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<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-122563-1"; urchinTracker(); </script> <body> <h1 align="center"><a href="http./germannews.com"> <img border="0" src="gn_logo_mini.jpg"></a></h1> <h1 align="center"><b><a href="http://germannews.com">German News </a><br> <span lang="de"><font size="3">Discover Germany with y</font></span><font size="3">our guide <span lang="de">and resource for</span> Germany</font></b></h1> <p class="c3"><b><font size="+1">Germany News, Germany, News, German News, Germany News Search, Germany News Sources, Deutsch, Deutschland, Deutsch News, Deutschland News, source, newspapers, English, German, capital, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany, Deutschland, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, German Empire, German Republic, German Reich, der spiegal, der spiegle, de, .de, suche, </font></b></p> <p class="c3"><a href="frame_steyr_nachtwaechter.htm">Steyr Nachtwächterprogramm EM 2008 Österreich Reisetipp</a></p> <h3 align="center"><a href="montafon_wandern.htm">Montafon - Berghütten - Bergtouren - Wandertouren - Themenwanderungen - Wanderhütte Österreich</a></h3> <p class="c3"><a href="frame_stmichael_gewinnspiel.htm">Gewinnspiele der GermanNews mit Freiaufenthalten | Preisausschreiben | Gewinnen | Rei<span lang="de">s</span>egewinnspiel</a></p> <p><b>From the World Factbook<span lang="de"> to discover Germany</span>:</b> </p> <ul> <li><b>Country name:</b> <ul> <li><i>conventional long form:</i> <b>Federal Republic of Germany</b></li> <li><i>conventional short form:</i> Germany</li> <li><i>local short form:</i> Deutschland</li> <li><i>former:</i> German Empire, German Republic, German Reich</li> <li><i>local long form:</i> Bundesrepublik Deutschland</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>Government type:</b>  federal republic</li> <li><b>Capital:</b>  Berlin</li> </ul> <p class="c3">"As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro."</p> <p class="27FaktenFlies" style="margin: 0pt;"><strong>European Union</strong> </p> <p class="27FaktenFlies" style="margin: 0pt;">The Federal Republic of Germany is a founding member of the European Union (EU). In first-half 2007 Germany will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union</p> <p class="27FaktenFlies" style="margin: 0pt;"> </p> <h3 style="margin: 0pt;"><strong>United Nations</strong> </h3> <p class="27FaktenFlies" style="margin: 0pt;">Germany has been a full member of the United Nations (UN) since 1973. Germany contributes just under 10 percent of the regular UN budget and is third largest contributor. Germany is a state with a UN seat: Since 1996 Bonn has had the title of “UN City”; 12 UN organizations are based there</p> <p class="27FaktenFlies" style="margin: 0pt;"> </p> <h3 style="margin: 0pt;"><strong>Other organizations and alliances</strong> </h3> <p class="27FaktenFlies" style="margin: 0pt;">Germany is a member of the NATO defense alliance (since 1955), the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)   </p> <h3>Authors</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Contemporary German literature includes the works of Günter Grass and Heinrich Böll as well as novels by Siegfried Lenz, Bernhard Schlink and Christa Wolf, for example. Michael Ende and Cornelia Funke are renowned for their international bestsellers for children and young people. </dd> </dl> <h3>Bachelor’s and Master’s</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">In many cases in practice both old and new courses and degrees are at present on offer at the same time. In winter semester 2005/6 a total of 3,800 Bachelor and Master courses were on offer at German universities, meaning that about one third of all courses have now been switched over to the new structure.</dd> </dl> <h3>Baden-Württemberg</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Stuttgart<br> Population: 10,693,000<br> Surface area in km²: 35,751.65<br> GDP in billion euro: 319.43<br> <a href="http://www.baden-wuerttemberg.de">www.baden-wuerttemberg.de</a> </dd> </dl> <h3>Basic Law</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The Basic Law is the legal and political foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany. It was originally thought of as a temporary solution and provisional arrangement until such time as a constitution for the whole of Germany could be drawn up. When the GDR acceded to the area of validity of the Basic Law on October 3, 1990 it became the constitution of the whole of Germany. The Basic Law stands for the success story of democracy in Germany following Nazi rule and is seen as a stroke of luck for German history. </dd> </dl> <h3>Basic Law</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">After it had been approved by the Parliamentary Council, the Basic Law came into force on May 23, 1949. It sets out the fundamental legal and political order for the Federal Republic of Germany. The basic rights enshrined in the Basic Law are of particular importance. </dd> </dl> <h3>Bauhaus</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Bauhaus (1919–1933) is considered to be the most famous art, design and architecture college of Classic Modernism. Founded by Walter Gropius it was located in Weimar and later in Dessau. Bauhaus artists and architects created a new, clear, contemporary formal language, much of which still exerts an influence today. The most famous representatives of Bauhaus include Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Lyonel Feininger, Oskar Schlemmer and Sophie Taeuber-Arp.</dd> </dl> <h3>Bavaria</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Munich<br> Population: 12,423,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 70,549.19 <br> GDP in billion euro: 385.16 <br> <a href="http://www.bayern.de">www.bayern.de</a> </dd> </dl> <h3>Berlin</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description"> Capital: Berlin <br> Population: 3,388,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 891.75 <br> GDP in billion euro: 77.86 <br> <a href="http://www.berlin.de">www.berlin.de</a> </dd> </dl> <h3>Berlin in the “Golden Twenties“</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Between 1924 and 1929, the period of economic upswing and political calm led to a brief but highly productive period, whose presence was felt most of all in the capital city Berlin. The metropolis became one of Europe’s cultural and scientific hot spots. Technological advances and artistic experimentation in architecture, theater, literature and film all enhanced the overall joie de vivre. The world economic crisis of 1929 was a harbinger of the end of the “Golden Twenties” and the decline of the Weimar Republic.