Table of Contents
Map of Germany 7
Introduction 8
Key Facts 10
1 Land and people 13
Geography 14
Climate 17
The German People: A Brief History 18
The German People Today 32
Germany's Cities 34
Government 36
American Influence 40
The Eurozone 40
The European Migrant Crisis 41
2 Values and attitudes 43
Ordnung Muss Sein 44
Klarheit 47
Bildung-Culture and Education 48
Truth and Duty 50
Duty (Pflichtbewusstsein) 50
The Work Ethic 53
Authority and Status 55
Private and Public 56
Social Cohesion and Tolerance 58
COVID-19 58
3 Customs and traditions 61
National and Religious Festivals 61
Annual Fairs 71
Family Occasions 72
Historical Celebrations 74
Religion 74
4 Making friends 79
Work and Social Life 79
Greetings 82
Du and Sie 83
Greetings In Shops 85
Attitudes Toward Foreigners 85
Joining Clubs 86
Invitations Home 87
Entertaining 87
Gift Giving 89
Manners Makyth Man 91
5 The Germans at home 93
Heimat 93
Ecological Awareness 97
Living Conditions 97
Identity 101
Daily Life and Routines 102
Bounds and Boundaries 103
"Kinder, Küche, Kirche" ("Children, Kitchen, Church") 104
Schools and Schooling 106
TV and Radio 109
Complaining 111
Are You Stammtisch? 111
Changing Lifestyles 114
6 Time out 117
Shopping 118
Sunday Closing 119
Banks 120
Restaurants, Food, and Drink 122
Leisure 130
High Culture 130
Popular Culture 135
Countryside Pursuits 137
Sports 137
7 Travel, health, and safety 141
Getting Caught 145
Drinking and Driving 146
Car and Driver's Licenses 146
Jaywalking 147
Trains 148
Local Transportation 150
Where To Stay 151
Health and Security 154
8 Business briefing 157
Office Etiquette and Protocol 158
Management Styles 162
Women In Management 164
Leadership and Decision Making 165
The Company Works Council 168
Presentation and Listening Styles 169
Meetings and Negotiation Styles 171
Teamwork and Managing Disagreements 172
German Economic Preeminence 176
Be Prepared 177
9 Communicating 179
Language 179
Communication Styles 181
Lost In Translation 182
Seriousness and Humor 185
Analysis and Detail 185
Honor 187
Conversation 188
Body Language 189
Making Contact 190
Telephone 191
Mail 193
New Technology 194
Conclusion 195
Further Reading 196
Index 198
