| Country name |
Federal Republic of Germany
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| local short form: |
Deutschland
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| National capital |
Berlin, population 3.3 Mio (2001)
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| Population: |
82.5 Mio (2003)
Protestant: 45% / Roman Catholic: 37% / Unaffiliated: 18%
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| Size: |
357.039 km² (Length 876 km, Breadth 640 km)
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| Language: |
German (Deutsch). English and French are often spoken.
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Administrative
divisions: |
16 states : Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower-Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North-Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia.
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| Independence: |
18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into 4 zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 Oct 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West and East Germany took place 3 Oct 1990; all 4 power rights formally relinquished 15 Mar 1991
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| National Holiday: |
German Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
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| Industries: |
western: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages; eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding, machine building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining.
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Agriculture
products: |
western: potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbage; cattle, pigs, poultry; eastern: wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; pork, beef, chicken, milk, hides.
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Weights
and measures: |
Weights and measures in Germany are metric, i.e. heights in centimetres, distances in kilometres, living areas in square meters. Weights quoted in grams or kilograms. Prices of foodstuff shown per kilogram or 100 grams.
1 meter = 3,28 feet = 39,34 inch
1 km = 3280,80 feet = 0,62137 mile
1 sq m = 1550 sq inch = 10,76 sq feet
1 ha = 2,50 acres = 1076,39 square
1 kg = 35,27 ounce = 2,2046 pund
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| Value Added Tax: |
All goods and services in Germany are subject to Value Added Tax (Mwst.). Currently this amounts to 19%, already included in the end price.
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| Gratuities: |
Tipping in Germany is voluntary (a yardstick is 10-15% of the bill). This is an expression of your satisfaction with the service given.
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| Etiquette: |
In matters of dress Germans are very informal. Even for the theatre there are no strict dress regulations. Casinos, however, do stipulate jacket and tie. Common politeness, addressing people in the third person and shaking hands on meeting are about all one needs to know on everyday etiquette.
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| Opening hours: |
Stores are generally open from 9 am to 8 pm on weekdays and until 6 pm on Saturdays. On Sundays and public holidays all stores remain closed - except for some bakery shops.
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| Currency: |
EURO (€), 1 EUR = 100 Cents
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| Time: |
GMT+1 (October-March); GMT+2 (March-October)
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| Climate: |
Sunny summer month with mild days often extending through October; Cold Winters, particular in the alpine areas; Weather changes frequently even in the course of a day; Rain falls throughout the year.
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