Germany

Currency: the Euro

Official language: German

Germany’s original inhabitants date back to the Bronze Age and are thought to have come from Scandinavia. Much of Germany was overrun by the Romans, who expanded their empire well into central and northern Europe, and called the area Germania. As the Roman Empire declined, Germanic tribes emerged. Of special importance was Charlemagne and the subsequent rise of the Hohenstaufen emperors, whose princes ruled until 1254.

A turn in Germany’s history was the Protestant Reformation, led by Marin Luther in 1517. The spread of Protestant religion united many Germans and led to the construction of some of the country’s most stunning churches. Pilgrims and those interested in history still follow the Luther Trail, which includes sites such as St. Anne’s Church in Augsburg, the Coburg Fortress, the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt, Marburg Cathedral and Wartburg Castle, to mention a few.

Germany was ravaged by many wars, with tumulus events wreaking havoc to important historic buildings and documents. Notable conflicts include the Silesian Wars (1740), the Seven Years’ War (1756), the Danish-Prussian War (1864), the Austro-Prussian War (1866), the France-Prussian War (1870), and WWI (1914). The rise of the Third Reich and the Holocaust were dark points in history and badly damaged the country’s spirit. The heavy bombings during WWII by the Allies significantly destroyed many of the historic cities and sites in Germany. A good place to learn more is at the German History Museum (Deutsches Historisches Museum) in Berlin.

Known as the "Land of Poets and Thinkers," German culture has been heavily influenced by religion, composers, writers, and philosophers. The country has been home to the likes of Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven, and poets such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich von Schiller, as well as Friedrich Nietzsche, Immanuel Kant, and Max Weber.

Culture, of course, varies from region to region. The southern state of Bavaria spends a significant amount of its annual budget in supporting the arts. There are many folk songs, music, and festivals in this region and spending some time here can be an eye-opening experience.

Temperatures also vary greatly according to season, with January and February generally seeing the coldest days of the year, averaging around 27°F. The warmest month is July, when temperatures can reach 75°F. However, the summer months are also when Germany sees most of its rain. Fall can be wonderful, with colors decorating the forests and temperatures ranging from 45 to 65°F. However, from October onwards, days start getting shorter and generally darker. Having an umbrella handy most of the time is a good idea in Germany.

Germany is part of the Schengen Agreement, which means there are no border controls for nationals of EU countries. EU citizens only require a valid national identity card or passport to enter Germany. Non-EU citizen require a valid passport and possibly a visa if you intend on a longer visit. 

Many visitors are surprised that most German taxis are Mercedes Benz. Licensed companies are cream or off-white in color and have a ‘taxi’ sign on their roof. Taxis are metered, with some routes having fixed prices, such as from downtown to the airport. Tipping is a must, usually 10 percent of the fare and the driver will charge extra for each passenger and piece of luggage. Taxis are generally not flagged down and have to be picked up at a stand. Outside the main cities, it may be necessary to call for a taxi. Taxis in Frankfurt are available from Frankfurt Ruf Taxi (+49-69-23-00-01) and in Berlin, from Taxi Berlin (+49-30-20-20-21-220). Taxis can become expensive, so using them for long-distance travel is not recommended.

Germany boasts excellent train and bus networks, which are great ways to explore the country and cities. The Inter-City (IC) trains offer clean and comfortable, high-speed connections to all major cities in Germany, as well as to other European outposts. However, long-distance trains are not cheap and international visitors should look into obtaining a Eurail pass prior to arriving which allows for unlimited travel on German and European trains. There are also long-distance buses that offer cheaper inter-city connections and discount air carriers that may be a better option.

Most German cities have public buses as well as S-Bahn (street cars) and U-Bahn (metro trains). The transportation networks are extensive and well-connected, and a good way to explore cities. However, buying tickets is not always straightforward and visitors should obtain day passes to save on multiple trips in one day. Most German S-Bahn and U-Bahn systems use the ‘honor system’, so there is no monitoring whether riders have bought a ticket or not. Instead, inspectors randomly check passengers for tickets and fines are levied on the spot for non-ticket holders. It does not pay to ride the train without a ticket so if you’re unsure how to purchase one, ask a local for help.

Before you leave on your holiday, there are at least four health-related things you should do. Please check the handbook for specifics, but for now, here’s the short list:

Step 1: Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting.

Step 2: Have a medical checkup with your doctor.

Step 3: Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Step 4: Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less important than steps 1-3.)

DO

• Try to get straight to the point at hand. Germans generally do not need much small talk to warm up the conversation. They often appreciate it when others are direct.
• Provide sincere answers to serious questions, and avoid introducing humour to lighten a stern conversation.
• When making plans with your German counterparts, make sure to give all relevant details to ensure clarity.
• Expect a German to be open and honest when they disagree with you. They are generally courteous, but are unlikely to deliver their opinion in an indirect way through ambiguous hints and understatements. 
• Try not to take personal offence if a German informs you of a mistake you made. They would generally expect you to do the same for them in order to help each other improve and grow as an individual in all aspects of life.
• Ask a German’s permission before taking a picture or video of them.
• Exercise discretion when discussing the arrival and settlement of refugees and migrants in Germany, and be aware that you may not be able to presume somebody’s position or education on the matter. Avoid making comparisons with Australia’s migration as it occurs under a different context and scale. See ‘Demographic Shifts’ under Core Concepts for more on this.
• Approach conversations about the World Wars and the Cold War sensitively. Most Germans are open to discussing their history. However, some may prefer not to revisit the past, while others may simply be tired of speaking about it.

DON'T

• Avoid shouting across rooms or drawing attention to yourself in public. Unruly behaviour may be viewed as a lack of self-control.
• Do not press a German to revise their decision on a matter if they have already given you their response. For example, insisting that they do something after they have already politely declined can be seen as intrusive, even if it is coming from a good place (e.g. asking them to accompany you somewhere or help themselves to more food).
• Avoid cancelling on a German at the last minute or being late. If you anticipate delays, give your German counterpart a fair warning of your tardiness.
• Avoid clouding what you mean out of modesty or shyness. Germans prefer straightforward honest answers to questions. Directness and clarity is highly valued.
• Do not talk about the actions of the Germans in the World Wars as if your German counterpart was there. For example, avoid saying “You Germans did this...” as if they need to claim personal responsibility. Your German counterpart was likely born after these events and had no part in them.
• Never compare a German to Hitler or the Nazis of World War II or express anti-Semitic sentiments (even jokingly). There is a strong policy against Nazi symbolism and hate speech.
• Do not refer to the era of the Third Reich as “Nazi Germany”. That is not what it was called.