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Newspapers in Germany The complexion of the print media in eastern Germany changed markedly with unification. By mid-1991 only 100,000 copies of East Germany's most widely circulated newspaper, Neues Deutschland , the newspaper of the communist party, were being printed daily, down from roughly 1 million in the recent past. Western consortia bought many of the other established urban newspapers and brought in new management. According to a public opinion survey during the 1990 national election, 68 percent of western Germans and 88 percent of eastern Germans read a newspaper on a regular basis. Not surprisingly, Germany boasts among the highest per capita newspaper circulations within Europe. The press is privately owned, and most Germans rely on local or regional newspapers for their information. Five daily newspapers enjoy good reputations nationally because of their sophisti

Prussia's Emergence as a Military Power The German military heritage was epitomized by a succession of Prussian rulers in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The first of these was the Great Elector, Frederick William (r. 1640-88), who recognized that a standing army with an elite officer corps was the key to the development of a powerful state in his remote part of the empire. His grandson, Frederick William I (r. 1713-40), more than doubled the size of his professional army to 90,000 and added a trained reserve of conscripted peasants, forming one of the most modern and efficient fighting units in eighteenth-century Europe. Heavy taxes supported the army, which consumed 80 percent of state revenues even in peacetime. The next Prussian king, Frederick II (r. 1740-86), known to posterity as Frederick the Great, raised the strength of the army to 150,000 and launched a series of

The German Military in Two World Wars Prussian-German excellence in military matters was an accepted fact of life, but in the twentieth century the excessive accent on militarism led to two disastrous world wars. Germany's insistence on building a fleet that could challenge Britain's naval domination underscored German bellicosity and pushed Britain toward alignment with France and Russia. When World War I broke out in 1914, Germany attempted to conquer France quickly with a sudden thrust through Belgium. The Germans nearly reached Paris, but the desperate French managed to stiffen their defenses along the Marne River. The front was stabilized in northern France and shifted little during the course of the war in spite of the sacrifice of whole armies in the effort to break through opposing defenses. Although Germany was able to force Russia out of the war in March

Federal Police Agencies in Germany Established in 1951, the Federal Border Force (Bundesgrenzschutz--BGS) was the first federal police organization permitted by the Allied occupation authorities. During the early 1950s, there were frequent incidents on the borders with East Germany and Czechoslovakia, and the occupation authorities became convinced of the need for a competent border police. Even though the BGS is organized along paramilitary lines, that is, in battalions, companies, and platoons, and is armed as light infantry, it remains a police force controlled by the Ministry of Interior rather than by the Ministry of Defense. The strength of the BGS was 24,000 in early 1995. The BGS is equipped with armored cars, machine guns, automatic rifles, tear gas, hand grenades, rifle grenades, and antitank weapons. All personnel on border duty wear sidearms. Some units have ligh

Physical Map of Germany Germany has, in addition to coastline and mountains, forests, hills, plains, and river valleys. Several navigable rivers flow along the uplands. Canals connect the rivers of the Elbe, Rhine and Danube and link the North Sea with the Baltic.

Flora And Fauna of Germany About one-third of the country is covered with woodlands and consists of trees like oak, ash, elm, beech, birch, pine, fir, and larch. The animals include deer, red foxes, hares, and weasels. Migratory birds include various species of songbirds, storks, geese, and other larger fowl that fly into Germany from Africa. Herring, flounder, cod, and ocean perch are also found near the coastal waters.

Climate of Germany Germany has mainly moderate climate, characterized by cool winters and warm summers. River valleys like Rhine tend to be humid and somewhat warmer in both winter and summer, whereas mountain areas can be much colder. Rainfall on an average is much heavier towards the south, especially along the Alpine slopes, which force incoming weather fronts to rise and shed their moisture in the form of rain and snow.

