For many visitors, one of the first cultural surprises in Germany arrives not at a famous castle or … (More)
Featured Stories
August 11 in German History
August 11, 1086 Birth of Heinrich V, King of the Germans and Holy Roman Emperor. He was the son of Heinrich IV and like his father led the investiture battle with the popes. He came to power by arresting his father and forcing him to abdicate. He won in the investiture battle too by arresting […]
September 5 in German History
September 5, ca. 973 Roswitha von Gandersheim was born in about 935 and died sometime after 973. Her day of commemoration is September 5. She is considered the first woman author in German literary history. Beginning in 962 she composed lives of the saints in poetic form. She composed 6 plays concerning the Christian Faith. […]
The Saxon Dynasty, 919-1024 – Medieval Germany
Because the dukes of the East Frankish Kingdom had wearied of being ruled by a foreign king, they elected a German to serve as their king once the Carolingian line expired. The election of Conrad I (r. 911-18), Duke of Franconia, as the first German king has been marked by some historians as the beginning […]
October 5 in German History
October 5, 1056 Birth of the Holy Roman Emperor, Heinrich III. October 5, 1609 Paul Fleming is born in Hartenstein, Germany. Fleming became one of the outstanding poets of the German Baroque period of literature. A poet of outstanding natural talent, Fleming had befriended the intellectual, Martin Opitz, while a student at the University of […]
Gays and Lesbians in Germany
According to Freud, our social behavior, thoughts and actions most of all go by our sexual instinct. Persons of the opposite sexes are drawn to each other with some supernatural force, and all the rest is done to impress, get recognition, win and possess that other one (don’t tell me I am wrong). Indeed, this […]
Dating in Germany: Mistakes Foreigners Often Make
Dating across cultures can be a thrilling, eye-opening experience – or a series of awkward missteps. If you’re dating in Germany as a foreigner, chances are you’ll encounter moments of confusion, miscommunication, or unintentional offense. Not because Germans are difficult to date – far from it – but because their romantic norms are shaped by […]
Rudolf Epp, the Man Who Loved Painting Cats
Rudolf Epp (July 30, 1834 – August 8, 1910) was a German realist painter, associated with the Munich School. Rudolf Epp was born in 1834 in Eberbach am Neckar, the son of a decorative painter. After he had started drawing from his own initiative and was artistically active, he was first taught by the landscape […]
The Holy Roman Empire: An Epoch of European History
The Holy Roman Empire, often deemed a paradoxical entity, was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western, Central and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. Despite the anachronistic association with Rome, the Empire was a distinctly European polity that emerged in […]
Schloss Moritzburg – a Beautiful Baroque Castle
Moritzburg Castle is one of the most impressive baroque palaces in central Europe. Reached via a tree-lined avenue, it is situated on an island in the middle of a lake. After visiting the palace, you can enjoy a romantic stroll to the enchanting Fasanenschlösschen (little pheasant castle) built in the rococo style. Moritzburg Castle (Schloss […]
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Bavarian Cuisine: Pretzels, Pork, and Beer Culture
When you picture German food, chances are you're imagining Bavarian cuisine. Giant pretzels twisted to perfection, beer served in hefty steins, and pork dishes so tender they practically melt off the … [Read More...]
Germany Exploration: Basic German Phrases for Travelers
Traveling to Germany soon? Whether you're heading to Berlin's urban jungles, the Black Forest's lush woods, or the Bavarian Alps, knowing a handful of basic German phrases can make your journey … [Read More...]
German Vocabulary: Weather
In Germany, like in most countries, talking about the weather is always a good topic when there is nothing else to talk about or if you want to break the ice with people you have just met. Here is a … [Read More...]
Traditional German Food: A Culinary Tour Through the Regions
Traditional German food is far more than sausages and sauerkraut. It is a mosaic of regional flavors, seasonal ingredients, and deeply rooted cultural practices. Each dish tells a story - of harvests … [Read More...]
Forgotten German Christmas Traditions That Deserve a Comeback
Germany is known for its magical Christmas traditions, from twinkling Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas markets) to the scent of warm Glühwein (mulled wine). However, many once-beloved customs have faded … [Read More...]
The New East German Constitution and the Question of Identity
Although the GDR had finally achieved its goal of international recognition with the signing of the Basic Treaty in December 1972, renewed concerns about the stability and identity of the GDR as a … [Read More...]
May 2 in German History
May 2, 1507 Martin Luther is consecrated a priest at the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt, Germany. May 2, 1601 Birth of Athanasius Kircher (1601-1680) in Geisa, Germany. Kircher studied … [Read More...]
The Domestic Economy of Germany
The German economy is full of contradictions. It is modern but old-fashioned. It is immensely powerful but suffers from serious structural weaknesses. It is subject to national laws and rules but is … [Read More...]
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel (born Georg Friedrich Händel on February 23, 1685 – died on April 14, 1759) was a German, later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London, becoming … [Read More...]
Problems of Parliamentary Politics in The Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic was beset with serious problems from the outset that led many Germans either to withhold support from the new parliamentary democracy or to seek actively to destroy it. The extreme … [Read More...]