German Culture

All about Germany

The Amber Room Reconstruction

In the early 1980s, serious work on recreating the Amber Room based on old photographs and reminiscences was undertaken in the Catherine Palace, but the lack of funds threatened to put an end to the works. The process was left to the fate, but it seemed to be merciful to the Amber Room's re-creators. Ruhrgas AG, Essen, Germany, made it possible to … [Read more...]

The Amber Room: History of the Creation

The history of the Amber Room dates back to the very beginning of the 18th century, when Andreas Schluter, the chief architect of the Prussian royal court, had the idea of using amber, a material never before used for interior decoration, to complete one of the rooms of the Great Royal Palace in Berlin during the reconstruction under Frederick I. … [Read more...]

Intrigue and Mystery of the Amber Room

The mystery of what is generally considered to be the greatest of the missing treasures of Europe - the Amber Room - is still unsolved. However, Europe does not give up, and the searches continue... The Amber Room is surely one of the most original and - since its disappearance in 1944 in the aftermath of the WWII - mysterious of the world's works … [Read more...]

5 Myths About Germany: The Ultimate Truth

Myth 1: Germans don’t have any speed limits on the roads There are speed limits on most of the roads. It’s only the Autobahn (the equivalent to the U.S.), Interstate highway system, and the Motorways in the U.K. – that eschew speed limits, and only on the parts of those that are well away from busy areas. There are enforced with randomly placed … [Read more...]

Myths about Germans

Germans: Myths and reality Germans have an opinion, that life is divided in two parts – public (work, politics, business) and private (family, friends, hobbies, rest). These two spheres should be strictly differentiated. What are they? Main national features … [Read more...]

Wedding Traditions in Germany

In Germany parents start thinking about the daughter's wedding quite far in advance. When a baby girl is born, the parents, and later on the little girl herself, will save pennies used to buy the wedding shoes in future. According to German wedding traditions, when a baby girl is born in Germany, several trees are planted in honor of her … [Read more...]

Prussia 2001

On January 18, 1701 Friedrich III, Elector of Brandenburg (11.07.1657 - 25.02.1713), crowned himself as King in Prussia. Today, exactly 300 years after this outstanding event, the government heads of Berlin and Brandenburg, Mr. Diepgen and Mr. Stolpe, officially opened the celebrations on the occasion in the Berlin theater on Gendarmenmarkt. During … [Read more...]

Real Germans and Religion

By guest author WEISSDORN A Real German is either Catholic or Protestant, unless he/she is not. AMEN. How do you find this out? At the very latest, when you apply for your Tax Card. In Germany you get taxed for being a Christian, a Jew or a Moslem. But this doesn't bother Real Germans, because it's better to be a Christian than being an "Other". … [Read more...]

Real Germans and Political Correctness

Real Germans and Political Correctness, Multi-Culturalism, Private and Group Discussions By guest author WEISSDORN Political Correctness Real Germans are the inventors of Political Correctness. If you think this is something fashionable they came up with in the 90's in the U.S.- WRONG! Germany has been practicing Political Correctness with a … [Read more...]

Real Germans’ habits

What are Real Germans like? Set all stereotypes aside and read about Real Germans' habits, likes and dislikes. By guest author WEISSDORN Real Germans want everything at least 99.999999%. That is to say, before they purchase any product it should be 100% with a 1 Euro price. Maximum quality (nothing less will do), and minimum price. Real Germans … [Read more...]