Facts and Figures Official Name (Federal Republic of Germany) Bundersrepublik Deutschland Capital Berlin Population 82 million Area 357,020 sq km Currency Euro ($1=1.08) Religion Christianity Literacy 100% Languages German Major Cities Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Colonge, Frankfurt, Leipzig Climate Mainly moderate climate

About Germany Germany has emerged as a strong nation and has contributed generously to the economic, political and cultural growth of the European continent. The country has seen much tumult including the brunts of two World Wars, the effects of the Cold War and at the same time has experienced the unification of the western Federal Republic of Germany and the eastern German Democratic Republic. The country is strategically located in Central Europe and is guarded in all the sides by the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Netherlands Poland and south of Denmark. It experiences natural diversity and is covered by lowlands in the north, uplands in the central part and is surrounded by Bavarian Alps in the south. The country boasts of a multi-ethnic culture and the terrain is inhabited by 91.5% Germans, 2.4% Turks and the rest is a mixed group comprising of Greeks, Italians, Polish, Russians, Serbo-Croatians and Spanish. The religious practices vary according to the different groups of people and t

Brief historical overview: Until August 1961 The border between East and West Berlin is opened and daily half a million people cross the border from one part of the city into the other. Many East Berliners go into the cinema or discos in the West, they even work in the West or they go shopping in the West. Women get the first seamless panty hoses in the West, tropical fruits are only available there. At the same time the leaders of the Communist parties of the Commecon meet in Moscow from August 3 until August 5, 1961 and they decide to close the open border between East and West Berlin. August 12/13, 1961 In the afternoon of August 12 at 4 p.m. Walter Ulbricht, the East German leader, signed the commands to close the border. Next Sunday at midnight the army, police and the "Kampfgruppen" began to bolt the city. The wall is built and separates the city into two parts for more than 28 years. Streets, the railway and the S-Bahn (city railway) are broken, stations of the U-B

People of Germany Germany consists of people hailing from mixed ethnic backgrounds. The Turkish forms the largest group, while foreign residents make up for nine percent of the population. Besides this, there are also large numbers of refugees from East European Union as well as immigrants from countries like Italy, Spain and Greece. German is the language that is commonly spoken. Arts, Culture and Music of Germany Germany has contributed immensely towards art and culture. However, today German culture remains so merged with that of Europe that it becomes slightly difficult to draw the boundaries. German culture reflects various traces of medieval art and architecture in the form of cathedrals, monasteries, and castles that dot the country. Germany is also known for its love for music and literature. Flag of Germany The flag of Germany consists of three equal horizontal.bands - black at the top, red in the middle and gold at the bottom. Economy of Germany Germany had a

INDONESIA THE SECOND MOST-FAVORED TOURIST DESTINATION IN ASIA Indonesia is the second-most popular destination in Asia for tourists. Go Asia, a German market research initiative for Asia, established this following a survey and awarded Indonesia with the Go Asia Award in Berlin on 11 March 2009. This brings Indonesia to the top of the most valued tourist destinations in Asia after Thailand and before Malaysia. Go Asia almost awards prizes in the categories The Best Hotel in Asia , The Most Innovative Package tour to Asia , The Best Asian Airlines , The Best Tourist Office of Asia and The Best German Tour Operator for Asia . The Director General for Marketing at the Ministry of Cul

The most important pillar of Indonesian-German relations is not abstract, but it is the people who stimulate and bring to life a partnership – or even better – a friendship between Indonesia and Germany. As early as in the 16th century, Germans lived in Indonesia, explored the country and its people did a lot of trade with them. Today , there are Germans who take pleasure in living in Indonesia, working for more than 150 large and small scale companies, or as development experts, scientists and teachers. On the other side, there are all those Indonesians who in several ways feel close to Germany, particularly more than 2000 young Indonesians who are currently studying in Germany. The relations between Ind

Are these typical Germans? Typically German More than Beer and Bratwurst Germans drink beer at the Oktoberfest, in lederhosen and a silly hat. Proper Germans are blond and have blue eyes. They live on sausages with sauerkraut. And their music does not go beyond Beethoven and Bach. Clichees abound. Always good for a laugh when you try to find an answer for what is typically German. But what is typical, when you are talking about a country with a population of more than 80 million? Is it typical, that Germans have a hard time being positive about themselves? You can’t think of anything either? How about hospitality, generosity and a readiness to help. Punctuality perhaps and zeal. Whatever, in the past ten years, German society has changed. Influenced by many people of different nationalities who have come and now call Germany home. And as a result, many of the old clichees just don’t work anymore. Yet the tale of the "nasty German", who has such a problem with his image in the

