In the midst of being overly excited about my move to Germany next year and trying to figure out this ancient looking application, I thought this post should be appropriate. Being inspired by a travel memoir I’m currently reading (look for a review to come out soon!) I’ve also added a “German word of the day” widget at the side of my blog. Why 69 fun facts? Because I didn’t have enough facts to make it to 100, and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of German lovin’. Enjoy!
- Germans are the second largest beer consumers in the world, after the Irish (of course).
- Beer is officially considered a food in Bavaria.
- Michael Ballack does not like beer.
- Germany is Europe’s largest economy.
- The most popular German surname (Nachname) is Müller.
- Chancellor Angela Merkel has a Barbie doll made after her.
- Historically, Germany was known as the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Weimar Republic.
- 31% of the country has been kept with forests and woodlands, with Hesse having the most.
- There are over 300 kinds of bread in Germany.
- There are also bread museums.
- There are 35 dialects of the German language.
- The Wittelsbachs ruled Bavaria for 738 years.
- Munich is further north than any major US city (excluding Alaska).
- German is the official language of 5 countries: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. It is also spoken in Northern Italy and the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.
- Germany is the first country to adopt Daylight Saving Time (DST) in 1916.
- 2% of Germans do not own cell phones.
- Gummy bears were invented by a German.
- The balcony of the hotel Michael Jackson dangled his son over is in Berlin.
- While it is called Oktoberfest, it actually starts in Steptember.
- The first Oktoberfest was a wedding celebration for Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.
- 65% of the Autobahn (highway) has no speed limit.
- The Cologne Cathedral took 632 years to build. (Bill Bryson in Neither Here Nor There (p. 88) wrote: “It is absolutely immense, over 500 feet long and more than 200 feet wide…It can hold 40,000 people. You can understand why it took 700 years to build – and that was with German workers. In Britain they would still be digging the foundations.”)
- The first printed book was in German.
- German is the third most commonly taught language worldwide.
- When JFK visited Berlin, he infamously said “Ich bin ein Berliner,” which also translates to “I am a jelly donut.”
- Hugo Boss designed the official uniforms for the Nazi Party and Hitler Youth. (I did an assignment on this for German class if anyone is interested in reading more about it)
- To ask for a beer in a pub, you would use your thumb to indicate “one” rather than your index finger (watch Inglorious Basterds for improper examples of ordering beer)
- Til Schweiger, sometimes known as the “German Brad Pitt,” is born one day after Pitt.
- The longest word published in the German language is Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft (79 letters). Try saying that five times fast.
- Famous Bavarians include Pope Benedict XVI, Richard Wagner, Richard Straus, Thomas Mann, Levi Strauss, and Rudolf Diesel.
- The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 (the year I was born!).
- The world’s tallest cathedral is in Ulm.
- Berlin has the largest train station in Europe.
- Holocaust denial is a crime in Germany.
- German is spoken by more than 100 million people worldwide.
- There are over 150 castles in Germany.
- The Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) tradition came from Germany.
- Freiburg is the warmest German city.
- There are over 60 beer gardens in Munich.
- Germany has over 400 zoos, the most in the world.
- There are over 1,000 kinds of sausages in Germany.
- Germany borders 9 countries (Austria, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxemburg, Holland, Czech Republic, and Poland).
- Berlin is nine times bigger than Paris.
- Most taxis in Germany are Mercedes.
- In the 4th grade, German kids are placed into Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium, which pretty much determines if you will go to university or straight to the work force (Gymnasium is the highest level).
Why they’re so smart. Inventions and contributions to the world of arts:
- Albert Einstein, the most recognized scientist in the world, was German and born in Ulm.
- Einstein married his cousin.
- There is a rumour that Einstein failed his first University Entrance Exam (he didn’t).
- Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz created the first motor-driven vehicles
- Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, originally used for printing the Bible.
- Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered the X-rays in 1895.
- The cuckoo clock is invented in Germany in the 17th century.
- Other notable German inventions include: the telephone, diesel engine, aspirin, fluorescent lamp, and the pregnancy test.
- There are 102 German Nobel laureates as of 2009.
- Adidas was founded by the Bavarian, Adolf “Adi”Dassler.
- His other brother, Rudolf Dassler founded Puma.
- Famous German composers include Beethoven, Schumann, Bach, Wagner, Strauss, and Handel.
- Famous philosophers include Nietzsche, Marx, Kant and Hegel.
Facts about the greatest sport invented:
- The Deutscher Fußball-Bund was found in 1900 in Leipzig.
- The Bayern Munich is the most successful team in the Bundesliga having won four times (1974, 1975, 1976, 2001)
- Nicknames for Bayern Munich include Der FCB, Die Bayern, Die Roten and FC Hollywood.
- 10% of Bayern’s shares are owned by Adidas.
- Franz Beckenbauer is nicknamed “Der Kaiser”
- The DFB won 3 times in 1954, 1974, 1990, and their wins are represented by the three stars on their logo.
- Rudi Voller told Michael Ballack to take his number 13.
