen Sie nicht. (It's a freer translation, but sounds less stilted.)


10. You are lying. Come this way.

Sie lügen doch. If the 'this way' part is important, I'd say: Kommen Sie hier lang. Otherwise, RogerWilco's translation is fine, as well.


I need some more translation assistance.

1. Step out of the car.

Steigen Sie aus dem Auto aus!
Or simply: Aussteigen!

The second option is harsher. If it's said in a calm way, I'd go with the first one.


ETA:

Zeigen Sie mir einen Beweis ihrer Identität.

Here, I'd add in: Zeigen Sie mir einen Beweis Ihrer wahren Identität.

But better yet would probably be: Beweisen Sie Ihre wahre Identität.

The answer then would be: Das kann ich nicht. (Or just: Kann ich nicht) Es handelt sich um eine Geheimaktion.
 
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