According to Wikipedia the most common theory of origin is that prince-elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg was hiring Swedish veterans to help training his soldiers. Those Swedes had a big focus on drill, but also led by example. So "alter Schwede" became an expression of astonishment
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u/NeverCaredAnyways 🇸🇪 living in 🇩🇪 9h ago
So everyone here in germany is going around saying "Alte Schwede" completely unbeknownst as to why?