[1] In the episode, while suffering the effects of a concussion, Basil Fawlty waits on a party of hotel guests from West Germany.

The Germans are first deeply hurt, but are ultimately left wondering aloud how such idiots as Basil Fawlty and Major Gowen could ever have beaten their ancestors in two World Wars.

Basil attempts to hang the moose head with Manuel, however, Sybil continually interrupts him by calling him to remind him to do so.

Despite telling everyone not to "mention the war", due to a combination of his own animosity and concussion-induced mental confusion, Basil makes numerous World War II references whilst taking their dinner orders and begins arguing with them, calling out Nazi Germany and frequently referring to Adolf Hitler and others.

Dr Finn arrives with a sedative needle, prompting Basil to flee, with Manuel also giving chase.

As the stunned Germans look on, Major Gowen enters the room and launches into a conversation with what he still believes is a talking moose head.

"[4] Interior scenes of this episode were recorded on 31 August 1975, in Studio TC6 of the BBC Television Centre, before a live audience.

[6] However, in the next shot where Manuel walks out to alert Basil of the fire, two chemicals were added to his arm, to create smoke.

[1] Cleese cites in particular the fire drill scene as a favourite: "It's a situation when two people are trying to understand each other and just missing each other's meaning.

It is also the title of a book by John Ramsden, published in 2006, which examines Anglo-German relations since 1890, and a 2005 Radio 4 documentary looking at the British perception of Germans.

[15] The American film director Martin Scorsese has cited this as his favourite episode of Fawlty Towers.

Journalist Mark Lawson expressed the view that, "while the show will never win a prize for encouraging Anglo-German cultural understanding, Cleese is comically depicting – rather than politically promoting – fear of 'Fritz'".

[23][24][25] In 2013, the BBC edited the Major's use of racial slurs from a repeat transmission of the episode, prompting some criticism by viewers.

[26] The BBC defended its decision: "We are very proud of Fawlty Towers and its contribution to British television comedy.

[30] This episode, along with "The Hotel Inspectors" and "Communication Problems", was adapted into a stage play by John Cleese and director Caroline Jay Ranger.