Tag Archives: German history
Hitler Is Back In Germany Posted by Constanze on Jan 26, 2016
For decades, it has been considered taboo to talk about Hitler and the Nazis in Germany. Now, two things have happened that suggest this taboo is beginning to break. 1. MEIN KAMPF BACK ON SALE On January 8th, a new edition of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf went on sale in Germany for the first time…
New German Series: Deutschland 83 Posted by Constanze on Jan 8, 2016
Guten Tag, liebe Leser! I hope 2016 is treating you well so far! At the end of last year I saw posters and billboards all over the place advertising a new drama series here in the UK called Deutschland 83. I was intrigued, but as I have never in all my years here seen a…
Reading German History: Maus by Art Spiegelman Posted by Constanze on Oct 26, 2015
It goes without saying that reading is a fantastic way to improve your German in an enjoyable way. Today I’d like to recommend a book I read recently. It was originally written in English, but there is a German translation available. Its subject matter is World War II, the Holocaust, and Nazi Germany. Why am…
All About The Lederhosen and Dirndl Posted by Constanze on Sep 25, 2015
As Oktoberfest is in full swing in München, many of you will be seeing (or wearing!) the traditional garments known as Lederhosen or Dirndl. In this post, I’m going to tell you a little about where they originate, why they were worn (and how they are worn today), and give you a few other facts…
The Turkish Guest Workers of ’60s Germany Posted by Constanze on Sep 20, 2015
The Turkish make up the largest ethnic minority group in Germany. But why is that, exactly? Der Gastarbeiter (pl: Die Gastarbeiter) It all began during the Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle) of the 1960s and 1970s, when Germany and Austria experienced rapid industrial growth and reconstruction of their economies following WW2. However, being severely low on labour…
Der Nikolaus Kommt Posted by Larissa on Dec 22, 2014
At the beginning of December, I was informed that on the 5th of December Nikolaus (St Nicholas) would come in the night and fill children’s shoes with presents. This tradition is carried out in parts of Germany, Holland, Austria, Italy and Switzerland amongst others. To me this sounded a lot like Christmas, and it is…
Der Weihnachtsbaum: The Christmas Tree in German History Posted by Constanze on Dec 12, 2014
Every December we put up Christmas trees in our homes because it’s a tradition. But how many people know where this tradition comes from? There are many stories about the origin of the Christmas tree – some of them dating back as far as ancient Rome and ancient Egypt, and some associated with Paganism. But…