Imagine three neighbors, all speaking German, all looking at the same calendar page. In Hamburg, … (More)
Featured Stories
German Pacifism After 1945: Values and Reality
German pacifism is one of the most distinctive features of modern German identity. Born from the wreckage of war and the moral reckoning that followed, it has shaped law, education, public debate, and foreign policy for three generations. Yet it is not static. From NATO peacekeeping in the 1990s to the Zeitenwende announced in response […]
March 16 in German History
March 16, 1021 Death of St. Heribert von Köln. Heribert von Köln was born in Worms in ca. 970 and educated at the cathedral school in Worms. He was ordained a priest in 994. In 999 he was named Archbishop of Cologne by the emperor Otto III. He was confirmed in that position by the […]
January 3 in German History
January 3, 1521 Pope Leo X publishes his Papal Bull Decet Romanum pontificem, condemning Martin Luther and officially excommunicating the Augustinian monk for burning Leo’s previous bull Exsurge Domine. January 3, 1571 Death of Joachim II Hektor. Joachim II Hektor was the Elector of Brandenburg at the time of the Reformation. He remained true to […]
Love in Translation: How Germans Express Romance
Love doesn’t always speak the same language – literally or culturally. When it comes to German romance, communication is shaped by values that are often at odds with what foreigners expect. Whether you’re dating a German or trying to navigate your own bilingual relationship, you may find yourself puzzled by what’s said – and not […]
December 16 in German History
December 16, 1742 Birth of General Gebhard Blücher (1742-1819) in Rostock, Germany. Wellington was not alone at Waterloo at the defeat of Napoleon. General Blücher commanded the allied Prussian army. Blücher had served with distinction in the Prussian army since 1760. Blücher had retired, but in 1813 he was called back from his estates at […]
The Smaller States of Germany: German History
By the eighteenth century, none of the other states of the German empire were strong enough to have territorial ambitions to match those of Prussia and Austria. Some of the larger states, such as Saxony, Bavaria, and Wuerttemberg, also maintained standing armies, but their smaller size compelled them to seek allies, some from outside the […]
German Maiwein
May Wine is a traditional May Day beverage Maiwein (May Wine) is a German drink, dedicated to springtime and flavored with fresh Waldmeister (sweet woodruff). Maiwein, a white wine, imported from Germany, can be found in stores. Waldmeister is a fragrant herb, a small plant with white blossoms. In Germany it grows in the forests. […]
Party Like a German
It’s party season, and to help you seamlessly blend into German life and culture we’ve put together our top ten ways you can avoid embarrassment while you’re keeping out the winter chill. 1. Arrive on time. Germans love nothing more than punctuality. While ‘fashionably late“ might be a desirable quality in more laid-back countries, it […]
January 30 in German History
January 30, 1687 Birth of Balthasar Neumann (1687-1753) in Eger, Austrian Empire (now in the Czech Republic). Neumann was the leading architect of the Baroque period in Austria and Germany. In 1711 he moved to Würzburg, Germany, to work for the Bishop/Elector. In 1719 he began work on the palace of the Bishop, a work […]
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March 26 in German History
March 26, 809 Death of St. Liudger (742-809) St. Liudger was born near Utrecht (Modern Holland) in about 742. He was a missionary to the Friesians and Saxons. His vocation was occasioned by the … [Read More...]
March 31 in German History
March 31, 1567 Death of Philip, Landgraf of Hesse, in Kassel, Germany. Philip became convinced that freedom for Protestantism could also be linked to greater independence for rulers such as he. … [Read More...]
Asparagus and Shrimp Salad
Ingredients: 1/2 kg white asparagus (you can use green) 1 tsp salt 2 tsp sugar 4 - 5 slices of lemon 150 g arugula 400 g kitchen-ready, large shrimp, 20 count to a pound 1 - 2 … [Read More...]
German Vocabulary: Encouragements
Everyone understands the importance of encouraging a friend, a student or an employee. Here's how to do this in German! … [Read More...]
Regional Dialects in Germany: Bavarian vs Saxon and Beyond
If you only learn Standard German in a classroom, your first village bakery or Cologne carnival may sound like another language. German dialects are not just accents - they are living varieties with … [Read More...]
Bavarian Alps
Bavaria used to be an independent kingdom. It joined the German Empire in 1871 and has been part of Germany ever since. The largest federal state of Bavaria consists of Lake Constance, Franconia, the … [Read More...]
The Holy Roman Empire in the Late Middle Ages
By the 14th and 15th centuries, the Holy Roman Empire was no longer the centralized dream of Charlemagne. Instead, it had evolved into a sprawling collection of kingdoms, duchies, bishoprics, free … [Read More...]
The Golden Bull of 1356
In the heart of the 14th century, amid feudal rivalries and imperial disputes, a single document aimed to bring order to the chaos. Issued by Emperor Charles IV, the Golden Bull of 1356 didn’t just … [Read More...]
Möbius Strip and Its Inventor
The Möbius strip or Möbius band is a surface with only one side and only one boundary component. The Möbius strip has the mathematical property of being non-orientable. It can be realized as a ruled … [Read More...]
The Enlightenment in the German States
In the 18th century, a new intellectual force swept across Europe: the Enlightenment. Germany, long seen as fragmented and provincial, became one of its most vibrant arenas. From royal courts to tiny … [Read More...]