For many visitors, one of the first cultural surprises in Germany arrives not at a famous castle or … (More)
Featured Stories
The French Revolution and Germany
The French Revolution, which erupted in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille in Paris, at first gained the enthusiastic approval of some German intellectuals, who welcomed the proclamation of a constitution and a bill of rights. Within a few years, most of this support had dissipated, replaced by fear of a newly aggressive French […]
March 8 in German History
March 8, 1714 Birth of Carl Phillip Imanuel Bach in Weimar, Germany. He was the son of Johann Sebastian and Maria Bach. His first position was that of harpsichordist to Friedrich II of Prussia. In 1767 he became music director in Hamburg. In addition to the great music he composed, he is noted for his […]
Postwar Political Parties in Germany and Democratization
The reintroduction of democratic political parties in Germany was one of the primary concerns of the Allies during the final phase of the war. The Soviet authorities were the first to reestablish political parties in their zone. They ordered the formation of political parties on June 10, 1945, well before such a directive was issued […]
Free Democratic Party of Germany
The Free Democratic Party (Freie Demokratische Partei–FDP) is much smaller than the CDU or SPD, but its limited electoral strength masks the party’s inordinate influence. Prior to the 1994 election, the FDP had experienced its worst results in national elections in 1969 (5.8 percent) and 1983 (7 percent). Both of those poor showings occurred following […]
June 7 in German History
June 7, 1826 Death of Joseph von Fraunhofer in Munich, Germany. The physicist, Fraunhofer was the first to observe the dark lines in the spectrum of the sun, which became known as Fraunhofer lines. In his further work he discovered and charted similar spectral lines in the elements. His work led to the development of […]
September 29 in German History
September 29, 1686 Birth of Cosmas Damian Asam in Benediktbeuren, Germany. He and his brother, Egid Quirin were leading masters of the baroque style of illusionist decoration in the late baroque period. September 29, 1815 Birth of Andreas Achenbach in Kassel, Germany. Achenbach was a landscape painter in the early part of the period of […]
German Sense of Humor
German humor style is often a hasty rude satire. Popular German cabarets of pre-war period are worldwide famous for their nipping jokes. The traditions of German political satire are rather old and conservative, especially in Eastern Germany. In most large cities there were cabarets financed by the government. Texts went through the obligatory censor, the […]
Swabian House Rules: Why Germans Have So Many Signs
If you’ve ever stayed in a German apartment building – especially in the southern state of Baden-Württemberg – you’ve probably encountered a baffling number of signs: remove your shoes, clean the stairs, don’t slam the door, separate your trash correctly, sweep the sidewalk on Saturdays. In some buildings, the Hausordnung (house rules) can take up […]
Sauerkraut Recipes
Sauerkraut is probably the most well known German food. Sauerkraut is finely sliced green cabbage that has been fermented by lactic acid bacteria. The fermentation process (also known as pickling) gives the cabbage a distinct sour flavor, which is where it gets the name Sauerkraut (sour cabbage). In Germany, sauerkraut is often flavored with juniper […]
Read More
15 false friends in German for English Learners
German and English belong to the group of West Germanic languages and have many words with common language roots. Sometimes you can guess the meaning of the German word because it sounds almost like … [Read More...]
‘Viel Spass’ on German Spas!
German spa culture is an adopted tradition taken from the Romans. During the time of Roman Empire bathing was used by soldiers returning from battle as a form of hydrotherapy. The word spa itself is a … [Read More...]
Immanuel Kant Quotes – Wisdom from the Father of Modern Philosophy
Immanuel Kant didn’t just redefine philosophy—he revolutionized it. The 18th-century German thinker changed how we understand knowledge, ethics, and human autonomy. But his writing, while profound, is … [Read More...]
September 17 in German History
September 17, 530 The first pope of Germanic origin was elected. Boniface II was Gothic. (The Goths were an East Germanic people. The Germans of today descend from the West Germanic grouping.) … [Read More...]
First Dates in Germany: What to Expect
First dates can be awkward in any culture, but if you're dating in Germany, you're entering a scene with its own distinct rhythms, rules, and social codes. Forget everything you know about candlelit … [Read More...]
January 20 in German History
January 20, 1488 Birth of Sebastian Münster (1488-1582) in Ingelheim, Germany. Münster was professor of Hebrew at the University of Basel after 1527. His major contribution to scholarship was … [Read More...]
The German Influence on Classical Music: Composers Who Shaped the World
Classical music owes much of its development to the profound contributions of German composers. The rich musical heritage of Germany has produced some of the most influential and revered figures in … [Read More...]
The Empire Under the Early Habsburgs – Medieval Germany
The Great Interregnum ended in 1273 with the election of Rudolf of Habsburg as king-emperor. After the interregnum period, Germany's emperors came from three powerful dynastic houses: Luxemburg (in … [Read More...]
May 29 in German History
May 29 Feast Day of St. Maximin von Trier (? – ca. 349) (Latin name Maximinus) The Roman Maximin came to Trier (then the capital of the Western Roman Empire, now in Germany) to study with St. … [Read More...]
The Evolution of German Street Food
Where History Meets a Hungry Crowd When most people think of German cuisine, they picture heavy plates served in cozy taverns. But there’s another side to Germany’s culinary culture - faster, … [Read More...]