</dd> </dl> <h3>Book market</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Books and the culture of reading continue to be held in high regard in Germany. In 2005, the German book market generated sales estimated at some EUR 9 billion. The entire output of items produced for the book trade by German publishers comes to around 960 million books and similar printed matter. In Germany there are about 5,000 book stores and 14,000 libraries, with the major publishing cities being Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt/Main, Stuttgart, Cologne and Hamburg.</dd> </dl> <h3>Brandenburg</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Potsdam<br> Population: 2,575,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 29,477.16<br> GDP in billion euro: 45.02 <br> <a href="http://www.brandenburg.de">www.brandenburg.de</a> </dd> </dl> <h3>Bremen</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description"> Capital: Bremen <br> Population: 663,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 404.23 <br> GDP in billion euro: 23.58 <br> <a href="http://www.bremen.de">www.bremen.de</a> </dd> </dl> <h3>Cluster</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">A critical mass of companies located in close proximity to one another is referred to as a cluster. Clusters are networks of manufacturers, suppliers and research institutes created along one and the same value-added chain. With regard to future technologies in particular clusters are considered to be the powerhouses driving innovation. Examples of successful clusters are the automobile industry in Baden-Württemberg, the concentration of medical technology firms in Tuttlingen, the chip belt girdling Dresden and the biotechnology cluster in the Berlin/Brandenburg region, which considers itself to be the leading life-science  hub in Germany. </dd> </dl> <h3>Coalition</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Since the first elections to the Bundestag in 1949 there have been 21 coalition governments in Germany. Durable alliances were, for example, the Social Democrat/Liberal coalition which ran from 1969 until 1982, the CDU/CSU and FDP coalition, which ran from 1982 to 1998, and the Social Democrat/Green alliances which endured from 1998 to 2005. A grand coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD is currently in power in Germany. </dd> </dl> <h3>Council of the European Union</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The Council, frequently referred to as the “Council of Ministers”, is the EU’s most important legislative committee. The Council and the European Parliament share legislative powers and responsibility for the EU budget. In addition the Council concludes international treaties negotiated by the Commission. Decisions can be made unanimously or with a qualified majority. Each member state is represented by one minister. The relevant ministers convene depending on the area in which decisions are due to be made. A final ruling on the weighting of votes and the system of decision-making comes into power from 2007 with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania. The Presidency of the Council rotates every six months.</dd> </dl> <h3>Cross-generational contract</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">This is the name of the system used to finance statutory pension insurance: employees today pay proportional contributions toward the pensions of the generation of retirees in the expectation that the coming generation will then pay for their pensions. The first mandatory regulations on old-age security were made as long ago as 1889. Today about 80 percent of employed persons pay into the statutory pension system. Alongside contributions by the employers and employees, today the system is also funded by government subsidies. Since 2002, statutory pensions have been supplemented by state-supported, private capital-backed old-age provisions. </dd> </dl> <h3>Cultural federalism</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Given its federal structure, in Germany culture is the core area where the 16 states possess sovereignty. The Basic Law accords the Federal Government few powers on cultural questions, and thus most cultural institutions are maintained by the states and municipalities. This independent cultural life in the states has led to cultural centers arising all over the country. There are world- class cultural offerings to be found even in smaller cities. The German Cultural Council functions at the national level as the politically independent working party of the Federal cultural associations and discusses cross- disciplinary matters of cultural policy. </dd> </dl> <h3>DAAD</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is an organization run jointly by the German institutes of higher education. Its purpose is to promote relations between higher education institutes in Germany and abroad, especially through exchange schemes between students and academics. As a rule its programs cover all disciplines and countries and are open to German and foreign students in equal measure. The DAAD supports a worldwide network of offices, lecturers and alumni associations and provides information and advice on a local basis. </dd> </dl> <h3>documenta</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The documenta in Kassel is the world’s most important contemporary art exhibition. Founded on the initiative of painter Arnold Bode, it was first held in 1955, and then every five years for 100 days. The show was swiftly a world success, and will take place for the 12th time in 2007. </dd> </dl> <h3>East Germany</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The German Democratic Republic (GDR), as East Germany was officially called, was founded in 1949 in the Soviet occupation zone and the East sector of Berlin and existed until October 2, 1990. It formed part of the Eastern bloc, which was under the hegemony of the Soviet Union. During the 1953 uprising there were nation- wide demonstrations, which, aided by the East German police (Volkspolizei), were put down by the Soviet military.