131 Facts About Germany: History, Culture, Food And More

Germany is one of the most popular countries in Europe for many reasons.

Apart from being a top priority on the list of travelers, Germany is known as the engineering powerhouse of Europe. Be it the speed limit of German cars and trains or the production capacity of German machinery, the efficiency of German engineering has been recognized all over the world.

The Federal Republic of Germany, also known as Germany, or as the Germans call it, Deutschland or Bundesrepublik Deutschland, is a country in Europe. The country shares its border with the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Poland, and Denmark.

With Berlin as its capital, Germany has a variety of landscapes in its territory, from cityscapes in the west to the agriculture-orientated sceneries in the east. From the Holy Roman Empire to the unification of East and West Germany, this country is rich in history and culture that still influences the people in the present. Today, Germany is famous for various reasons such as football, bread, cars, and free education, as well as being the homeland to famous personalities like Beethoven, Adolf Hitler, Albert Einstein, and Karl Marx. Amazing, right? There are many more amazing facts about Germany that will surely intrigue you.

Read along to find out about the history of East Germany along with some more interesting facts about Germany! Afterward, also check out facts about Saudi Arabia and facts about Congo Africa.

Fun Facts About Germany

Germany is one of the most developed countries in Europe. It boasts of an excellent infrastructure and offers a high standard of living for its citizens. There is so much to explore and know about Germany so you must certainly check these fascinating fun facts about Germany.

• There are two different drinking ages in Germany. People above 16 are allowed to have beer, but if they want to have hard drinks, they will have to wait until 18.
• Germany is the host to the world’s largest beer and travel festival called the Oktoberfest. It was started in the 19th century and today it is the most celebrated event. Since Germany is one of the largest consumers of beer, this 16-day long festival attracts people from all over the world.
• This year (2022), Oktoberfest starts in September and in October.
• While on the topic of festivals, Germany’s most famous music festival is the Lollapalooza where EDM lovers unite.
• Germany is a paradise for all car lovers! Car manufacturers like Audi, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen are from Germany. The roads in the country are a treat for those who love driving!
• If there's one place in the world where one can afford education, it is in Germany. Starting from primary education to university education, it is free. This is why Germany attracts students from all over the world because the education is free, not only for the natives but also for internationals too.
• German highways are known as Autobahns. 65% of these roads have no speed limit!

Historical Facts About Germany

Before you embark on your trip to Germany, it is essential that you also acquire some knowledge about the history of this great country. It will really help you make the most of your journey. Here are some important historical facts about Germany that you will surely enjoy:

• Germany has a very rich historical background. Mainly because of the infamous act of the Holocaust orchestrated by Adolf Hitler, but the history of the country is not limited to that.
• It is believed that the Celts were the initial inhabitants of the country.
• Germany was under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire before it declined in 1806.
• Prussia was struggling and fighting against Austria to win over Germany after defeating Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Later, Prussia also defeated Austria in 1866 and Otto von Bismarck rose to unify all of Germany but his rule ended during the First World War leading the country to drown in its crippling economy.
• Germany had to sign the unfair Treaty of Versailles, which it violated brutally under the rule of Adolf Hitler during the Second World War.
• Hitler committed grave war crimes by sending millions of Jews to concentration camps. It is estimated that the Holocaust killed around six million Jews. It all came to a stop when Hitler died in 1945, consequently leading to the unconditional surrender of the German troops on 8 May 1945.
• While the war ended everywhere, Berlin was still suffering because of the Berlin Wall dividing Germany into East and West Germany.
• The country was unified after the Soviet Union fell and disintegrated in 1989.

Weird Facts About Germany

Well, everything about Germany is not fun. However, there are some weird aspects of the country as well which will tickle your funny bone. Read on for some truly weird facts about Germany, one of the biggest economies of Europe:

• There is a city in Germany, called Reutlingen, which has the world's narrowest streets. The streets are so narrow that a regular 4x4 truck cannot pass through them. They are only 12 in (31 cm) wide. Germany is a country full of such weird happenings.
• Ever heard of Angela Merkel? She’s a politician in Germany and she's so famous that there was a limited-edition Barbie doll created by Mattel in her honor.
• 'Müller' is the most common last name in Germany with over 900,000 sharing it!
• Imagine a country so famous for sausages that the capital is the home to the museum dedicated to curry sausages, also called Currywurst. They have over 1000 different sausages!
• Curry sausages are the most consumed food in Germany. Roughly 70 million of them are consumed each year in Berlin.
• The longest German word is 80 letters long. It is Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft. Try saying it five times!

Facts About Germany’s Culture

Germans are obsessed with books, football, and even traveling. Here are some more facts related to the culture of Germany:

• The idea of the magazine came from Germany in 1663 when a magazine was publishing monthly updates on philosophy. Today, the world knows about Frankfurt’s book festival that attracts bibliophiles globally.
• Germany is quite famous for its beer. In fact, the oldest brewery is in Germany.
• Football is deeply-rooted in German culture. The country consists of over 26,000 football clubs with millions of members.
• Let’s not forget, Germany has won four FIFA World Cups.
• Germans are far more passionate travelers than Americans. They spend more money while traveling than people from any other country.
• One very amusing fact about the Germans is that they are aggressively protective of their language. This is common everywhere, but what is amusing about this is that movies from all over the world get dubbed in German for the natives to watch. So, it is safe to assume that they never had to struggle to watch a show while reading the subtitles.
• Christmas is a three-day celebration in Germany from 24 -26 December 24.
• The festive season itself starts in November. Town squares are decorated with colorful lights. Every year, a massive Christmas tree is decorated in Berlin. The festive vibes can be seen in the atmosphere. People celebrate Christmas the whole month. Markets sell beautiful decorations and lights for people to decorate their homes and the fir trees. Of course, there’s mass, children singing carols, and gifts for families in Germany too.
• Nuremberg Christmas Market has a separate fan base of its own. It is said that this market has been organized every year at Christmas since the 17th century. The Germans call it Christkindlesmarkt.
• In the Nuremberg Christmas Market, all types of foods, drinks, bread, tea, coffee, and more are sold. You can also find a variety of handmade Christmas decorations and dolls.
• In German history, the Federal Republic of the German Empire had kept the name German Reich when the European Germany state existed between 1871-1945.
• The German language stands 12th in world rankings. Apart from German people, there are many people around the world who speak German.
• The world's narrowest street is found in western Europe, in the German nation, among all the other European countries.
• German food includes a lot of meat and especially wurst sausages.
• The capital city of Germany is Berlin. This capital city of Berlin is quite famous for its many museums.
• Many countries in Central Europe decided to adopt daylight saving time. In the European Union, East Germany, especially East Berlin began using renewable energies.
• Germany is home to the famous Bayern Munich football club.
• Christianity is the dominant religion in Germany, with up to 70 percent of the population identifying themselves as belonging to the religion.

Germany is a very interesting country and all these facts are proof of it. Since it is a hotspot for education, students from everywhere are attracted to this country. Germany might have a dark and ruthless past, but it doesn’t define its present. As a population, those who were believed to be violent and merciless in the past are now seen as the most loved community.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 131 facts about Germany: history, culture, food and more, then why not take a look at facts about South Africa, or facts about Spain?