- Ballack’s favourite cologne is “Romance” for men by Calvin Klein (Guys – take note).
- Mesut Ozil (of Turkish descent) recites verses of the Koran before kick-offs.
- Lukas Podolski paid a 5000 euro fine and admitted to being an “idiot” after slapping Ballack’s face during a qualifying win against Wales when Ballack shouted at him over a misplaced pass.
- There’s more soccer fan clubs in Germany than anywhere else in the world.
Disclaimer: my blog is mainly for entertainment purposes, and not an encyclopedia. These fun facts came from information that my friends have told me, that I’ve witnessed, read, or stumbled upon on the internet. Some of these facts may be out of date and therefore, I do not suggest anyone quoting these facts for a research paper, or use in life or death situations. Danke.
{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi! I'm so happy that you found my blog and I thanks a million for sharing these neat facts! I've been living here for seven months and didn't know half of them! You sure do a lot of research on the places you will go, thats fabulous!! I look forward to being your newest follower and learning more about you and your adventures!
hahah your welcome! those were some good facts.
I enjoyed this post… while my boyfriend is South Africa, his Dad is hard core German and so he speaks German and eats German and the whole nine yards… I will have to show this to him!
xoxo
Jenna
It's always cool to learn interesting facts about other places!
Thanks for sharing these!!
I had no idea so many things were invented in Germany!
P.S. I stopped by from Travel Babbles, Around the World Wed.
ahh! i was never interested in going to germany until i moved to lorraine and realized how amazing germany is. the food is DELICIOUS. the boys are cute. the beer is amazing. oh me gee i m so excited for you.
SO HOT AHAHAH
XOXO http://wonderfashionista.blogspot.com/
found you on the blog hop over at travelbabbles! Hope you will check out our blog too!
-tiffanie
http://jetsettingdivas.blogspot.com
Hahaha I love fact #29. And the picture makes this post THAT much more exciting.
http://www.thewrittenrunway.com
Hi! Stopped over from the Around the World blog hop! I really love your site, and the facts about Germany. Those never get old. I am living in Germany right now, my husband plays hockey over here. Looking forward to having a better look around your site. Cheers!
http://texagermanadian.blogspot.com/
KY – Thanks! I love your blog as well, and can't wait to read more about your adventures in Germany! I'll probably have some questions for you
Jenna – That's so cool! I hope he enjoys reading it as much as you did!
Kassi – No prob! And…they were quite the inventors
Brenna – "the boys are cute" I think that should be fact #70!
Alessendra – I know!
Jet-Setting Divas – Thanks! Your blog looks great as well!
Ambyr – Haha, I think every post I write from now on should begin with a hot shirtless Michael Ballack.
TexaGermaNadian – You're so lucky! Your life seems really cool…can't wait to read more of your blog as well!
Hi there, I'm coming over from FTLOB and I am so glad I did! Great blog – awesome post! I am from Germany, born and raised there, currently living in Chicago, but definitely going back someday!
You are going there next year? Where and for how long?
Nice to meet you!
Hugs,
Chrissy xxx
http://chrissyinamerica.blogspot.com
Chrissy – Nice meeting you as well! How are you liking Chi-town? I lived there for a year for uni and lived in the theatre district, across the street from the Chicago Theatre. I loved it! Anyway, I sent a message your way!
Nice post!
Of course Germany is close to my heart so I enjoyed it very much.
You should make a video of you attempting to say the longest word in German.
Wait…did you say beer? I'm so there.
Bad Traveler – Haha, I have a hard time pronouncing German words half that length!
C- right on!
I loved reading this! I would love to move to a foreign country! How exciting! I can't wait to read more! i hope that you are having a fabulous day! Take care!
P.S. who is the eye candy in the picture? Is that Michael Ballack?
Oooh I've been wanting to put a french word of the day on my blog, so I might borrow that widget you have
Posidanielle – Thanks! And, yes it is
I really enjoyed your Blog. I will be going to Germany next hockey season. It is nice I have learned so many fun facts
Hope you are doing well!
Oh I like Michael Ballack , is so mmmmmmmmmmm
Germany seems like such a fascinating place! Also, your blog is one of my favorites and I've given you an award, you can see the the details in my latest post.
OK, here are a couple of more things about Germany…from my perspective…
They make they greatest cars in the world.
There is nothing cooler than a Metro car full of Germans singing beer songs during the World Cup in Paris in 1998.
Gummy bears, bread and football players
Yummyyyy
You learn something new every day! We started the hockey season in Germany this year but unfortunately, the team folded just before the regular season started. Thanks for sharing these fun facts, we hope to find our way back to Germany in a few months!
Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitänswitwenrentensachbearbeitungszentrahlbüroangestelltengewerkschaftsvorsitzender (118 letters!!!)