<br>  </dd> </dl> <h3>Economic miracle</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The term “economic miracle” refers to West Germany’s swift economic recovery following the Second World War. The prerequisites were the reconstruction of production facilities to the highest technical standards, the introduction of the deutschmark and massive financial support on the part of the USA through the Marshall Plan. By the late 1950s Germany had emerged as one of the leading economic nations. </dd> </dl> <h3>Economic policy</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">In line with the federal system, structuring and coordinating economic and financial policy is the joint task of central government, the federal states and municipalities. They cooperate in various committees. Furthermore, the Federal Government seeks the advice of independent economists. Every January the Federal Government presents to the Bundestag and the Bundesrat the Annual Economic Report, which among other things describes the government’s economic and financial goals for the year as well as the fundamentals of its planned economic and financial policy. One prerequisite for economic life in Germany being able to function is free competition, which is protected by the law against restrictions on competition. It prohibits anti-competitive practice on the part of both companies and the state. Likewise, company mergers, state subsidies and market barriers are assessed to establish whether they impair competition. </dd> </dl> <h3>Elections</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Every four years, the parties stand in the general elections to the Bundestag. Traditionally, the turn-out is high in Germany, and following a high in the 1970s, when the turn-out was over 90 percent, since reunification it has been around 80 percent. The elections to the 16th German Bundestag on Sept. 18, 2005 saw a turn-out of 77.7 percent of the electorate.<br>  </dd> </dl> <h3>Electoral system</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The German electoral system is based on slightly modified, i.e., so-called personalized, proportional representation. Each voter has two votes, the first of which is for a candidate in his or her constituency, the second for a state list of candidates put up by a particular party. The number of seats a party holds in the Bundestag is determined by the number of valid second votes it receives. </dd> </dl> <h3>Electorate</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Just under 62 million Germans aged 18 or over are called on to cast a vote in the elections to the Bundestag. Women account for more than 32 million of them and thus constitute a majority of the electorate. At the 2005 general elections to the Bundestag, 2.6 million persons were enfranchised as first-time voters. </dd> </dl> <h3>Equal rights</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">In Germany, equal rights are enshrined in the Basic Law, it is legally impermissible to discriminate by gender as regards working conditions and pay, and there are numerous laws guaranteeing the rights of women. Moreover, Germany is firmly committed to equal rights for both genders – relying on a wide- ranging network of state and private institutions in this regard. With the introduction of gender mainstreaming, women’s politics has been integrated as a cross- disciplinary function into all government and local departments and agencies. Thus, the state is proactively advancing the creation of equal conditions for men and women. These measures are being successful: Germany places 9th best world-wide in the UN’s GEM Index which measures women’s participation in business and politics. </dd> </dl> <h3>Federal Chancellor</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The Federal Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag after being proposed by the Federal President. The Federal Chancellor then proposes to the Federal President which ministers should be appointed/dismissed. The Federal Chancellor heads the Federal Government in keeping with rules of procedure authorized by the Federal President. He bears responsibility for the Government vis-à-vis the Bundestag and in the case of national defense is supreme commander of the German Armed Forces. </dd> </dl> <h3>Federal Constitutional Court</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">This is based in Karlsruhe and consists of two senates, each with eight judges, one half of whom is elected by the Bundestag, the other half voted by the Bundesrat. Each judge is appointed for 12 years and is not eligible for re-election. </dd> </dl> <h3>Federal Government</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The Federal Government and cabinet is made up of the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers. While the Chancellor holds the power to issue directives, the ministers have departmental powers, meaning that they independently run their respective ministries in the framework of those directives. Moreover, the cabinet abides by the collegial principle, in disputes the Federal Government decides by majority. The affairs of state are managed by the Chancellor. </dd> </dl> <h3>Federal state</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The Federal Republic of Germany consists of 16 federal states. The powers of the state are divided up between government as a whole, the Federal Government and the federal states. The latter have independent, if limited government authority. </dd> </dl> <h3>Foreign policy</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The primary goal of German foreign policy is to preserve peace and security in the world. The expanded concept of security covers not only questions of conflict prevention, defense, disarmament and arms controls, but also economic, ecological and social issues as well as human rights. This includes a committed effort on behalf of human rights world-wide and a global economy that creates opportunities for everyone, of fostering cross-border environmental protection and an open dialog between the cultures. Foreign cultural and education policy forms an integral part of German foreign policy. Its practical implementation is largely handled by intermediary agency organizations such as the Goethe-Institut, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa) and the German UNESCO Commission. </dd> </dl> <h3>Freedom of the press and speech</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">In Germany, freedom of communication also means that public agencies are obliged to provide journalists with information. The rights of the press are encoded in the press laws of the federal states. These include the duty to publish an imprint, journalists’ duty to take due care in their research and their right to refuse to stand witness or disclose sources. The German Press Council is the voluntary journalism and publishing watchdog: it monitors violations of the duty to take due care in research and of the ethical sides to stories.