Amazing Facts About Germany for Kids

The most populous country in Central Europe is Germany; it is also the second-most populous country in Europe where many immigrants live and study. Germany is famous for a lot of things, free-tuition colleges, along with great cultural diversity. However, do note that Germany has more interesting facts than you can ever imagine, many of which are listed here.

Germany History Facts

German history originated from the forests and then flourished into aristocracy and modern life, keeping German culture preserved. Let’s go through some of the historical facts about Germany:

1. Germany is officially known as the Federal Republic of Germany and consists of 16 states.
2. Germany achieved independent status in the year 1871 when the German Empire was declared. However, some historians argue that Germany became a modern country only in 1990 when East and West Germany were reunited.
3. The German nation in its present form came into being only in the 19th century, when Otto von Bismarck, who was a Prussian Prime Minister, brought together loads of German-speaking kingdoms, territories, free cities, districts, and dukedoms to create the German Empire in the year 1871.
4. This so-called empire became one of Europe’s foremost and influential powers and acquired colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
5. The German empire, which was once the leading power of Europe, was dismantled after Germany’s defeat in World War I and the renunciation of Emperor William II. What followed the war was widespread unemployment, economic depression, and political strife. This, in turn, led to the fall of the progressive republic and the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.
6. Germany has long been described not as a particular place but as the loose, fluid institution of Germanic-speaking people that held ground over western Europe for decades.
7. Once Adolf Hitler was bought down by the allied armies of the USA, the UK, the Soviet Union, France, and other countries, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation and then later into two separate countries: the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).

Geography of Germany Facts

Geographical facts are also interesting, providing insight into the land boundaries of the country. Here are a few geography facts about Germany:

1. Germany is located in Central Europe and stretches from the Alps, across the North European Plain to the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.
2. The Rhine River Germany is one of the major European rivers.
3. The northern third of Germany is located in the North European Plain, with a flat terrain crossed by northward-flowing watercourses (Ems, Elbe, Oder, Weser). Marshy conditions and wetlands are found close to the Frisian coast and also the Dutch border.
4. The south mainly consists of Central Germany and features a rough, patternless, mountainous, and hilly countryside formed by ancient volcanic activities. The Rhine valley passes through the western part of this area.
5. The central uplands continue north and east as far as the Saale and combine with the Ore Mountains at the border and the Czech Republic. The Upland regions comprise the Hunsrück, Eifel, and Palatine Forest at the west of the Rhine, the Taunus hills at the north of Frankfurt, the Rhön, the Vogelsberg massif, and the Thüringer Wald.
6. South of Berlin, which is the east-central part of the country, is like the low northern areas, with river wetlands and sandy soil. An example of this is the Spreewald region.
7. Germany shares borders with nine countries – Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Poland.
8. Germany comprises the largest wooded area in the world in the southwest near the Swiss border. This area is called the Black Forest Germany – a mountainous region full of fir and pine trees.
9. The Black Forest comprises the source of the Danube, which is one of Europe’s longest rivers.
10. Several linear hills and mountain ranges define Southern Germany’s landforms. Examples of these are the Bavarian Forest along the border between Bavaria and the Czech Republic and the two adjacent ranges of the Franconian and Swabian Alb. It reaches roughly from the source of the Danube in the southwest of Baden-Württemberg, south of Stuttgart, across Swabia into Central Franconia and to the valley of the Main River.
11. The Alps that are present on the southern border are the highest mountains. However, a relatively little Alpine terrain is located within Germany (in Upper Bavaria and southeastern Swabia) compared to Austria and Switzerland. On the southwestern border with France, the Black Forest splits the Rhine from the headwaters of the Danube that is located on its eastern slopes.

Facts About Germany’s Population

Following are some interesting facts about Germany’s population:

1. The German population has achieved a brand-new record. In the year 2018, the population increased by almost 227,000 people, or 0.3 percent, based on the statement made by Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) in Wiesbaden. This, in fact, was the first time in history that more than 83 million people have ever lived in Germany.
2. The average population density is close to 230 people each square kilometer. However, the population distribution is quite uneven.
3. In former West Germany, the population density is close to 267 people per square kilometer, in comparison to 140 people per square kilometer in East Germany. The industrialized Ruhr Valley and Berlin are hugely populated, while much of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania areas and the Brandenburg in the East are sparsely populated.
4. About 61 percent of the German lives in towns with close to 2,000 to 100,000 inhabitants; 30%, in cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants; and the remaining, in villages with lesser than 2,000 inhabitants.
5. The population of Germany comprises 7.3 million foreigners, which includes 2 million Turks and several refugees who have migrated from the developing world. Many Turks also moved to Germany as guest workers during the period of economic boom observed in the 1950s.

