2 Current number of seats; statutory number is 598. The most used immigrant languages are Turkish, Arabic, Kurdish, Polish, the Balkan languages and Russian. [253], Architectural contributions from Germany include the Carolingian and Ottonian styles, which were precursors of Romanesque. [22][23][24] Around 260, Germanic peoples broke into Roman-controlled lands. According to the National Forest Inventory, beeches, oaks, and other deciduous trees constitute just over 40% of the forests; roughly 60% are conifers, particularly spruce and pine. [4] Since the 1970s, Germany's death rate has exceeded its birth rate. For other uses, see, "Federal Republic of Germany" redirects here. German Culture: Facts, Customs, Traditions, and Things To Know [102] Germany sent a peacekeeping force to secure stability in the Balkans and sent German troops to Afghanistan as part of a NATO effort to provide security in that country after the ousting of the Taliban. [150], The development policy of Germany is an independent area of foreign policy. [145] Germany is a member of NATO, the OECD, the G8, the G20, the World Bank and the IMF. [54], The assassination of Austria's crown prince on 28 June 1914 provided the pretext for Austria-Hungary to attack Serbia and trigger World War I. Along its banks and those of its principal tributaries—among them the Neckar, Main, Moselle, and Ruhr—stand hundreds of medieval castles, churches, picturesque villages, market towns, and centres of learning and culture, including Heidelberg, the site of one of Europe’s oldest universities (founded in 1386), and Mainz, historically one of Europe’s most important publishing centres. Popular Cities in Germany Weather in Berlin. [47][48], In the Gründerzeit period following the unification of Germany, Bismarck's foreign policy as Chancellor of Germany secured Germany's position as a great nation by forging alliances and avoiding war. King Frederick William IV of Prussia was offered the title of Emperor, but with a loss of power; he rejected the crown and the proposed constitution, a temporary setback for the movement. During the 16th century, northern German regions became the centre of the Protestant Reformation. In 2009 the German government approved a €50 billion stimulus plan. [242] A global opinion poll for the BBC revealed that Germany is recognised for having the most positive influence in the world in 2013 and 2014. [30] The Golden Bull issued in 1356 provided the constitutional structure of the Empire and codified the election of the emperor by seven prince-electors. For the country from 1949 to 1990, see. Well-known German authors include Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and Theodor Fontane. After the fall of communism, German reunification saw the former East German states join the Federal Republic of Germany on 3 October 1990—becoming a federal parliamentary republic led by a chancellor. Brick Gothic is a distinctive medieval style that evolved in Germany. Prussia was the dominant constituent state of the new empire; the King of Prussia ruled as its Kaiser, and Berlin became its capital. [151] It was the world's second-biggest aid donor in 2019 after the United States. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, The northern fringe of the Central German Uplands, Modern economic history: from partition to reunification, The rise of the Carolingians and Boniface, The Ottonian conquest of Italy and the imperial crown, The Salians, the papacy, and the princes, 1024–1125, Hohenstaufen cooperation and conflict with the papacy, 1152–1215, The empire after the Hohenstaufen catastrophe, The extinction of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, The rise of the Habsburgs and Luxembourgs, The growth of territorialism under the princes, Constitutional conflicts in the 14th century, Developments in the individual states to about 1500, German society, economy, and culture in the 14th and 15th centuries, Imperial election of 1519 and the Diet of Worms, Lutheran church organization and confessionalization, The Thirty Years’ War and the Peace of Westphalia, Territorial states in the age of absolutism, The consolidation of Brandenburg-Prussia and Austria, Further rise of Prussia and the Hohenzollerns, Enlightened reform and benevolent despotism, The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic era, The age of Metternich and the era of unification, 1815–71, The 1850s: years of political reaction and economic growth, Bismarck’s national policies: the restriction of liberalism, Franco-German conflict and the new German Reich, The rise and fall of the Weimar Republic, 1918–33, Years of economic and political stabilization, Allied occupation and the formation of the two Germanys, 1945–49, Formation of the Federal Republic of Germany, Formation of the German Democratic Republic, Political consolidation and economic growth, 1949–69, Helmut Kohl and the struggles of reunification, Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Germany, Germany - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Germany - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [267] There are more than 300 public and private radio stations in Germany; Germany's national radio network is the Deutschlandradio and the public Deutsche Welle is the main German radio and television broadcaster in foreign languages. The population is covered by a health insurance plan provided by statute, with criteria allowing some groups to opt for a private health insurance contract. Many translated example sentences containing "it is all about" – German-English dictionary and search engine for German translations. Select the subjects you want to know more