Most people picture Oktoberfest as one giant tent full of lederhosen, oompah bands, and liters of … (More)
Featured Stories
What the World Gets Wrong About Germans
The world loves neat labels, and few are as durable as German stereotypes: humorless, hyper punctual, rule obsessed, sausage powered. The reality is more interesting. Germany is a big, varied country where regional culture, history, and everyday pragmatism complicate the clichés. In this guide we unpack the biggest German cultural myths, show where they came […]
Arminius and the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
One of the most pivotal events in early German history—and a defining moment for the identity of the Germanic tribes—was the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE. At its heart was Arminius, a chieftain of the Cherusci tribe and former Roman ally, who orchestrated a stunning ambush that halted Rome’s expansion into Germania. […]
Marzipan Potatoes – Marzipankartoffeln
Marzipankartoffeln are baby potatoes made from marzipan and are traditionally given to friends in little bags or placed on the goodie plate at Christmastime. These traditional German Christmas treats are quick and easy to make and irresistible! Ingredients: 2 cups ground almonds 2 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon rose water * 1 large egg […]
Pflaumenkuchen (German Plum Pie)
Ingredients: Pastry: 4 cups flour 3 sticks (~330 g) butter or margarine 1 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 4 egg yolks (save whites) 1 tsp vanilla 1 – 1.3 kg little purple plums (quartered) 1 cup apricot or peach jam Directions: 1. Make a dough from flour, butter, sugar, salt, egg yolks, and vanilla. 2. […]
September 1 in German History
September 1, 1692 Birth of Egid Quirin Asam in Tegernsee, Germany. He and his brother, Cosmas Damian, were leading masters of the baroque style of illusionist decoration in the late baroque period. September 1, 1751 Birth of Emanuel Schikaneder in Straubing, Germany. Schikaneder wrote the text to Mozart’s opera, Die Zauberflöte. In his day he […]
Bismarck’s Foreign Policy
The crash of 1873 and the subsequent depression began the gradual dissolution of Bismarck‘s alliance with the National Liberals that had begun after his triumphs of 1866. In the late 1870s, Bismarck began negotiations with the economically protectionist Conservative Party and Center Party toward the formation of a new government coalition. Conservative electoral gains and […]
Schlachtplatte
This is a feast for a crowd of friends. Prepare the sauerkraut (recipe follows) and a variety of sausages and meats. You may grill or fry the sausages or you may wish to cook some or all of the meats and sausages in the sauerkraut. Ingredients: Smoked pork chops Bratwurst Bauernwurst Knackwurst Wieners Nürnberger Bratwurst […]
June 4 in German History
June 4, 1697 Birth of Jocob Israel Emden in Altona, Germany. A Talmudic scholar whose disagreements with Rabbi Jonathan Eybesch split European Jewry. June 4, 1875 Death of Eduard Mörike in Stuttgart, Germany. Mörike was one of the greatest German lyric poets. He also wrote novels and novellas. His best known novella is Mozart auf […]
German Geography
Germany is located in the Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark. Roughly the size of Montana and situated even farther north, unified Germany has an area of 356,959 square kilometers. Extending 853 kilometers from its northern border with Denmark to the Alps in […]
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Franzbrötchen – Sweet Cinnamon Pastry from Hamburg
Franzbrötchen is a small, sweet pastry, baked with butter and cinnamon. Sometimes other ingredients are used as well, such as chocolate or raisins. It is a type of pastry commonly found in northern … [Read More...]
May 11 in German History
May 11, 1686 Death of Otto von Guericke (1602-1686), a German scientist, inventor, and politician, in Hamburg, Germany. Von Guericke invented an air pump in 1650. That is not very remarkable, … [Read More...]
November 23 in German History
November 23, 912 Birth of Otto I in Germany. Otto became the German King in 936 and the Holy Roman Emperor in 962. He brought order to the empire, which was greatly fragmented, strengthened the … [Read More...]
The Proclamation of the German Empire
The unification of Germany was not finalized in Berlin or Frankfurt but in a hall of mirrors just outside Paris. On January 18, 1871, in the glittering Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, a … [Read More...]
April 24 in German History
April 24 Feast Day of St. Marianus von Regensburg Marianus (? - 1083) was born in Ireland. He left his home on a Pilgrimage to Rome but only got as far as Germany. He became a Benedictine monk … [Read More...]
Pfitzauf
Pfitzauf is a traditional Swabian dish. The dough consists of eggs, milk, flour, butter and sugar and will be baked either in special fire-proof ceramic forms or fire-proof ceramic cups or even … [Read More...]
German Potato Salad
German Potato Salad (Bavarian Kartoffelsalat) is a popular variation which is generally served warm. It is typically more sour in taste and contains pork or bacon. Potato salad from northern Germany, … [Read More...]
The King’s Treat (Kaiserschmarrn)
The name of the dessert (Kaiserschmarrn, or Emperor’s mess) came from the Emperor's wife, Elisabeth, who was obsessed with maintaining her waistline, directed the royal chef to prepare only light … [Read More...]
Beef with Green Sauce (Gekochtes Rindfleisch mit Grüner Sosse)
A one-pot meal, boiled beef with vegetables with a creamy green herb and chopped egg sauce. Typical dish from Hesse, Germany. Ingredients: 1 kg top round roast 1 leek, cleaned, trimmed and … [Read More...]
What is so remarkable in English Garden in Munich?
The English Garden (Englischer Garten) stretches all the way from Munich's city center to the northeastern city limits. It was created in 1789 by the British physicist Sir Benjamin Thompson. Sir … [Read More...]