Willkommen nach Deutschland!
Welcome to Germany!
Germany's history is distinguishing from others and has created its own identity unique to its people and place within the world. Notably, Germany has been heavily influence by greater Europe and has transformed from divided states in 800 A.D. to a modernized existence today. Germany is rich in culture, tradition, and history, some of which is presented through sections highlighting globalization, social justice, music, arts, family, and communication. These are few of the several areas that Germany is unique in its customs and traditions. These particular sections of culture have been thriving since its independence in 1871.
Capital: Berlin
Population: 81,305,856 (July 2012 est.)(CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Ethnic Groups: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)(CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Religions: Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3% (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
National Holiday: Unity Day, 3 October (1990) (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
National Symbol: Black eagle, (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Flag Description: Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold; these colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor) (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Capital: Berlin
Population: 81,305,856 (July 2012 est.)(CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Ethnic Groups: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)(CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Religions: Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3% (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
National Holiday: Unity Day, 3 October (1990) (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
National Symbol: Black eagle, (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Flag Description: Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold; these colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor) (CIA World Factbook, 2012).
Map of Germany
Fun Facts
- Despite its popularity in the US, the so-called German Chocolate Cake, however, not a German cake. Invented by a woman in Texas in 1957, the cake takes its name from German’s Sweet Chocolate.
- There are over 300 kinds of bread in Germany.
- There are also bread museums.
- There are 35 dialects of the German Language
- Germany is the first country to adopt Daylight saving’s Timer (DST) in 1916.
- Gummy Bears were invented by a German
- 65% of the Autobaun (highway has no speed limit
- Holocaust denial in Germany is a crime.
- German is spoken by more than 100 million people worldwide.
- There are over 150 castles in Germany.
- The Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) tradition came from Germany.
- There are over 60 beer gardens in Munich.
- Germany has over 40 zoo’s, the most in the world.
- Most taxis in Germany are Mercedes
- Germans are the second largest beer consumers in the world, after the Irish.
- Beer is officially considered a food in Bavaria.