Barbara Fuller - Germany

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Third Edition

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Fuller, Barbara, 1961

Germany / Barbara Fuller, Gabriele Vossmeyer, Yong Jui Lin. 3rd ed.

p. cm. (Cultures of the world)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Summary: Provides comprehensive information on the geography, history,

wildlife, governmental structure, economy, cultural diversity, peoples,

religion, and culture of GermanyProvided by publisher.

ISBN 978-1-60870-868-0 (hardcover) ISBN 978-1-62712-159-0 (paperback) ISBN 978-1-60870-874-1 (ebook)

1. GermanyJuvenile literature. I. Vossmeyer, Gabriele. II. Yong, Jui Lin.

III. Title.

DD17.F85 2013

943dc23 2012017632

Writers: Barbara Fuller, Gabriele Vossmeyer, Yong Jui Lin

Editors: Deborah Grahame-Smith, Mindy Pang

Copyreader: Tara Tomczyk

Designers: Nancy Sabato, Benson Tan

Cover picture researcher: Tracey Engel

Picture researcher: Joshua Ang

PICTURE CREDITS

Cover: Steve Vidler / SuperStock

PRECEDING PAGE

Forggensee Lake located in Fssen, Ostallgu.

Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

GERMANY TODAY

1. GEOGRAPHY

North German Lowlands Central Highlands Alps and pre-Alps The Rhine East and West States Cities Climate Flora and fauna

2. HISTORY

Early history The Middle Ages The Hapsburg dynasty 19th-century Germany World War I The Weimar Republic The Hitler years Postwar Germany EastXWest German relations Reunification

3. GOVERNMENT

Federal government State governments Political parties The legal system

4. ECONOMY

Postwar economic miracle Infrastructure and communications Industries Agriculture Germany and Europe Banking and finance East and West disparities Working life

5. ENVIRONMENT

Environmental legislation Renewable Energy Resources Law Air pollution Noise and water pollution Flood prevention Recycling An end to nuclear power The way forward National parks and reserves in Germany

6. GERMANS

German characteristics Dress Immigrants and minorities Class divisions

7. LIFESTYLE

Housing Family life Childhood rituals Youth Weddings Deaths Women Shopping Education Health care

8. RELIGION

Church in society Catholicism Protestantism Other beliefs

9. LANGUAGE

The German language Script Pronunciation High and Low German Forms of address Body language and etiquette

10. ARTS

Music Great musicians Jazz Pop and rock Movies Theater Literature Philosophy Fine arts Architecture

11. LEISURE

Sports Soccer The great outdoors Winter sports At home Vacations

12. FESTIVALS

Carnival The Munich Oktoberfest Other drinking festivals Christian festivals Processions Other festivals

13. FOOD

Local specialties Meals Eating out Alcohol

MAP OF GERMANY

ABOUT THE ECONOMY

ABOUT THE CULTURE

TIMELINE

GLOSSARY

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

GERMANY TODAY

W ITH 81.2 MILLION INHABITANTS (2013 ESTIMATE), GERMANY is the most populous member state and the largest economy in the European Union (EU). It is the third-largest importer of goods in the world. The country has developed a very high standard of living and a comprehensive system of social security. Germany has been the home of many influential scientists and inventors, and it is known for its rich cultural and political history.

It is one of the major political powers of Europe and a technological leader in many fields. Free of the economic malaise that seems to be gripping most of the other EU countries, Germany is seen as the white knight galloping to the rescue of debt-crippled countries such as Greece. However, given its Nazi past as well as the austerity measures that come with the financial aid, Germany sometimes does not get the welcome one would expect but instead is greeted with resentment and insults.

After losing two disastrous World Wars in the last century, Germany has risen like a phoenix from the ashes. After World War II, Germany was divided into East and West Germany. German reunification came about on October 3, 1990 with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Most of the kinks in the uneasy marriage of East and West Germany appeared to have been ironed out. As part of the Berlin/Bonn Act, adopted on April 26, 1994, Berlin became the capital of the reunified Germany.

Germanys climate is temperate and marine, with cool, cloudy, and wet winters and summers. The greater part of Germany lies in the cool climatic zone in which humid westerly winds predominate. In the northwest and the north, the climate is extremely oceanic, and rain falls year-round. Winters there are relatively mild and summers comparatively cool. In the east, the climate shows clear continental features. Winters can be very cold for long periods, and summers can become very warm. Dry periods are often recorded.

Germany is known for its many zoological gardens, wildlife parks, aquariums, and bird parks. More than 400 registered zoos and animal parks operate in Germany, which is believed to be the largest number in any single country of the world. The Zoologischer Garten Berlin is the oldest zoo in Germany and presents the most comprehensive collection of species in the world.

The United Nations Population Fund lists Germany as host to the thirdhighest number of international migrants worldwide. Around 20 percent of Germanys population do not hold a German passport or are descendents of immigrants. Germany has a number of large cities. The most populous are Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart. The largest conurbation is the RhineRuhr region (11 million residents), which includes million residents), which includes (the capital of North RhineWestphalia), Cologne, Essen, Dortmund, Duisburg, and Bochum.

With one in three young children born in Germany coming from an immigrant background, Germany is quickly becoming even more diverse. Germany has an integration commissioner, which indicates how serious the country is about integrating immigrants into society. However, deep barriers remain. Migrants are now more likely to attend university-preparatory high schools than in previous years, but as a whole they are still not on par with their German counterparts in this regard. Of immigrant youth, 43 percent get only as far as Germanys basic school-leaving certificate, compared with 31 percent of ethnic Germans. Thirteen percent of non-Germans aged 15 to 18 drop out of school altogether. On average, it takes 17 months for a young person with an immigrant background to secure an apprenticeship or traineeship, whereas ethnic Germans, on average, need just three months. So far, the federal government has promised an extra 15 million for integration courses. The integration commissioner is also pushing a bill for better recognition of foreign degrees and professional accreditation and is seeking legislation to make education more accessible.