</dd> </dl> <h3>Fundamentals</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">German foreign policy comes under the sign of continuity and reliability. It is shaped by cooperation in a spirit of partnership and a wish to balance interests. The key parameters of German foreign policy can be described by the twin lodestars of “never again” and “never alone“. “Never again” is to be seen against the background of German history and understood as a rejection of authoritarian and expansion-oriented politics as well as profound skepticism against the means of military power. “Never alone” signifies Germany’s firm embedding in the community of Western democracies. Germany’s integration into a Europe that is growing ever more closely together and its firm roots in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization comprise the cornerstones of its orientation in foreign policy. Germany is involved in many ways in organizations for multilateral cooperation. </dd> </dl> <h3>German bands</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Kraftwerk, Rammstein, Guano The most successful exports by German Pop and Rock bands include: Scooter, Seeed, Nena, Juli and Mia. </dd> </dl> <h3>German cinema</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Germany is still not a movie nation like France, but national film productions have clearly picked up at the box offices. And there are now once again magnetic stars pulling the crowds into the movie theaters: Alexandra Maria Lara, Franka Potente, Julia Jentsch, Daniel Brühl, Moritz Bleibtreu and Til Schweiger. The industry’s greater self-confidence is reflected in the German Film Academy, founded in 2003, which, taking its cue from the American Academy now awards German Oscars once a year: the Lolas. German film actors land the real successes especially when working in Hollywood, as have directors Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day“) and Wolfgang Petersen “The Boat”, “Troy and cameraman Michael Ballhaus. </dd> </dl> <h3>German Confederation</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The loose association of sovereign German states and free cities was created at the 1815 Congress of Vienna. It initially comprised 41, and ultimately 33 members. The purpose behind the confederation was primarily the internal and external security of all its members. The Confederation had a single organ: The Federal Assembly in Frankfurt/ Main. The conflict with Austria, which had been gaining in strength since the mid-19th century, led to the demise of the German Confederation. It was dissolved in 1866. </dd> </dl> <h3>German cuisine</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">There is no such thing as standard “German cuisine“, rather several regional specialties ranging from smoked sprats from Kiel to white sausage with sweet mustard from Munich. Regional cuisine is also very important for Germany’s top chefs. In 2006 Michelin Guide awarded almost 200 German restaurants one or more of its coveted stars. The highest concentration of Michelin stars is in the Black forest community of Baiersbronn. The competitor guide Gault Millau awarded “chef’s hats” to 904 restaurants. Among Germany’s top chefs are Heinz Winkler (Aschau), Harald Wohlfahrt (Baiersbronn) and Dieter Müller (Bergisch Gladbach).</dd> </dl> <h3>German Federal Cultural Foundation</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The German Federal Cultural Foundation was established in 2002 and acts nationally and internationally. By supporting relevant projects, it focuses primarily on the challenges of art and culture in the 21st century. The German Federal Cultural Foundation is based in Halle an der Saale. </dd> </dl> <h3>German Film Prize</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The German Film Prize takes pride of place among federal cultural support for film. It has been bestowed ever since 1951 for outstanding achievement in German film. In 2006, the film “Das Leben der Anderen” bagged a total of seven awards in different categories. It was directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, a young German filmmaker. </dd> </dl> <h3>German Research Foundation (DFG)</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) is science’s central self- governing organization. It supports research projects, whereby funds are channeled primarily into institutes of higher education. It also promotes collaboration between researchers and advises parliaments and authorities. </dd> </dl> <h3>German theater</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Despite extensive cost cutting in recent years, public theaters still tend to run as multi-purpose institutions (theater, dance theater, opera). The artistic profile of the municipal, state and federal theaters is often shaped by the fixed ensembles for these areas. The theaters are usually repertory organizations staging 20–30 plays a season. </dd> </dl> <h3>German universities</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">In Germany there are currently some 1.96 million students enrolled at institutes of higher education, of which 937,000 are women (48 percent). There are 372 such institutes, including 102 universities and 167 universities  of the applied sciences. As institutions the state universities are run by the individual federal states. Together with the USA and Great Britain, internationally Germany is one of the most popular countries in which to study.