German Culture

All about Germany

Importing Cars to Germany

There are no general rules for the procedure of importing cars to Germany. Irrespective of their age, all vehicles are treated equally as far as duties, taxes or technical inspections are concerned. One must have: - Driver’s license (Führerschein) German Driver's License If one stays in Germany for more than 12 months he will need a … [Read more...]

German Cars

The cars are used so extensively nowadays, that they tend to turn into a separate cultural subcategory, especially where the German culture is concerned. The exteriors always define the first impression. That is why people purchase expensive vehicles, committing money rather to the brand image of a car than to the perfect technical devices, or … [Read more...]

January 18 in German History

January 18, 1701 Frederick I of Prussia crowns himself king at Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). Frederick maintained a large, splendid court and an army out of proportion to his territories and position to further his pretensions. In European politics, he allied himself with Austria and the sea powers (England and … [Read more...]

January 17 in German History

January 17, 1463 Birth of Friedrich III (the Wise) (1463-1525), Elector of Saxony, in Torgau, Germany. Friedrich served as the protector of Martin Luther after the imperial ban of 1521. He housed Luther at the Wartburg castle where Luther translated the Bible. Friedrich was a patron of Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach the Elder. He founded … [Read more...]

January 16 in German History

January 16, 1820 Birth of Johannes Rebmann (1820-1876) in Gerlingen, Germany. Rebmann was a missionary and explorer in Africa. In 1848 he was the first European to see Mount Kilimanjaro and in 1849 the first to see Mount Kenya. January 16, 1838 Birth of Franz Brentano (1838-1917) in Marienberg, Germany. Brentano was a professor of … [Read more...]

January 15 in German History

January 15, 1791 Franz Grillparzer born in Vienna, Austria. Grillparzer was one of the leading dramatists of Austrian literary history. Important works by Grillparzer include, Die Ahnfrau (1817), Sappho (1818), Das Goldene Vlies (1821), König Ottokars Glück und Ende (1823), Des Meeres und der Liebe Wellen (1831), and Der Traum ein Leben … [Read more...]

January 14 in German History

January 14, 1683 Birth of Gottfried Silbermann (1683-1753) in Kleinbobritzsch, Germany. Silbermann's company was the leading builder of spinets, clavichords, harpsichords and organs in the age of Bach. January 14, 1800 Birth of Ludwig Ritter von Köchel in Stein, Austria. Although he had earned a doctorate in law, Köchel devoted his … [Read more...]

German Beer Steins

The origins of beer steins date back to the 14th century. As a result of the bubonic plague and several invasions of flies throughout Europe, Germany established several laws in the early 16th century requiring that all food and beverage containers be covered to protect their contents. By combining a lid, hinge, and thumblift, these 'German' … [Read more...]

January 13 in German History

January 13, 1505 Birth of Joachim II Hektor (1505-1571) in Cologne, Germany. Joachim II Hektor was the Elector of Brandenburg at the time of the Reformation. He remained true to the Catholic Church and to the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, but he tolerated Protestantism in the areas under his governance. On several occasions he served as … [Read more...]

January 12 in German History

January 12, 1519 Death of Maximilian I in Wels, Austria. Maximilian was the Archduke of Austria, the German king and the Holy Roman Emperor. He did much to expand and consolidate the Habsburg holdings. He nearly became Pope. The Pope, Julius, was very ill and a schismatic Council of Pisa offered Maximilian the position as an anti-Pope. After … [Read more...]