For many visitors, one of the first cultural surprises in Germany arrives not at a famous castle or … (More)
Featured Stories
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 […]
The German Constitution
The framers of the Federal Republic of Germany’s 1949 constitution sought to create safeguards against the emergence of either an overly fragmented, multiparty democracy, similar to the Weimar Republic (1918-33), or authoritarian institutions characteristic of the Nazi dictatorship of the Third Reich (1933-45). Thus, negative historical experience played a major role in shaping the constitution. […]
August 15 in German History
August 15, 1666 Death of Adam Schall von Bell in Peking, China (born in Cologne, Germany). Bell was a Jesuit missionary who traveled to China and became an advisor to the Chinese emperor. August 15, 1688 Birth of Friedrich Wilhelm I (1688-1740), the King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg, in Berlin, Germany. His policies […]
Friedrich Nietzsche Quotes
Friedrich Nietzsche was not your average philosopher. He didn’t aim to comfort readers—he aimed to wake them up. Often poetic, sometimes scathing, and always provocative, Nietzsche’s quotes distill his explosive insights on power, morality, individualism, and meaning. This collection of Nietzsche quotes captures the raw energy of his thought and the revolutionary challenge it poses […]
Separable Verbs in German
In German, some verbs separate into two parts when used in present tense. While that might sound weird—to take a word and break it apart even for normal use—we do the same thing in English. In English, they’re called “phrasal verbs.” For example, consider what you do with a library book: do you check it? […]
Labskaus
Labskaus is a Hamburg specialty. It is a dish the sailors cooked on the fishing ships when they were out in the sea for weeks and months. Because there were no fridges or cooling systems on these ships, they had to use long-lasting ingredients such as pickles, red beet, eggs, potatoes, onions and beef that […]
Police Agencies in Germany
Law enforcement in Germany is conducted by federal, state and municipal law enforcement agencies. The Federal Police is a specialized force responsible for border protection, railway policing and aviation security. The federal structure of the Federal Republic of Germany gives the 16 states (Länder) the authority to maintain their own police forces within their territory, […]
Exploring the Refreshing World of Schorle: A Traditional German Beverage
Schorle, a traditional beverage deeply rooted in German culture, combines the simplicity of sparkling water with the rich flavors of fruit juices or wine, offering a refreshing alternative to sugary soft drinks. This versatile and popular drink not only quenches thirst but also reflects an important aspect of German beverage culture. This article delves into […]
Weizenbrötchen – German Rolls
Every German region has them, called “Rundstück” in Hamburg, “Schrippe” in Berlin, “Semmel” in Munich, or simply “Brötchen” (= little bread). The typical Brötchen has a crackly crisp crust and a fluffy, soft, easy to pull out crumb. In this recipe we are going to have crunchy seed topping but you can also give your […]
Read More
Degenerate Art – “Entartete Kunst”
In 1937 in Munich the Nazis held an art exhibition of what they called Entartete Kunst, or Degenerate Art. The purpose of the exhibition was to let the Germans know that some forms and pieces of art … [Read More...]
Fasching – Carnival in Germany
Fasching is the Roman Catholic Shrovetide carnival as celebrated in German-speaking countries. There are many regional differences concerning the name, duration, and activities of the carnival. It is … [Read More...]
October 31 in German History
October 31, 994 Death of St. Wolfgang (924 – 994) St. Wolfgang was born in Pfullingen, Germany (in the modern state of Baden-Württemberg) in 924 to a noble family. He studied at the monastic school … [Read More...]
Roast Pork and Sauerkraut
Okay, so sauerkraut and pork isn’t all that sexy, but what it lacks in fancy ingredients and visual appeal it more than makes up for in flavor and pure comfort food … [Read More...]
October 3 in German History
October 3 Day of German unity. This is a national holiday in Germany commemorating unification of the two Germanys after 40 years of separation (1949-1989). Germany reunited on October 3, … [Read More...]
July 30 in German History
July 30, 1855 Birth of Georg Wilhelm von Siemens, a German telecommunications industrialist of the Siemens family. Known as Wilhelm von Siemens, he was a general partner of the family company … [Read More...]
The Nuremberg Trials and Denazification
The Allies agreed that Germany should never again have the opportunity to destroy European peace as it had in the two world wars. A principal aim of the Allies was to prevent the resurgence of a … [Read More...]
June 21 in German History
June 21, 1002 Birth of Pope Leo IX (original name Bruno von Egisheim und Dagsburg) in Egisheim, Germany. Bruno was the cousin of the Holy Roman Emperor, Heinrich III. Heinrich Appointed him … [Read More...]
The Weimar Republic, 1918-33
The Weimar Republic, proclaimed on November 9, 1918, was born in the throes of military defeat and social revolution. In January 1919, a National Assembly was elected to draft a constitution. The … [Read More...]
Donauwelle Kuchen
Donauwelle Kuchen (Danube Wave Cake) is an incredible dessert with layers of vanilla and chocolate cake, cherries, German buttercream, and ganache. After the cake is baked and cooled off a chocolate … [Read More...]