Faces: People, Places, and Cultures articles from March 2000

Faces: People, Places, and Cultures archives from March 2000

Germany at a Glance.
March 1, 2000... Name: Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) Capital: Berlin Area: 137,744 square miles (approximately 357,000 square kilometers). Slightly smaller than the state of Montana. Population: 82 million Language:...

Only in ... Germany.(bats in Germany)
March 1, 2000... People in Germany many have gone batty! No, they haven't lost their minds -- they just love bats. In many parts of the world, bats have a bad reputation that they do not deserve. People scream and run for cover when they see them. Somehow bats...

The high Price of Unification.(German unification)
March 1, 2000... German unification in 1990 brought people together who shared language, culture, and history. When borders opened and the Berlin Wall fell, Germans in east and west alike celebrated -- even partying on top of the Wall. Long-separated relatives...

Germany Through Time.
March 1, 2000... c. 100 B.C. Germanic tribes migrate from Scandinavia to the region of present-day Germany. A.D. 768 Charlemagne inherits the crown of Frankland, a kingdom that includes present-day Germany. His reign lasts until 814. 962 Otto I, Otto...

The End of the Little Stinker.(East Germany's Trabant automobile)
March 1, 2000... After production of the Trabi stopped in 1991 Europeans expected the very popular car to disappear. The funny-looking vehicle, the real name of which was the Trabant, was an economic and environmental disaster. However, it has not disappeared...

The Black Forest.(air pollution threatens Germany's Black Forest)
March 1, 2000... Air pollution hurts not only humans -- it can kill trees. The Black Forest region of southwestern Germany, also known as the Schwarzwald (SCHVARTZ-vahld), is famous in fairy tales, has a chocolate cake named after it, and is home to makers of...

Who Is a German?
March 1, 2000... Throughout the 40 years of a divided Germany, the laws of the Federal Republic (West Germany) stated that anyone of German origin could claim benefits of citizenship in the Federal Republic. When this law was made, just after World War II, it...

BERLIN.(Berlin, Germany)
March 1, 2000... Again the Capital of Unified Germany Berlin is a city whose name is associated with major world dramas of the 20th century. In 1871, Berlin became the capital of the newly unified country of Germany. It was Germany's capital during World...

Knowledge Up in FLAMES.(Nazi book burning in 1933 in Germany)
March 1, 2000... On a sunny afternoon in April, hundreds of people mill around a lively book fair in Germany's new capital. They leaf through colorful books that decorate long tables in front of Humboldt University, also known as the University of Berlin. ...

Guten Appetit!(German cuisine)
March 1, 2000... Before a meal, Germans politely wish each other "Guten Appetit!," which means "Enjoy your meal!" And there is plenty to enjoy in Germany, where there are many delicious foods. Sausage, sauerkraut, rye bread, and beer might come to mind at...

Apfeltorte.(apple cake)(Recipe)
March 1, 2000... (Apple Cake) You will need: 1-1/2 cups (2 to 4) medium apples (tart green baking apples are best) 1/2 cup flour 1 egg 3/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup chopped nuts (almonds, ...

Christmas Markets.(Germany)
March 1, 2000... Christmas is a special time in Germany. The country is the birthplace of some of the most popular and best-loved traditions -- the Christmas tree and its ornaments, advent calendars, the Yule log, and many cherished Christmas carols. But...

The Brothers Grimm.
March 1, 2000... Jakob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-1859) Grimm, the sons of a well-to-do lawyer, Philipp Grimm, were born in the little village of Hanau, Germany. The children consisted of three brothers and a sister. They later moved to Steinau, where their...

The Forest Cottage.(Short Story)
March 1, 2000... Once upon a time, a poor woodcutter lived with his wife and three daughters near a gloomy forest. One morning, as he was going out to chop wood, he said to his wife, "Have our oldest daughter bring me my noon meal. Just to be sure that she does...

Letters.(Poem)
March 1, 2000... A German Birthday Party When I went to Germany, I visited Antja, a friend of my dad's. She let my mom visit the classroom where she teaches while I went to a family's house to celebrate a birthday. I was nervous but excited to go to a...

Books.(Review)
March 1, 2000... Germany: A Nation Reunited by Christine Pfeiffer This is an excellent introduction to contemporary Germany as well as the "great years and tragic years" of the past. Colorful photographs and illustrations convey a vivid sense of Germans at...

Organizations.(Goethe-Institut)
March 1, 2000... Goethe-Institut The Goethe-Institut, with branches in more than 100 cities worldwide, is a rich resource for those interested in the German language and culture. In addition to language classes, these organizations usually provide...