Deutschland

Welcome to our introductory page on German culture and life in Germany! On this page you’ll find links to our articles related to Germany – with information, photos, and resources to help you learn more about the sights to see, plus customs and daily life in Deutschland.

Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. PHOTO © Hyde Flippo | Also see Neuschwanstein Castle

Topics Related to Germany

Below you’ll find links to our pages related to the culture and history of Germany. Also see our Germany for Tourists page.

• Germany: Facts and Figures – Country information
• Germany for Tourists – Helpful information for travelers
• Driving in Germany – The rules of the road and more
• The Autobahn – About the German, Austrian and Swiss autobahn network
• Driving on the Autobahn – Seven rules for driving on the high-speed autobahn
• The German Post Office has changed a lot over the last decade or so.

• History of Germany – Prussia, Germany (East and West) and the history of what is now the Federal Republic of Germany, with notable Germans, Austrians and Swiss, past and present
  • The Berlin Airlift – A history of what the Germans call die Luftbrücke
  • Berlin Wall Timeline – A chronology of the Berlin Wall – which begins before the Wall’s construction in 1961
• Dialects – The German you hear isn’t always standard German.
• Holidays and Celebrations – Key holidays and other official and unofficial observations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
• Notable People from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with bios
  • Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) was West Germany’s very first chancellor.
  • Michael Ballhaus (1935- ) is the German cinematographer behind famous Hollywood films such as Air Force One, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and The Departed.
  • Wernher von Braun (1912-1977) was a charismatic German-American rocket scientist (and former Nazi) who helped put Americans on the moon.
  • Leonardo Dicaprio (1974- ) has a German mother, and his middle name is Wilhelm.
  • Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) was a German film star who came to the US in 1930.
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was Germany’s greatest author, dramatist and poet.
  • Steffi Graf (1969- ) is a former German tennis champion, now living in Las Vegas, Nevada with her American husband Andre Agassi. Graf and Boris Becker were Germany’s “dream couple” of tennis in the 1980s.
  • Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) was the famous King of Bavaria (1864-1886) who built Neuschwanstein Castle and other palaces. Learn more about the king and his Wittelsbach dynasty.
  • Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German philosopher, writer and journalist who published the “Communist Manifesto” in 1848.
  • Angela Merkel (1954- ) is Germany’s current chancellor (since 2005).
  • Jesse Owens (1913-1980), African American athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olymics in Berlin.
  • Elvis Presley was a GI in West Germany in the early 1960s, the only time he traveled outside the United States!
  • Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) invented the first digital, programmable computer.
  • More…
• Notable Women from Austria, Germany, Switzerland
• Famous Graves in Germany – Where are they buried?
• Sports in Germany – What are Germany’s most popular sports? Who are the top athletes?

Expats in Germany

The German Way has many resources and lots of useful information for English-speaking expats living in Germany, Austria or German-speaking Switzerland. Don’t miss our German Way Expat Blog!

• For Expats: Living in Germany – Our starting page for expats
• The German Way Expat Blog – For expats by expats in German-speaking Europe
• Expat Checklist 1 – What expats need to do – before, during and after an expat assignment in German-speaking Europe.
• German Way Expat Forum – A place where expats can exchange information about life in German-speaking Europe.
• Living in Germany – Vital topics for expats: Health care, German red tape, getting a German driver’s license, watching German television,

German Culture and History

People, places and things you should know about Germany.

• Notable Germans – Biographies of famous and not-so-famous Germans, Austrians and Swiss
• The Berlin Airlift – A history of what the Germans call die Luftbrücke
• Berlin Wall Timeline – A chronology of the Berlin Wall – which begins before the Wall’s construction in 1961
• History of Germany – Prussia, Germany (East and West) and the history of what is now the Federal Republic of Germany
• Cultural Comparisons – Comparing life in the USA and Germany
• Christmas – Christmas Traditions in Austria, Germany, Switzerland
• Easter: The Easter Bunny is German – The history of the Easter Bunny is fascinating – and German.
• Death: The German Way of Death and Funerals – Customs, laws and regulations related to funerals, burial and cremation, including info for expats in Germany.
• Education – The education system in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
• Religion in Germany – Germany and the Protestant Reformation, the church tax, Scientology, etc.
• Sports in Germany – What are Germany’s most popular sports? Who are the top athletes?
• Terrorism in Germany – From the NSU to the RAF and RZ.
• More…

Travel and Germany

What you need to know about traveling to, from or around Germany and Europe.

• Know Before You Go – Information for travelers
• Dining Out in Germany – Tipping, table manners, etc.
• Germany for Tourists – Information for travelers
• Hotels and B&Bs – Find accommodations in Germany
• Air Travel – Flying to, from or in Europe and Germany
• Banks and Money – Money matters
• Castles and Palaces – A guide to castles in Germany
• Cell Phones in Europe – Will your US mobile phone work in Germany?
• Shopping in Germany – Credit cards, shopping hours and much more.
• More…

Next | Germany: Facts and Figures

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Germany: Facts and Figures
• History of Germany
• Notable People – Biographies of famous and not-so-famous people from the German-speaking world
• Featured Biographies – More detailed bios of notable people from the German-speaking world
• Notable Women from Austria, Germany, Switzerland
• Germans in Hollywood – Germans, Austrians and Swiss filmmakers in Hollywood

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