</dd> </dl> <h3>Hamburg</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Hamburg <br> Population: 1,734,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 755.16 <br> GDP in billion euro: 78.79 <br> <a href="http://www.hamburg.de">www.hamburg.de</a> </dd> </dl> <h3>Health insurance</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Almost all citizens in Germany have health insurance, whether as a compulsory member of the statutory health insurance scheme (88 percent) or a private health insurance scheme (almost 12 percent). The health insurance companies cover the cost of medical treatment, medication, hospitalization and preventive health care. Contributions to the health insurance scheme are made by employees and employers. Non-employed family members of those in a compulsory health insurance scheme do not pay any contributions. </dd> </dl> <h3>Hesse</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description"> Capital: Wiesbaden <br> Population: 6,089,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 21,114.72 <br> GDP in billion euro: 195.17 <br> <a href="http://www.hessen.de">www.hessen.de</a> </dd> </dl> <h3>Holy Roman Empire</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The term used for the empire, which emerged from the East- Franconian Empire as of 962, with the coronation of Otto I as Emperor; as of 1512 it was officially called the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation – expressing, on the one hand, a claim to power as the successor to the “Imperium Romanum“ of Antiquity, and on the other, highlighting the religious role of the Emperor. The “Reich“ survived for more than eight hundred years until in 1806, shortly after the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine and at the instruction of Napoleon, Franz II, the Habsburg monarch, laid down the imperial crown. </dd> </dl> <h3>Immigration law</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">In early 2005 the first Immigration Act in German history came into force. It distinguishes between limited residence permits and unlimited right of residence. At the same time, it also lays down measures to integrate immigrants, such as mandatory language courses. </dd> </dl> <h3>Immigration</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">As early as the 19th century Germany attracted a large number of immigrants and since the 1950s has emerged as the European country with the largest immigrant population. In 1950, there were about 500,000 foreigners in Germany accounting for a mere one percent or so of the population. This has changed emphatically: Today, some 7.3 million foreigners live in Germany, or 8.8 percent of the population, including 2.3 million EU citizens. About every fifth foreigner living in Germany was born here and is a second or third-generation immigrant. </dd> </dl> <h3>Important degrees</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">- Bachelor’s <br> - Master’s <br> - Diploma <br> - Magister <br> - State examination <br> - Doctorate </dd> </dl> <h3>Information and communications</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The liberalization of the telecommunications market since 1998 has in the space of only a few years strongly spurred competition in the industry. Today, Germany is the biggest mobile phone and Internet market in all of Europe. With some 54.4 million land lines, Germany has one of the highest line ratios; moreover, 46 percent of main telephone lines are ISDN-based. 87 out of every 100 Germans use a mobile phone to make calls, putting Germany above the West European average (83) and well ahead of Japan (67) or the USA (61). </dd> </dl> <h3>Innovations</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Vehicle construction has a significant lead in terms of sales levels booked with new products. It alone accounts for almost 30 percent of all sales of innovative products in the German economy. New products account for a full 49 percent of overall sales in the vehicle construction sector. <span lang="de">TOP in solar technology</span></dd> </dl> <h3>International Frankfurt Book Fair</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Ever since 1964, the International Frankfurt Book Fair takes place each year in October and is the outstanding annual international book trade get-together. The highpoint of every book fair is the award-giving ceremony for the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, which has been won by the likes of Václav Havel, Jorge Semprún and Susan Sontag. In 2005, the German Book Award was first presented during the Book Fair. </dd> </dl> <h3>Internationalization</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">There are currently 246,000 foreign students enrolled at German higher education institutes, of whom approximately one in four gained the right to study there in Germany itself. However, there are also some 62,000 Germans studying abroad. The most popular countries are Great Britain, the USA, Switzerland, France and Austria. </dd> </dl> <h3>Lower Saxony</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Hanover <br> Population: 7,993,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 47,618.24 <br> GDP in billion euro: 184.92 <br> <a href="http://www.niedersachsen.de/">www.niedersachsen.de</a> </dd> </dl> <h3>Major investments</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Specifically in the field of high-tech, Germany is considered to be an extremely interesting center: Among the major foreign investors in 2004 and 2005 were Californian chip producer Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), which invested some EUR 2.5 billion in the construction of a new chip factory in Dresden. The pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) also made major investments in Neu-Ulm and Dresden. General Electric (GE), the world’s largest technology group, opened its new global R&D center worth EUR 500 million in Garching, near Munich. </dd> </dl> <h3>Max Planck Society</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The Max Planck Society was founded on February 26, 1948 – as the successor to the Kaiser Wilhelm Society set up in 1911 for the promotion of science. Max Planck Institutes undertake basic research in the natural sciences, bio-sciences and social sciences as well as the humanities. The MPI primarily pursues new, particularly innovative research with an inter-disciplinary character.