Important Places And Attractions in Germany

While in Germany, there are various attractions and destinations that are a must-visit. Lets us go through some of the top favorite destinations in Germany:

1. Berlin: The most popular destination in Germany is Berlin – one of the most charming and attractive capitals in Europe.
2. Volkerschlachtdenkmal in Leipzig: Leipzig is a huge city in Saxony, and it is also home to one of the most significant monuments in Europe. The Monument of the Battle of the Nations or Volkerschlachtdenkmal was constructed to reminisce the Battle of Leipzig in the Napoleonic Wars.
3. Old Town Hall in Bamberg: Bamberg is a famous city in Bavaria, and it comprises a number of captivating architectural landmarks. However, the most famous monument is the Altes Rathaus, also known as the Old Town Hall.
4. Harz Mountains: These are some of the highest mountain ranges in Germany.
5. Aachen Cathedral: Present near the border with the Netherlands and Belgium, the Aachen Cathedral is, in fact, the oldest cathedral in Northern Europe.
6. Sylt: Sylt is one of the most famous islands, although its northern location does indicate that it is not as reachable for travelers as other German tourist attractions.

Germany Culture Facts

Germany has a beautiful culture. Let’s go through some of its unique facts:

1. English speakers refer to Germany as Germany; however, Germans themselves refer to Germany as Deutschland. Germany is known as the country of thinkers and poets.
2. The culture of Germany has been shaped and influenced throughout Germany’s rich history, once as a crucial part of The Holy Roman Empire and later on as one of the steadiest economies in the world.
3. Berlin is the capital of Germany, but Munich, Hamburg, and Cologne are also amongst the main cities of Germany.
4. Germans are punctual and hardworking, and that the rate of unemployment in Germany is indeed very low.
5. Christmas in Germany is a grand event and one of the most beautiful times to visit the country.

Germany Animal and Wildlife Facts

Germany is home to some of the best wildlife in the world. Here are some interesting facts on the animal and wildlife in Germany:

1. In the forests of Germany, one can find European wildcats, badgers, bats, lynxes, deer, red foxes, and red squirrels.
2. Germany’s native birds comprise the bean goose, boreal owl, carrion crow, and also the mistle thrush.
3. Perhaps the most famous of all the German celebrity animals are indeed the polar bear Knut.
4. So far, close to 28,000 fungi and plant species are present in Germany, amongst which close to 3,242 are flowering plants. Insects are, with 33,305 species, the largest group, roughly around 48,000 animal species that presently thrive in Germany.
5. The eagle is the emblem of the Federal Republic of Germany.

German Food Facts

German food is, most probably, the only way to get to know all about German culture. Some amazing German Food Facts are:

1. Germany has a diverse and rich food culture that changes from region to region.
2. German food is indeed very tasty. No one can complain about getting to know a culture and its people while enjoying eating Weißwurst Frühstück or a Spätzle.
3. One can tell the time of the year by just looking at what vegetables and fruits are available in supermarkets. From goose, asparagus, and strawberries to cookies, there is, in fact, a season for all things.
4. Germans are also really proud of their bread. They have a beautiful baking culture, and there are a lot of different variations of bread to select from.
5. One can also find that most German foods may be simple but are actually quite heavy and filling. They focus a lot on garden vegetables, meat, beer, and bread. These days, lighter versions of all of these foods are available, but the food is still quite filling.
6. Germans also eat quite early. Conventionally, the main meal of the day was lunchtime, with a light meal in the evening (though some Germans may argue that breakfast is the main meal, and the remaining meals of the day getting lighter).

Other Interesting Facts About Germany for Children

Some interesting German facts for children are:

1. Woodlands and forests still cover almost one-third of Germany.
2. Berlin has the biggest train station in Europe, and also this city is nine times larger than Paris and includes more bridges than Venice.
3. The first country in the world that adopted Daylight saving time – DST, also known as summer time was, in fact, Germany. This occurred in 1916, during World War 1.
4. German is the most famous third language throughout the world.
5. There are more football fan clubs in Germany than in any other place in the whole world.
6. Germany solar panels are the best in the world.
7. One of the facts about life in Germany during WW2 is that Germans did not really thrive at the time of Hitler’s rule as opposed to what we hear.

Germany is one of the best places to be and live at present. This country has been an important player through all the crucial stages of humankind’s history. With this article, we have helped you learn a lot more about Germany as a country.

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