If you see that singns: ä, ö, ü, ß just and your PC can't handle them just write them like: ä=ae, ö=oe, ü=ue and ß=ss – that's what germans would do. The dots over the letters change their pronaunciation in a dramatic way, so to just forgett them does not help… (thei are special for the german language)like 'Haendel' and 'Rudi Voeller'
It's a realy nice side^^ and the facts are correct. I'm studying german in Leipzig and theres somthing I've recognised: They don't like it if you think all things that are typical for baveria are typical for the whole country (some say Baveria is'nt german – the baverian kongdom never wantet to belong to the rest of the others…)
The wins you have for Bayern are their Champions League wins. They have won the Bundesliga many more times, the most recent being the 2009-2010 season when they won the domestic double.
Uhm, there are some factual errors here. For example, the Kingdom of Prussia had a big part of what is now called Germany under its influence, but not everything. Bavaria, like most of the south and south west, was't part of it. And considering the "Berliner"-Quote: Yes, in some Regions a "Berliner" is a jam-filled Donut, but nobody thought that Kennedy called himself one, as a citizen of the City of Berlin is also called a "Berliner". "Tenenbaums" are called Tannenbaum, or plural: Tannenbäume. Nevertheless it's great and a little bit surprising to see somebody so excited of this country. ^^
Perhaps an addition, German is also one of the three official languages in Belgium, even though it's only spoken by a minority in the south-east.
Yeah, actually, not all Taxis in Germany are Mercedes. I guess some 2% to 5% are VW.
I also do have a friend who drives Taxi here in Leipzig (Germany) and he owns the only Taxi-Ford in Town (with a population of half a million).
Fact 60 isn't correct: the FCB won 55 major trophies!
In the years mentioned in the fact, the FCB won the Champions League. But they won a lot more championships and cups.
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Bayern_Munich_statistics#Honours
Bayern-Munich has won the bundesliga 21 times not 4!!
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. He was Canadian. Other than that… cool.
#48 Einstein didn't fail (and he studied in Switzerland btw)
#43 Paris is 3 times bigger than Berlin
#11 There are many more (only in Switzerland are more than 20)
It wasn't Alexander G. Bell but Johann Philipp Reis!
Nice post anyway!
Greetz from Switzerland^^
#67: Oh wow, bro, I'm pretty sure you mean that he "recites verses," not "receits versus." Receits isn't even a word. Versus means "against" or "opposed to", as in "Today's game is Bayern-Munich versus Hoffenheim."
Nice list you got there!
Anywhere there are two errors:
25. When JFK visited Berlin, he infamously said “Ich bin ein Berliner,” which also translates to “I am a jelly donut.”
i never heard of this speach beeing infamous. indeed we read it in school.
you are right about the translation, "Berliner" stands for two things: a citizen of berlin or a jelly donut.
Im quite certain that no one was thinking JFK wantet to tell the people that he is a jelly donut
By the way "Hamburger" is translated with citizen of Hamburg and burgers.
40. Taxis in Germany are Mercedes.
Most of them where but newer cabs are mostly cheaper cars.
Have a great time in Germany!
Belgium also has German as one of its offical languages
….actually it is in the 7th grade that you pick the next school that will either end after 9th grade (no diploma), after 10th grade (can go to trade schools) or after the 13th grade which allows you to go to college (for free)!
30: richard wagner, thomas mann and rudolf diesel were not born in bavaria.
44: most of our taxis are mercedes, but of course there other brands, too.
Great article! I actually learned some interesting facts I didn't know about, depsite being german and all
1: Germans are actually the third largest per capita consumers of beer, after the Czechs and Irish.
and #68 was probably my favorite
Germany rules!
The cathedral in koln is gigantic. You see it when you arrive by train. Paris is about 3 times the population of Berlin. VW is about to become the largest car maker in the world. The English language is derived in great part from Deutsch. They invaded England in the middle ages. That is why it is not very similar to the latin derivitives. #18 the rest of the hotel is there too.#40 I have heard that the Berlin zoo is the largest in the world.
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First of all Great Post!
Technically the longest german word is unlimited: urururur…..opa or urururur…oma (great-great-…-grandpa/-ma).
hi
Hi jeremiah
Was born and raised in Germany (in Lower Saxony ) glad you all like our great country. And as someone else mentioned, Bavaria does not represent Germany. Most Americans,think of Germany being like Bavaria. Anyway…btw… I’m cute.Lol
hello. i come from malaysia and currently studying in local university.
taking bachelor in language and linguistics (major in german language).
i find that german language is hard and complicated in terms of gender and grammar.
but nevermind. i’m trying my best. and seems i’m doing well though.
and i’m looking forward for the day when i’m going to german.
nice to read this fun facts! thanks for sharing.
Great read!
I just wanted to say that the author Thomas Mann comes from Lübeck, a hanseatic city in the north. This is a personal topic for me, since he is my favourite and I am from Lübeck too.
“Ich bin ein Berliner” means “I am a Berliner”. So JFK did not say “I am a jelly donut” he said “I am a Berliner
)) But I love all the other facts though! Thanks 
“berliner” also refers to a jelly donut
Michelle is 100% right Victoria!