</dd> </dl> <h3>Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Schwerin <br> Population: 1,732,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 23,174.17<br> GDP in billion euro: 29.78 <br> <a href="http://www.mecklenburg-vorpommern.de/"> www.mecklenburg-vorpommern.de</a>   </dd> </dl> <h3>Media concentration</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Despite the diversity of titles and products, the number of independent publishing houses has steadily dwindled since the mid-1950s. The leading publishers in terms of business muscle and technology have squeezed out competitors in various regional markets. Economic trends in the press market have led to the emergence of large publishing corporations. As regards daily newspapers, Axel Springer Verlag takes pride of place, holding a share of some 25 percent in the newspaper market. </dd> </dl> <h3>Members of parliament</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Members of the German Bundestag are voted for in general, direct, free, equal and secret elections. They are representatives of the entire nation and are not tied to orders and instructions. Exclusion or resignation from a party therefore does not affect their status as members of the Bundestag. In practice, however, membership of a party plays a decisive role, as the members of one and the same party, to the extent that they hold the requisite minimum number of seats, form parliamentary parties, and these shape the face of parliamentary activities. </dd> </dl> <h3>National parks</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">To a large extent the 15 national parks in Germany are located in the north of the country. They are all noteworthy for their unique nature and landscape and serve to preserve the natural diversity of rare plants and animals. The largest is the Schleswig-Holstein Mud Flats National Park Wattenmeer, with a surface area of 441,000 hectares. The smallest, Jasmund National Park on the Isle of Rügen, with its famous white cliffs, is only 3,003 hectares large. </dd> </dl> <h3>National Socialism</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">National Socialism was the result of a broad-based anti- Semitic, nationalist movement that from 1920 on found expression in the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP). The main features of the National Socialist ideology were racism, in particular, anti- Semitism, and the propagation of an Aryan master race, social Darwinism that justified euthanasia and eugenics, totalitarianism and the rejection of democracy, the “alignment of the people” in the sense of their adopting the principle of a Fuehrer, militarism, chauvinism and the ideology of a biologically founded “community of people“, imperialism disguised as “Lebensraum” policy as well as the propaganda events to whip up grass roots support. </dd> </dl> <h3>North Rhine-Westphalia</h3> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Düsseldorf <br> Population: 18,080,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 34,083.52<br> GDP in billion euro: 481.42 </dd> <h3>Public and private stations</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">In Germany, there are in principle two different forms of TV and radio as well as of financing for them. The private stations exist almost exclusively from ad billings – the public stations are financed by license fees and advertising; they are duty-bound to uphold a programming agenda set out in law. There are nine public stations: They are structured by state and all come under the aegis of the ARD, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Rundfunkanstalten in Deutschland. Together, they are responsible for programming by Erstes Deutsche Fernsehen (Das Erste), but also broadcast their own TV and radio programs. ZDF is another public station, but it offers no regional programming and is only a TV station. </dd> </dl> <h3>Reform of the federal system</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The reform of the federal system will serve to unravel the scope of central government and the federal states. As an example, the number of laws requiring approval by the Bundesrat prior to enactment will be reduced by at least a third. In return, the federal states are to enjoy more leeway with regard to legislation, for example with regard to the rights of government employees and the construction of apartments for low-income families, but primarily education policy. Indeed, the plan foresees that in future central government will regulate only university admission and degrees. With regard to environmental legislation on the other hand, central government is to assume responsibility, although subject to the proviso that individual federal states can depart from government policy. </dd> </dl> <h3>Rhineland-Palatinate</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Mainz <br> Population: 4,059,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 19,847.39<br> GDP in billion euro: 95.39 <br> <a href="http://www.rheinland-pfalz.de">www.rheinland-pfalz.de</a>  </dd> </dl> <h3>Saarland</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Saarbrücken <br> Population: 1,061,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 2,568.65<br> GDP in billion euro: 26.05 <br> <a href="http://www.saarland.de">www.saarland.de</a>  </dd> </dl> <h3>Saxony</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Dresden <br> Population: 4,321,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 18,413.91<br> GDP in billion euro: 79.84 <br> <a href="http://www.sachsen.de">www.sachsen.de</a>  </dd> </dl> <h3>Saxony-Anhalt</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Magdeburg <br> Population: 2,523,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 20,445.26 <br> GDP in billion euro: 45.80 <br> <a href="http://www.sachsen-anhalt.de">www.sachsen-anhalt.de</a>  </dd> </dl> <h3>Schleswig-Holstein</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Kiel <br> Population: 2,823,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 15,763.18<br> GDP in billion euro: 66.51 <br> <a href="http://www.schleswig-holstein.de">www.schleswig-holstein.de</a>  </dd> </dl> <h3>Security Council</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">December 2004 saw the end of Germany’s fourth term as an elected member of the UN Security Council since it joined the United Nations in 1973. In order to adjust the United Nations to the new political realities, in the context of a comprehensive reform of the organization Germany advocates expanding the Security Council and ensuring its deliberations are even more transparent. </dd> </dl> <h3>Single parents</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">In more than 90 percent of the 1.5-million plus families in which a single parent brings up the children, that person is the mother. </dd> </dl> <h3>Social assistance</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Another feature of the social lifeline is social assistance, which is financed through taxes. It comes into effect when people are unable to escape their plight on their own and by their own means or by those of relatives. As such, there is basic protection in old age or in the case of long-term unemployment as well as state help towards living or to assist persons in certain predicaments</dd> </dl> <h3>Social commitment</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Social commitment among young people in Germany is gratifyingly high. Indeed, 37 percent of the young people in the 14-24 year age bracket do voluntary work. They are active on behalf of sports, leisure time, school, cultural and church affairs or in the emergency services. The proportion of young people in some areas is so high that without their commitment the services would collapse – for example in the field of sports. Half of all young people are members of clubs, a quarter dedicated to large social organizations, especially to the churches.