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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country with 16 states in central-western Europe.
Germany has a land area of 357,022 square kilometres.
Germany's capital city is Berlin.
Its official and national language is German.
Germany's official currency is the Euro.
The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, and Luxembourg are Germany's neighbours.
Germany is also the European Union's most populous member state. It is also the world's second most popular migration destination after the United States.
Germany is a developed country that offers free university education.
The modern city of Berlin is only 26 years old! The city has existed since at least 1237, when it is thought to have been founded. However, modern Berlin truly began with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Before the Berlin Wall fell, one of the anti-communist slogans in divided Berlin was "Turn the State Into Cucumber Salad."
To prevent people from escaping, a 'Death Strip' of sand, vicious dogs, floodlights, tripwire machines, and soldiers was built just behind the Berlin wall on the former East German side. 98 brave or desperate people lost their lives to the 'Death Trap' between 1961 and the fall of the wall in 1989.
The current Berlin Town Hall in Mitte was built on the site of another town hall in 1390, when Berlin was a merchant city with nearly 8500 residents and 1100 buildings. Berlin now has a population of over 3.5 million people!
During an important Cold War speech, JFK once said, "Ich bin Berliner" (I am a Berliner). If you've ever eaten a Berliner (a German pastry), you'll understand the linguistic quirk that gave rise to the urban legend that Kennedy was a Jelly Donut!
The eerie rows of concrete blocks at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe have been painted with a graffiti-resistant coating by the same company whose subsidiary produced the lethal Zyklon B gas used in concentration camps!
The Berlin Wall was officially known as the Anti-Fascist Protection Wall, implying ironically that it was built to protect East Germans from West Germany, which had not yet completely eradicated Nazism.
During the Cold War, the Russians cut supply lines between East and West Germany in order to drive out the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. But the US retaliated with the famous Berlin Airlift, which brought 2.3 million tonnes of food and supplies into West Germany over the course of a year.
To protest the "un-German spirit," thousands of books by Albert Einstein, Heinrich Heine, Karl Marx, Erich Maria Remarque, and others were burned at Bebelplatz in 1933. The fascists, ironically, were doing the burning.
The XI Summer Olympics are held in 1936, and all anti-Jewish slogans are removed. Two years later, on the "Night of the Broken Glass," nine synagogues were burned, and 1200 Jews were arrested and taken to Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
Germany is the home of the Grimm brothers' fairy tales. If you visit the town of Hamelin, you will notice painted rats on the streets guiding you around!
When visiting Berlin, keep an eye out for the colourful Buddy Bears that can be found all over the city for selfies. At the Europa Center, there is even a gymnastic bear!
Frankfurt is a toy shopping paradise. Everything from handmade dolls (in Das Spielzimmer) to wooden toys can be found here (in Hannah Kley).
Are you looking for teddy bears dressed in leather pants? They are plentiful in Munich.
Silent Night is a German carol. It was written in Austria in 1818.
Kris Kringle is derived from the German word Christkindl (Christ Child). It is this Christ child, not Santa Claus, who brings gifts to Germany on Christmas!
The Christmas Pickle is a legend, but some families still hang it on the tree and give the first child who finds it a gift.
At the Reiterlesmarkt Christmas Market in Rothenburg, you can celebrate Christmas all year.
Germany is gradually shutting down all of its nuclear power plants. By 2022, there should be none!
In the winter, look up Southern Bavaria on Google Maps. It appears to be the moon's surface!
The Germans have the strangest queens, including the Apple Queen, the Saxon Fish Queen, the Beer Queen, and others.
Germans prefer square pillows over rectangles. And the pillows are enormous, so bring your own pillowcases from home!
House numbers are not used in Germany. Even in apartment buildings, the postman delivers mail by last name.
When you go out to eat in Germany, don't expect a glass of water on the house. You must purchase bottled water here. In fact, in Germany, beer was once cheaper than water!
In Germany, the cost of dying is high; strict funeral laws mean that there is less competition in the funeral industry, and costs are extremely high!
There aren't many locals who request leftovers from restaurants.
To appease kosher religions, pork may soon be removed from public school menus.
Some sections of the Autobahn have no speed limit.
When it comes to shopping, Germans prefer cash to credit cards, so look for a Geldautomator ATM whenever you're in a large shopping centre.
In Germany, there is a shop closing law! On Sundays, don't expect to find stores open after 8 p.m. On Sundays, you'll have to go to a train station store for groceries.
During Easter, Germans enjoy egg-fighting. Smash a hardboiled egg on your opponent's egg to see who cracks first.
Participate in the crazy Schwalbe race on your moped or scooter. This is a traditional race that has survived macho bike races for over fifty years.
In Germany, denying the Holocaust is a crime. It's obvious why, but even if you're a neo-Nazi, it seems silly!
Michael Jackson dangled his son from the balcony of a Berlin hotel.
At the age of 13, children can consume beer and wine in public. In fact, drinking in public is legal in Germany, much to the chagrin of many other countries.
The Crazy Ice-cream Maker (Der verrückte Eismacher) in Munich serves the most unusual ice creams, including fries with ice cream and flavours such as bacon, beer, cannabis, and even pregnancy (flavoured with a combination of pickles and Nutella)!
Sauerkraut was originally served with meat and potatoes, not with fish!
German beer is well-known, but wine should not be overlooked.
Germans adore spargels, which are white asparagus that are both delicious and nutritious!
Doner kebap, a Turkish dish, is the quintessential German fast food.
If you see Zungenwurst on the menu, know that it means blood tongue and only eat it if you're feeling brave!
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