about on euronews.com Richard Strauss was a leading composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. Even in our dreams we’re productive. Germans produce their ubiquitous sausages in almost 1,500 varieties, including Bratwursts and Weisswursts. At the spiritual heart of the country is the magnificent east-central city of Berlin, which rose phoenixlike from the ashes of World War II and now, after decades of partition, is the capital of a reunified Germany, and the Rhine River, which flows northward from Switzerland and is celebrated in visual art, literature, folklore, and song. German cinema has made major technical and artistic contributions to film. [177] The top 10 exports of Germany are vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products, electrical equipments, pharmaceuticals, transport equipments, basic metals, food products, and rubber and plastics. Berlin’s Zoologischer Garten is the largest zoo in the world – Germany also boasts more than 400 registered zoos. [256], German designers became early leaders of modern product design. The Federal Republic has been a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 1955 and was a founding member of the European Economic Community (see European Union). [206] Domestic and international travel and tourism combined directly contribute over €105.3 billion to German GDP. It is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south; covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres (137,847 sq mi), with a population of over 83 million within its 16 constituent states. [207], Germany's most visited and popular landmarks include Cologne Cathedral, the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Dresden Frauenkirche, Neuschwanstein Castle, Heidelberg Castle, the Wartburg, and Sanssouci Palace. [67] A government-sponsored programme for economic renewal focused on public works, the most famous of which was the autobahn. Hitler thus became head of state as well as head of government and was formally named as Führer und Reichskanzler ("Leader and Chancellor"), although eventually Reichskanzler was dropped. A region named Germania was documented before AD 100. On Jan. 18, 1871, King Wilhelm I of Prussia was proclaimed German emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. [236] Since the 1880s, reforms and provisions have ensured a balanced health care system. Since 2007, the left-wing populist party The Left has been a staple in the German Bundestag, though they have never been part of the federal government. The country of Germany is one of the world’s largest car producers. Constructors like BMW and Mercedes are prominent manufacturers in motor sport. [266] Around 90% of German households have cable or satellite TV, with a variety of free-to-view public and commercial channels. [57], On 11 August 1919, President Friedrich Ebert signed the democratic Weimar Constitution. The forested uplands of central Germany and the lowlands of northern Germany (lowest point: in the municipality Neuendorf-Sachsenbande, Wilstermarsch at 3.54 metres or 11.6 feet below sea level[108]) are traversed by such major rivers as the Rhine, Danube and Elbe. Germany is also bordered by the North Sea and, at the north-northeast, by the Baltic Sea. [103][104], In the 2005 elections, Angela Merkel became the first female chancellor. [208] The Europa-Park near Freiburg is Europe's second most popular theme park resort. [169] Its GDP per capita measured in purchasing power standards amounts to 121% of the EU27 average (100%). [73] On 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, beginning World War II in Europe;[74] Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3 September. [89] West Germany joined NATO in 1955 and was a founding member of the European Economic Community. [211], After the United States, Germany is the second most popular immigration destination in the world. During the four decades of partition, the Federal Republic concluded a number of agreements with the Soviet Union and East Germany, which it supported to some extent economically in return for various concessions with regard to humanitarian matters and access to Berlin. [240], Culture in German states has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in Europe, both religious and secular. [64][65] The Enabling Act gave Hitler unrestricted legislative power, overriding the constitution;[66] his government established a centralised totalitarian state, withdrew from the League of Nations, and dramatically increased the country's rearmament. Get fast $ 600 Monto Money Kansas City, MO low interest Get $700 from zero zone cash with same day deposit. In the 2017 German federal election, the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany gained enough votes to attain representation in the parliament for the first time. [171], Germany is part of the European single market which represents more than 450 million consumers. [77][78], In what later became known as the Holocaust, the German government persecuted minorities, including interning them in concentration and death camps across Europe. Various Germanic tribes have inhabited the northern parts of modern Germany since classical antiquity. [Read … [251] DJs and artists of the techno and house music scenes of Germany have become well known (e.g. They were informally known as West Germany and East Germany. The name Germany has long described not a particular place but the loose, fluid polity of Germanic-speaking peoples that held sway over much of western Europe north of the Alps for millennia. In 1871, Germany became a nation-state when most of the German states unified into the Prussian-dominated German