</dd> </dl> <h3>Social market economy</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany does not call for any particular economic order. Yet it is firmly anchored in the principle of the welfare state and therefore excludes a purely free market economy. Since the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949 the country’s economic policy has been hinged on the notion of the social market economy. This concept is an attempt to find a happy medium between a pure market economy and socialism. The social market economy was developed and implemented by Ludwig Erhard, the first Minister of Economics and later German Chancellor. The fundamental idea is based on the principle of freedom of a market economy, supplemented by socio-political methods for keeping a due balance in society. On the one hand, the system is designed to enable market forces in principle to develop freely. On the other, the state guarantees a welfare network that protects its citizens from risks. In line with the principle of subsidiarity, re-distributing the spoils of labor assists those unable to support themselves of their own volition.</dd> </dl> <h3>The German National Tourist Board</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The German National Tourist Board is headquartered in Frankfurt/Main. Its 29 sales offices, eleven of which are representative offices, and 18 sales cooperation outlets, plan, coordinate and realize its marketing and sales activities abroad. </dd> </dl> <h3>Thuringia</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Capital: Erfurt <br> Population: 2,373,000 <br> Surface area in km²: 16,172.14<br> GDP in billion euro: 42.27 <br> <a href="http://www.thueringen.de">www.thueringen.de</a>  </dd> </dl> <h3>Top jobs</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">Women account for some 21 percent of leading executives in Germany, and every third manager is a woman. In Eastern Germany, the ratio of female to male managers is far more even. There a good 42 percent of managers are women and as many as 29 percent of the key executives are women. In Western Germany, the figures are only 32 and 20 percent respectively. The opportunities for women to assume management responsibilities depends strongly on the sector. It is highest in the service industry, where 53 percent of managers are women. In the construction industry, by contrast, the figure is only 14  percent. </dd> </dl> <h3>Transatlantic partnership</h3> <dl class="glossary"> <dd> <p class="description">The Transatlantic partnership forms the basis of German and European security. A close and trusting relationship to the United States continues to be of outstanding importance for Germany’s security. However, the Transatlantic partnership is far more than a purely political and military alliance. The close links to the United States have a strong history, rest on shared cultural roots, and are an expression of a profound community of values and interests. </dd> </dl> <p class="c3"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <table height="100" cellSpacing="1" cellPadding="0" bgColor="#ffffff" id="table15" width="100%"> <tr> <td bgColor="#ffffff"> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%" id="table16"> <tr> <td style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" vAlign="top" align="middle" width="100%"> <table height="468" cellSpacing="0" width="100%" id="table17"> <tr> <td colSpan="3"> <div id="content"> <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-TOP: 3px"> <div class="item"> <div class="itemBody"> <table width="100%" id="table18"> <tr> <td width="100%">German News comes now in a new design and with more content and service. The Bavarian News magazine and the travel magazine are now integrated in the German News. <br> <br> Articles in english language are labeled with "-english- So if you want to see articles only in english, make a search with an annex "english" <p> <a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php"> <span lang="de">German News news index</span> 2004-2005</a> <br> <br> <b>It's absolute free</b></p> <p><a href="http://germannews.com/sitemap.htm">Site map der German News</a></p> <p>At first please switch to the <a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/index.php?sel_lang=english"> english mode here. </a><br> <br>  <b>Important for US readers.</b> For the US election at November, 2 we have found from Netherland a video clip <a target="_self" href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/article.php?storyid=751"> <b>really important & funny video clip </b></a>about the new electric voting machines in the USA. It's a must so see it. <a target="_self" href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/article.php?storyid=751">  </a><br> <br> In the section "News" you will find daily news<a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=167"> <b>from german editors</b> </a>and <a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=183"> <b>international news</b></a> about politic, economy, Internet, culture, travel, <a target="_self" href="http://germannews.com/frame_sport_e.asp"> sport </a>, <a target="_self" href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=182"> Beer</a>, <a target="_self" href="http://germannews.com/frame_stellenmarkt_e.asp"> job news</a> and the <a target="_self" href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/archive.php"> news archive.</a><br> <br> <b>Hint: </b>Registrated readers have more success and much more option to use all functions like "write comments, use a new secret email with full functions.<br> The most important news are availble as a<a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/backend.php"> <b>RSS/XML </b></a>files. <br> <br> You can use it with your own feed reader.