35 facts about Germany

The country

• Germany’s territory covers about 137,850 sqm (slightly bigger than Montana).
• The biggest city is the capital Berlin with 3.4 mill inhabitants (Hamburg: 1.74 mill, Munich: 1.26 mill).
• Germany consists of 16 states, 3 of which are city states (Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen).
• Germany shares borders with Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.
• One of the world’s top exporters, with the main exports being cars, machines and chemical products.
• 18 is the universal age of consent.
• There are 9 to 13 holidays (varies from state to state).
• Employees get 20 to 30 days paid vacation per year.
• The population growth rate is -0.033 – more of a decline rate.
• 34% of the population are Protestants and also 34% are Catholics.

Innovations

• Johannes Gutenberg developed a technique to print with movable type around 1450.
• Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit developed precise thermometers and the scale still used in the US.
• Robert Koch discovered the anthrax bacillus (1877) and the tuberculosis bacillus (1882) for which he was awarded a Nobel Prize.
• Karl Benz built the first automobile in 1886.
• Emil Berliner’s patent for a gramophone was granted in 1887.
• Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays in 1895 and was awarded the very first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
• Karl Ferdinand Braun developed the cathode-ray tube in 1897.
• Rudolf Diesel built the first diesel engine in 1897.
• Melitta Bentz didn’t enjoy coffee grounds in her cup. So in 1908 she develops the coffee filter.
• Konrad Zuse invented the first programmable computer (the Z3) in 1941.

Oddities

• The state Hesse has a death penalty in its constitution, but Federal Law prevents its use.
• The biggest festival is called Oktoberfest, but starts in September.
• The price for a liter beer at the Oktoberfest 2007 will be 7.70 to 8.00 Euros.
• There are about 300 sorts of bread and over 1500 sorts of sausage in Germany – but not one decent barbeque sauce.
• Everyone who owns a tv has to pay 17.03 Euros per month for public tv.
• Prices of books are set by the publisher, not the retailer.
• Germans are the World Heavyweight Champions of recycling.
• Why heavyweight? Because they have the fattest asses in all of Europe.
• Germans are known for their “Bratwurst”. But their favorite fast food is the Doener Kebap.
• During WWII the Germans couldn’t get Coca Cola syrup. So, the threw together everything juicy they could find and called it Fanta.

The Autobahn

(since you’re always asking)

• Germany has an autobahn network of more than 7600 miles.
• 65% of the autobahn has no speed limit.
• Autobahns may only be used by powered vehicles that have a maximum speed exceeding 60 km/h.
• If you get caught running out of gas on an autobahn, you get fined.
• No, the Autobahn wasn’t Hitler’s idea.

“To the English I say this: be grateful for the Germans. Were it not for them, you would be the most hated people in Europe.”
(Simon Munnery, Attention Scum)

I just received an email from a reader, who informed me that the “Germans are the fattest Europeans” study has used the wrong data. I read it up and, although my ass backs the story up, it indeed might be wrong.
Revised fact: Germans are one of the fattest nations in Europe. Another title I didn’t win. I feel so inadequate. (Thanks to Johta for the tip ;-))