Empire. Germans are typically multilingual: 67% of German citizens claim to be able to communicate in at least one foreign language and 27% in at least two. Street fighting in the major industrial centres, the occupation of the Ruhr by Belgian and French troops, and a period of hyperinflation followed. [43][44] The Zollverein, a tariff union, furthered economic unity. [17] The Nebra sky disk, created during the European Bronze Age, is attributed to a German site. [146][147][148] The governments of Germany and the United States are close political allies. Historically, Germany has been called Das Land der Dichter und Denker ("the land of poets and thinkers"),[241] because of the major role its writers and philosophers have played in the development of Western thought. Paul van Dyk, Felix Jaehn, Paul Kalkbrenner, Robin Schulz and Scooter). After 1945, many of the films of the immediate post-war period can be characterised as Trümmerfilm (rubble film). Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [11] The German term Deutschland, originally diutisciu land ("the German lands") is derived from deutsch, descended from Old High German diutisc "of the people" (from diot or diota "people"), originally used to distinguish the language of the common people from Latin and its Romance descendants. 137,846 Square Miles. We post everything about German on our blog. [83] Around 12 million ethnic Germans were expelled from across Eastern Europe, and Germany lost roughly one-quarter of its pre-war territory. Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark. Berlin is the sole constitutional capital and, For a general discussion of the impact of the Reformation on the Holy Roman Empire, see, annihilation of the local Herero and Namaqua peoples, 17 million people were systematically murdered, American, Soviet, British, and French occupation zones, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, second-highest number of international migrants worldwide, administrative or confessional unions of both traditions, European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, 41 properties in Germany on the World Heritage List, Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others), British, American and French occupation zones, "The Protection of Minority and Regional Languages in Germany", Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, "Bevölkerung nach Geschlecht und Staatsangehörigkeit", "World Economic Outlook database: April 2021", "Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income", "Radiometric dating of the type-site for Homo heidelbergensis at Mauer, Germany", "Ice Age Lion Man is world's earliest figurative sculpture", "A female figurine from the basal Aurignacian of Hohle Fels Cave in southwestern Germany", "The Ancient Germans: Their History, Constitution, Religion, Manners and Customs", "Adopting a New Religion: The Case of Protestantism in 16th Century Germany", "Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia", "Issues Relevant to U.S. Foreign Diplomacy: Unification of German States", "Last German World War I veteran believed to have died", "GERMAN TERRITORIAL LOSSES, TREATY OF VERSAILLES, 1919", "Ein Konzentrationslager für politische Gefangene in der Nähe von Dachau", "The law that 'enabled' Hitler's dictatorship", "Deutschland in den 50er Jahren: Wirtschaft in beiden deutschen Staaten", "Westward Tide of East Germans Is a Popular No-Confidence Vote", "Iconoclash! The name Federal Republic of Germany refers to West Germany from its founding on May 23, 1949, until German unification on October 3, 1990. [37] The House of Habsburg held the imperial crown from 1438 until the death of Charles VI in 1740. Subscribe for free language learning tips and much more. After World War II, broad trends in German art include neo-expressionism and the New Leipzig School. [222][223], German is the official and predominant spoken language in Germany. [280] The German men's national football team won the FIFA World Cup in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014,[281] the UEFA European Championship in 1972, 1980 and 1996,[282] and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017. As a result, Germany began to unify itself and on December 2, 1990, it held the first all-German elections since 1933. [141] In 2018, the overall crime rate fell to its lowest since 1992. [267] The papers with the highest circulation are Bild, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Die Welt. [248], German classical music includes works by some of the world's most well-known composers. Elevation ranges from the mountains of the Alps (highest point: the Zugspitze at 2,963 metres or 9,721 feet) in the south to the shores of the North Sea (Nordsee) in the northwest and the Baltic Sea (Ostsee) in the northeast. [115] As of 2016[update] 51% of Germany's land area is devoted to agriculture, while 30% is forested and 14% is covered by settlements or infrastructure. After this date, it refers to united Germany. Find information on almost all places in Germany.Whether you are looking for information on regions in Germany or information on cities and places in Germany, this website is the right place in the web to start your search. Germany is also a member of the United Nations, NATO, the G7, the G20, and the OECD. [178] Germany is one of the largest exporters globally. However, Germany is witnessing increased birth rates and migration rates since the beginning of the 2010s, particularly a rise in the number of well-educated migrants. All the little things you should do when moving to a new address in Germany: address changes, mail forwarding and more. [267] Germany has a large video gaming market, with over 34 million players nationwide.