Guide Note

Germany is centrally located in the European Union and on the European continent. It is a popular tourist destination. German culture and language is prominent in countries such as Switzerland and Austria.

Fast Facts

Capital: Berlin
Population: Approx 82,314,900
Currency: Euro
Official Language: German
Chancellor: Angela Merkel
Calling Code: +49
GDP Per Capita: $35,072

Early History

Germany existed largely as a region rather than a nation until the 1800s. In the nine centuries before that, it had been the core of the Holy Roman Empire. The states of the German Federation did not have their first congress until 1849, and in 1871, it became a constitutional monarchy through the efforts of Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck.

World War I and Aftermath

Wilhelm II led the country into the disastrous "Great War", now known as World War I. An angry nation revolted in 1918, the Weimar Republic was born, and Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate. Wartime reparations and a global economic depression destroyed the German economy and quality of life.

World War II and Modern Era

Germany, seeking a rescuer, experienced its darkest era under Adolf Hitler. The Nazi party, with a policy of conquest and ethnic cleansing, conquered most of Europe and systematically killed 11 million people, including an estimated six million Jews, largely in concentration camps. After its defeat and a long period of reconstruction, Germany grew to be an economic powerhouse of Europe.

Categories

Travel | Countries | Central Europe | Geography

View Note History

Germany

The Mahalo Top 7

Official Site: Germany Federal Government
Official Site: Germany Tourism
CIA World Factbook: Germany Profile
Der Spiegel News Magazine: English Version | German Version
Wikipedia: Germany
German Embassy: Information on Germany
BBC: Germany News and Sports

German Recent News and Articles

Google News: Germany
Topix: Germany News
The New York Times: Germany to Keep Troops in Afghanistan (Oct. 12, 2007)
FastCompany: "Airport of Tomorrow" (2007)

Germany Vacation

Mahalo's Guides to Berlin Vacation | Munich Vacation | Hamburg Vacation | Frankfurt Vacation
Lonely Planet: Germany Travel Information
Frommer's: Germany Travel Guide
Yahoo! Travel: Germany Vacations & Tourism

Germany Politics

Wikipedia: Politics of Germany | List of political parties in Germany
Economist.com: Germany's Politics (2007)
Official Site: German Elections

Germany Government Sites

Official Site: German Government
Official Site: German President
Official Site: Chancellor
Official Site: Cabinet
Official Site: Bundestag
Official Site: Bundesrat
Official Site: Ministry of Justice
Official Site: The Federal Constitutional Court

Germany International Relations

German Embassy: Government & Politics
Official Site: Federal Foreign Office
Wikipedia: Foreign relations of Germany
Official Site: Presidency of the European Union
Official Site: G8 Summit 2007

Germany Economy

Economist.com: Germany's economy (2007)
Wikipedia: Economy of Germany
Official Site: Frankfurt Stock Exchange
BMWi: German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
Official Site: Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
WTO: Germany

Germany Military

Google News: German Military
Global Security: German Military
Wikipedia: German Navy | Luftwaffe | German Army
Wikipedia: Military history of Germany
Official Site: Ministry of Defence
Official Site: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Germany Facts and History

Wikipedia: History of Germany
U.S. State Department: Consular Information Sheet on Germany
BBC: Country profile: Germany
EuroDocs: History of Germany: Primary Documents

Germany Maps and Geography

Creative Commons image by "CIA World Factbook"

Creative Commons image by "CIA World Factbook"

Wikipedia: Geography of Germany
Info Please: Atlas of Germany

Germany Capital

Mahalo's page on Berlin Vacation
Wikipedia: Berlin
Frommer's: Introduction to Berlin
Wikitravel: Berlin Travel Guide
Lonely Planet: Berlin At A Glance

Germany Major Cities

Mahalo's page on Hamburg Vacation
Wikipedia: Hamburg
Official Tourism Site: Hamburg
Lonely Planet: Hamburg Travel Information
Mahalo's page on Munich Vacation
Wikipedia: Munich
Official Site: Munich, Germany
Lonely Planet: Munich Background Info
Mahalo's page on Frankfurt Vacation
Wikipedia: Frankfurt
Fodor's: Frankfurt Contacts and Resources
Lonely Planet: Frankfurt Background Information

Germany Photos and Videos

Google Image Search: Germany
Flickr: Photos of Germany
Earth Photography: Pictures of Germany
Travel Images: Images of Germany
YouTube & Google Video: Germany

German Culture

Wikipedia: Culture of Germany
German Embassy: Germany Culture and Life
Mahalo's Guide to the German language
Kwintessential: Culture and Business Etiquette

Germany Humor and Satire

German-Jokes.com: Joke of the Day
YouTube: Fawlty Towers The Germans (Time 3:12)
YouTube: Funny German Interview with My Chemical Romance (Time 4:11)
Amazon.com: Scheisse!: The Real German You Were Never Taught In School

Related Searches

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