( CNN ) -- Barack Obama touched hearts during an impassioned speech to a 200,000-strong crowd in Berlin , German newspapers agreed , but suspicions remain about the White House contender 's motives for courting a European audience . Barack Obama addressed a huge and friendly crowd in Berlin on Thursday . Berlin 's Der Tagesspiegel wondered whether so many young people had ever gathered for a political event in Germany and said that Obama 's address -- which echoed speeches by former U.S. presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan when the divided city was in the Cold War frontline -- could only have been made in the German capital . `` Barack Obama 's address might not have been statesmanlike and it definitely was n't worldly-wise . But with its symbolism and the message of this 46-year-old , it certainly was the signal of a new era for a new generation on both sides of the Atlantic , '' the newspaper said . `` What better thing could have happened to us than the potential next president of the U.S. sending this message to the world from here ? '' Obama moved on from Germany to France on Friday where he was due to hold talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy . He is also slated to meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and opposition leader David Cameron in London later Friday . German tabloid Bild said Obama had articulated his version of the American dream -- the idea that politics can change the world : `` Unlike George W. Bush , he wants to do this in cooperation with others , especially Europe . That 's his message from Berlin : Let 's try this together ! '' But Bild warned that an Obama presidency would place fresh demands on traditional allies such as Germany , which fell out with Washington over the war in Iraq and has refused to contribute combat troops to NATO operations in Afghanistan . iReport.com : View photos from the scene . `` He did n't say what he expects , but it 's not hard to figure it out . He 'll call for more German participation during international crises ; he 'll call for more German soldiers , '' said Bild . But it concluded : `` No matter how you might feel about this : A President Obama would be Germany 's friend -- and a fan of Berlin ! '' Munich 's Sueddeutsche Zeitung sounded a more cautious note , warning that an Obama presidency would be `` expensive for Germany . '' `` He explicitly called for German soldiers for Afghanistan -- he did not say 'more soldiers ' but that was what he meant , '' said commentator Reymer Kluever . `` And Obama also indicated this : he will want support as president to wind up the Iraq adventure . '' The paper noted too that the speech had been intended less for the crowds gathered in Berlin 's Tiergarten park than for `` hesitant white voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania , Colorado and Virginia '' and said that Obama had proved himself to be a clever tactician , capable of shifting positions to suit his audience . `` He wants to convince ( voters ) that the world will also listen to a black president ... And there 's one other thing one should n't forget when talking about Obama : He easily reworks even positions that have been written in stone and adjusts to new requirements . '' But nobody in the German press appears to have been quite as smitten by their visitor as Bild reporter Judith Bonesky , who had the opportunity to work out with Obama in the gym of the Ritz Carlton Hotel earlier in the day . `` Obama ( with toned arms and a strong back ) puts on his headphones for his iPod to listen to pop music . He hums quietly . Then he jumps on a fitness bike . He pushes three times on the pedals -- but then ca n't be bothered with it . `` He picks up a pair of 16 kilo weights and starts curling them with his left and right arms , 30 repetitions on each side . Then , amazingly , he picks up the 32 kilo weights ! Very slowly he lifts them , first 10 curls with his right , then 10 with his left . Quickly I ask : `` Mr. Obama , could I take a photo ? '' . `` Of course ! '' he answers , before asking my name and coming over to stand next to me . `` My name 's Judith '' I reply . `` I 'm Barack Obama , nice to meet you ! '' he says , and puts his arm across my shoulder . I put my arm around his hip -- wow , he did n't even sweat ! WHAT A MAN ! ''
German papers agree that Barack Obama won hearts with Berlin speech . Der Tagesspiegel : Obama 's speech a `` signal of a new era for a new generation '' But question marks hang over White House contender 's motives . The Washington Post :