[268]. View the city and flying clouds over the sky of Berlin. Germany's new leadership signed the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, accepting defeat by the Allies. How to find an apartment in Berlin Finding an apartment in Berlin is a daunting task, but these resources should make it easier for you. One-third of Germany is still covered in forests and woodlands. 80,159,662. [98] The relocation of the government was completed in 1999, and modernisation of the east German economy was scheduled to last until 2019. [186] In 2018 Germany ranked fourth globally in terms of number of science and engineering research papers published. [250] German popular music of the 20th and 21st centuries includes the movements of Neue Deutsche Welle, pop, Ostrock, heavy metal/rock, punk, pop rock, indie, Volksmusik (folk music), schlager pop and German hip hop. For the sake of brevity and variety, the Federal Republic of Germany is often called simply the Federal Republic. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He unified all of Germany in a series of three wars against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866), and France (1870?1871). [125], The president, currently Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is the head of state and invested primarily with representative responsibilities and powers. It also has the fourth-greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. [119], The 16 national parks in Germany include the Jasmund National Park, the Vorpommern Lagoon Area National Park, the Müritz National Park, the Wadden Sea National Parks, the Harz National Park, the Hainich National Park, the Black Forest National Park, the Saxon Switzerland National Park, the Bavarian Forest National Park and the Berchtesgaden National Park. Before unification there were 11 West German Länder (including West Berlin, which had the special status of a Land without voting rights), but, with the accession of East Germany, there are now 16 Länder in the unified republic. In 1944, the Soviets pushed into Eastern Europe; the Western allies landed in France and entered Germany despite a final German counteroffensive. Difference between different cultures [79] Nazi policies in German-occupied countries resulted in the deaths of an estimated 2.7 million Poles,[80] 1.3 million Ukrainians, 1 million Belarusians and 3.5 million Soviet prisoners of war. [190] Its road network is among the densest in Europe. A debt restructuring plan and the creation of a new currency in 1924 ushered in the Golden Twenties, an era of artistic innovation and liberal cultural life. Dieterich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Friedrich Händel were influential composers of the Baroque period. [252], German painters have influenced western art. German cuisine varies from region to region and often neighbouring regions share some culinary similarities (e.g. West Germany’s rapid economic recovery in the 1950s (Wirtschaftswunder, or “economic miracle”) brought it into a leading position among the world’s economic powers, a position that it has maintained. Location. In 1941, German troops invaded Yugoslavia, Greece and the Soviet Union. [4] The German political system operates under a framework laid out in the 1949 constitution known as the Grundgesetz (Basic Law). aebi April 9, 2021. Since the 1990s, Germany has continued to regain its political, economic, and social stability and today it is known for having a high standard of living and a strong economy. [4], Four sizeable groups of people are referred to as "national minorities" because their ancestors have lived in their respective regions for centuries:[211] There is a Danish minority in the northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein;[211] the Sorbs, a Slavic population, are in the Lusatia region of Saxony and Brandenburg; the Roma and Sinti live throughout the country; and the Frisians are concentrated in Schleswig-Holstein's western coast and in the north-western part of Lower Saxony. )", "Kraftwerk maintain their legacy as electro-pioneers", "Minimal Understandings: The Berlin Decade, The Minimal Continuum, and Debates on the Legacy of German Techno", 10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T031531, "Bauhaus: The Single Most Influential School of Design", "Berlin as a fashion capital: the improbable rise", "Leipzig Book Fair: Cultural sideshow with a serious side", "German consumers spent €4.4bn on video games in 2018", "Top 10 Heaviest Beer-drinking Countries: Czech Republic and Germany Sink Most Pints", "492 Years of Good Beer: Germans Toast the Anniversary of Their Beer Purity Law", "Wine production worldwide in 2019, by country (in million hectoliters)", "Germany Was Just Awarded Its 300th Michelin Star", "DFB: presidential candidate Fritz Keller promises 'no more one-man show, "The NFL and Major League Baseball are the most attended sports leagues in the world", "Porsche to make Le Mans 24 Hours return in 2023", "What we will miss about Michael Schumacher", "Vettel makes Formula One history with eighth successive victory", Sovereign states and dependencies of Europe, autonomous country of the Kingdom of Denmark, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, Commission against Racism and Intolerance, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Germany&oldid=1019024031, German-speaking countries and territories, Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean, States and territories established in 1871, States and territories established in 1949, States and territories established in 1990, Articles containing Old High German (ca.