<br> <br> You can see every minute new news with a feed reader and you dont have to load a browser to see whats new. (<b>Our favourite: <a target="_blank" href="http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=70179&package_id=74816&release_id=154977"> "Feedreader"</a></b>)<br> <br>  In the section "Looking for.." you will find <a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=173"> <b>Product news from Germany</b></a> about top products, you will find german shops with a desciption, phone numbers, addresses, links and <a target="_blank" href="http://germannews.com/index_radio_e.asp"> radio stations</a>.<br> <br> You can read also some information about <a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=175"> <b>financial news in german language</b></a> a list of all events & concerts with a perfect ticket service to order <a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=177"> <b>your ticket </b></a>, the actual <a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=179"> <b>Lottery numbers in Germany</b></a> and the quotes for it, <a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=181"> <b>digital greeting cards </b></a>for free, the daily <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tvtv.de/"><b> german TV program </b></a>for one week, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reisekatalogservice.de"> <b>a travel catalogue service</b></a> for free, german <a href="http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=180"> <b>jokes </b></a>to read/hear/see.<br> If you want more information please feel free to send us an email with the contact sheet or send it directly to the organisation.<br> <br> For a translation of german articles please feel free to use <a target="_blank" href="http://dict.leo.org/?lang=en"> <b>LEO</b>.</a><br> <br> <a href="http://www.germany-tourism.de/">Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus (DZT)</a> [German Central Office for Tourism]</p> <p class="std_11"><b>Have a nice day and enjoy your German News.</b> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <p><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <a href="news.asp">"<b>News</b>"</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://directory.cybwell.ch/directory/514/51496.htm">Shopping Resources - 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Directory Regional Europe Germany States Bavaria ...</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://www.cybernex.de">www.cybernex.de</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://www.bayernzeitung.de">www.bayernzeitung.de</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://www.bavarianews.com">www.bavarianews.com</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://www.germannews.tv">www.germannews.tv</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://www.journalistenplattform.de/cgi-bin/telladd.cgi?ID=2791"> Journalistenlinks.de > German News > Empfehlen</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://www.reisemagazin.germannews.com"> www.reisemagazin.germannews.com</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://www.shopping.germannews.com">www.shopping.germannews.com</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://www.reisekatalogservice.de">www.reisekatalogservice.de</a></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <a href="http://www.geld-tipps.germannews.de">www.geld-tipps.germannews.de</a></font></p> <p><a href="index_e.asp">News from Germany - daily headline news, german news, german media news, german politic news</a></p> <p><a href="sitemap_domain.htm">Site Map domains</a></p> <p><a href="sitemap.htm">Site map</a> </p> <h4>General Information:</h4> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gm.html">The World Factbook</a> (by the CIA) </li> <li><a href="http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/germany.htm"> Atlapedia Online</a> (by Latimer Clarke Corporation) </li> <li><a href="http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107568.html">Information Please: Countries of the World</a> (by Information Please LLC) </li> </ul> <h4>Political Information:</h4> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.electionworld.org/election/germany.htm">Elections around the world</a> (by Wilfried Derksen) </li> <li><a href="http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/chiefs/chiefs68.html"> Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members</a> (by the CIA) </li> <li><a href="http://www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/germany.htm">Political Leaders</a> (by Roberto Ortíz de Zárate) </li> <li><a href="http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Germany.html">World Statesmen</a> (by Benjamin Cahoon) </li> <li><a href="http://www.politicalresources.net/germany.htm">Political Resources on the Net</a> (by Roberto Cicciomessere) </li> <li><a href="http://www.polisci.com/world/nation/GM.htm">The Political Reference Almanac</a> (by Keynote Publishing Co.) </li> <li><a href="http://www.info-regenten.de/regent/regent-e/germany1.htm"> Regents of the world</a> (by Enno Schulz) </li> </ul> <h4>Information from Encyclopedias:</h4> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bartleby.com/65/ge/Germany.html">Columbia Encyclopedia</a> (by Columbia University Press) </li> </ul> <h4>Touristic Information:</h4> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.worldtravelguide.net/data/deu/deu.asp">World Travel Guide</a> (by Columbus Publishing Ltd.) </li> <li><a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/germany/"> Lonely Planet Destinations</a> (by Lonely Planet Publications) </li> <li> <a href="http://www.atevo.com/guides/destinations/bygeo/1,3641,105,00.html"> Atevo Travel Destinations</a> (by Atevo, Inc.) </li> </ul> <h4>Information on Human Rights:</h4> <ul> <li><a href="http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/countries/germany">Amnesty International Publications</a> (by Amnesty International) </li> <li> <a href="http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2002/countryratings/germany.htm"> Freedom in the World</a> (by Freedom House, Inc.) </li> </ul> <h4>Other Information:</h4> <ul> <li> <a href="http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2002/en/indicator/cty_f_DEU.html"> Human Development Report</a> (by United Nations Development Programme) </li> <li><a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Germany"> Ethnologue: Languages of the World</a> (by Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc.) </li> <li><a href="http://flagspot.net/flags/de.html">Flags Of The World</a> (by Giuseppe Bottasini, Rob Raeside, Mark Sensen and others) </li> <li><a href="http://www.flags.net/GERM.htm">World Flag Database</a> (by Graham Bartram) </li> </ul> <p> </p> </body> </frameset>