What is the Bundesliga? Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: German fans love to get there early, be it professional or amateur level The Bundesliga is the name most people associate with the top league in German soccer but it is in fact the title given to a far-reaching net of organizations which support and promote the game all over Germany. The German Federal Soccer League or Bundesliga is the generic term for an intricate framework of associations, clubs and members which is spread all over the country and which incorporates many levels of the game, both playing and organizational. The top professional league is the 1. Bundesliga. It is made up of 18 teams which compete season by season for the title of German champion. Each team plays each other twice in the league, home and away. Since the 1995/96 season, the three-point rule has replaced the previous two-point reward for a victory. The winner of each match now gets three points, the loser of the matc

Philharmonic Hall Set to Become Hamburg's Newest Landmark Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Planners hope the hall will be completed by 2011 Hamburg's new concert hall will be more than a location for fantastic musical moments. The imposing structure that includes a grand hall and a hotel is set to become the newest landmark on the port city's skyline. At the western tip of Hamburg's harbor, the dramatic design of the new Elbe Philharmonic Hall emerges slowly from the mists. Expected to be completed in two years, it will bring to the northern German port not only a new concert hall, but also an 110-meter landmark visible to approaching ships from way down river. The designers are Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, whose portfolio includes the Tate Modern in London, the Allianz Arena in Munich and the de Young Museum in San Francisco. A ship-friendly landmark Located at the tip of the Sandtorhafen, the first industrial harbor basin in Ha

German Wine Producers Discover the Art of PR Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Almost all wine grapes in the Moselle area are hand picked After years of being thought of as cheap and sugary, German wine is enjoying huge international success. It owes its success to producers who are adapting to accommodate a new generation of consumers. As the first grapes of this year's harvest are due to be picked in the coming weeks, wine producers are optimistic about the 2008 vintage. But Raimund Pruem, who has been producing wine in the Moselle Valley for over 30 years, remembers a time when Riesling was not so prosperous. "The bad reputation of German wine really hurt us," he said. "I will never forget a blind tasting we did a while ago. The judges gave tremendous praise: Against South African and Australian wines, German Riesling did the best. But when they took off their blindfolds and saw the labels they started making excuses for their comments.&qu

Cologne's historical archive faces a long road back Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Firemen search through the rubble for archive materials almost every day Firemen, archivists, restorers and volunteers are working to save Cologne's historical archive. About half of the documents have been pulled from the rubble, but now more work must be done to preserve the material. For the past several weeks, more than 60 firemen and volunteers have been spending most of their days at the site where the archive once stood. With scoops, cranes and even their bare hands, they search through the rubble not for bodies, but for paper. That is because the documented history of the entire region now lays buried under 60 tons of rock and other debris. "Today we just found a document from the 11th century," said Cologne fireman Thomas Buergermann. "This is what we are doing, looking and searching for archival material, 12 hours a day every day, with the

During the election campaign, on the night of February 27, the Reichstag building burns down. Many assume at the time that this was contrived by the Nazis, but it seems probable that it was an isolated act of arson by a mentally disturbed Dutchman, Marinus van der Lubbe. Whatever the precise origin of the fire, it provides Hitler with a heaven-sent opportunity. Proclaiming it as part of a Communist plot to seize control, he passes a decree suspending all rights of the individual and giving the government emergency powers. In spite of these circumstances, the Nazis and their coalition allies fail by a narrow margin to win an overall majority within the Reichstag. Steps are immediately taken to remedy this. On March

20 Years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall - a journey which unites After more than 28 years of German division, the Berlin Wall fell overnight from November 9 - 10, 1989, marking a historical event of global significance. Today, 20 years later, Germany, Europe and the entire world look back, in order to look forward. Thanks to the peaceful revolution and the Fall of the Wall, millions of people were united as the two separated German countries were reunified. And the balance between East and West was re-established. 2009 is a great year to visit Germany and experience history where it unfolded. Historical locations such St. Nicholas' Church in Leipzig , the path of the Wall or the legendary Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin , the numerous GDR museums in Thuringia and many more are offering special exhibitions, tours, events and celebrations on the occasion of the 20th A