Germany inflicted a chastening defeat on Fifa World Cup™ debutants Curaçao at Houston Stadium.
The four-time world champions made an ominous start, taking the lead after Felix Nmecha combined with Florian Wirtz and steered a superb first-time finish into the far corner.
The smallest nation by both size and population ever to participate in a WC were already significant outsiders against the 2014 champions, but it took less than six minutes for any kind of result for Curacao to look nigh on impossible.
Curaçao had barely laid a glove on Julian Nagelsmann's team when some defensive uncertainty allowed Livano Comenencia to nestle a deflected effort beyond the despairing dive of returning World Cup 2014 winner Manuel Neuer, sparking jubilant scenes in sections of the stands.
But the joy was short-lived. Nico Schlotterbeck headed home unmarked from a corner, before Kai Havertz rolled in a penalty after Riechedly Bazoer had upended Nmecha, giving Germany a commanding half-time cushion.
Things went from bad to worse for Curaçao as Jamal Musiala latched onto Joshua Kimmich's defence-splitting pass and swept into the bottom corner within minutes of the restart.
Nathaniel Brown marked his World Cup debut with a composed volleyed finish, before substitute Deniz Undav added a sixth Germany goal from close range.
Havertz completed his brace late on to leave the smallest nation in tournament history to reflect on a heavy loss.
Germany assume control of Group E, while Curaçao's attentions turn to a crunch encounter with Ecuador on June 20.