Germany - this state is certainly famous throughout the world. His story began in the first millennium AD. Over the past centuries, the country has experienced a lot - formation, wars, sections, unification. Today it is a highly developed country with a rich culture and centuries-old traditions.
The Germans are known for their pedantry, punctuality and tendency to order. Thanks to these qualities of the indigenous population, Germany took the position of world leader in the industrial sphere, became the third in the world in import and export of goods, and took fifth place in the world ranking in terms of living standards.
But there are 10 of the most amazing and interesting facts about Germany for schoolchildren and their parents, which are not known to many.
10. Germany changed the capital 7 times
Throughout history, Germany has managed to change the capital as much as 7 times. At different times, capitals became Aachen, Frankfurt, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Weimar, Berlin and Bonn. But in 1990, official and permanent Berlin was again called the capital of the state.
9. The offender is not punished if he managed to escape from prison
The Germans recognize the fact that every person has an instinctive desire for freedom. Therefore, punishing him for this is simply meaningless. This statement was legalized in the legislation of the country in the 19th century and is considered relevant to this day.
A person who successfully escapes from prison is not brought to additional criminal or administrative liability. The fugitive enjoys freedom until he is caught. The captured prisoner simply returns to the cell without changing the conditions of the prison term.
The escape itself is not punishable, but assistance provided to this prisoner is punishable by up to 5 years.
8. There are more men in the country than women
According to statistics in Western Europe, the number of male population prevails over female. Germany was no exception to the rule. According to the data for 2019, the country's population is almost 83 million people, of which 50.3% are men.
7. Germans never get into a fight first
It is difficult to imagine a dignified and restrained German participating in a street brawl, this contradicts their upbringing and mentality. Many representatives of the nation have never participated in a fight in a lifetime, with confidence we can say that the German will never begin to sort things out in this way and will not get into the fray first. If, nevertheless, in some way he becomes involved in the clarification of relations with the help of his fists, he will fight to the last.
6. All Germans are sweet tooth
The Germans are big sweet tooth. According to statistics, Germany produces 32% of the total chocolate produced in the European Union, in numerical terms this is about 1.3 million tons per year. Over the same year, every German eats about 10 kg of this delicacy; according to this indicator, they are also leaders among lovers of sweets in the European Union.
In addition, sweet carbonated water, like cola and fanta, as well as sweet milk drinks with all kinds of aromas (strawberry, chocolate, pistachio, coconut, etc.) are very popular in the country.
5. Chewing gum invented in Germany
Hans Rigel is a German entrepreneur who became the founder of chewing gum in the form of a teddy bear.
In 1920, resourceful German invented chewing mass and immediately patented his invention with the brand name Ha-Ri-Bo. Up to this point, such sweets did not exist on the market, so the production of bears began to grow at a rapid pace, and the sweets themselves immediately gained recognition.
Gelatin bears are considered the most popular chewing treat in Germany and around the world. The secret to the preparation of chewing mass has been kept in strict secret for nearly a hundred years, and the Haribo trademark is exclusively a family business.
4. The Germans are too economical
Representatives of this nation excessive thrift and thrift, and the passion for hoarding is a normal attitude. The piggy bank appears among the Germans in childhood, and accompanies them all their lives.
The average German saves on everything, and his main assistants in this matter are light and water.
For the Germans it’s quite normally take a shower once a week, and the procedure is not delayed. They leave the shower without washing off the foam, this saves water, and all the essential oils from the skin remain on the body. If the family draws water into the bath, then everything is washed in it, after that the laundry is washed, and the remains are often used to flush the sewer. For dishes, a sink of water is collected and a special tool is used. Mistresses wash the dishes, and then, without rinsing, wipe them with a towel or napkin.
Light is another source of savings. In empty rooms, all lights and heating are turned off. The Germans believe that in residential premises should be no more than 18 degrees, if someone is cold, then you can wear socks. Maximum washing and dishwashers are turned on at night when reduced rates for water and electricity are in effect.
Any purchase is carefully calculated and purchased with profit. In clothes, the Germans prefer to buy a quality thing that will last several seasons, but they take a new thing on sale or in a second-hand.
Of course, the Germans prefer high-quality food, buy it in supermarkets and only according to the previously compiled list of necessities, choosing goods with discounts. Instead of inviting guests to their home, an exit is organized in a restaurant, where everyone pays for himself.
A car is bought in a family according to the Six Months rule, which means that the price of a car should not exceed the amount of earnings for six months. In order to save gasoline, they use a bicycle from time to time to travel short distances.
3. In Germany, there are more than 150 castles
Germany rightfully considered a country of castles, on its territory there are more of them than in any other country in the world. Many buildings, unfortunately, have not survived to our time and turned into ruins. The surviving buildings have an extraordinary architecture, an exciting and mysterious history and unique artistic value.
Many of them were erected by knights, dukes and kings in the Middle Ages, therefore they are of historical value and are very popular among tourists from all over the world. Visiting such places, you plunge headlong into history, you can touch firsthand the situation and traditions of that time.
2. In Bavaria, a German has the right to a beer on a working day
Germany ranks 2nd in Europe in terms of daily beer consumption. And in Bavaria, beer is an officially recognized food.
For Bavaria, beer is not just a drink, it is part of tradition, culture and an integral daily diet, it is drunk everywhere: at home at breakfast or dinner, on the street, in transport, in bars and restaurants, at football matches and, oddly enough, it’s sounded even at work.
The Germans are responsible and serious people, so they calmly allow themselves to skip a glass of beer at dinner directly during working hours. Beer is served even in university canteens.
1. Education in Germany is free
Education in the country's educational institutions since 2014 was made free. Moreover, this rule applies not only to residents of the country, but also to foreign students.