Wendell G. Johnson, PhD, EdD, is head of reference and research for the University Libraries at Northern Illinois University, USA.Katharina Barbe, PhD, professor emerita, was chair of the department of world languages and literatures at Northern Illinois University, USA.

• Series ForewordPrefaceIntroductionChapter 1: GeographyOverviewBiosphere Reserves and National ParksBodies of WaterCitiesClimate Policy and RecyclingDemographicsMountain RangesTransportationChapter 2: HistoryOverviewTimelineAdenauer, Konrad (1876–1967)Berlin WallBismarck, Otto Von (1815–1898)Catherine the Great (1729–1796)Charlemagne (748–814)Clausewitz, Carl Von (1780–1831)Frank, Anne (1929–1945)Hindenburg, Paul Von (1847–1934)Hitler, Adolf (1889–1945)Honecker, Erich (1912–1994)Marx, Karl (1818–1883)Wilhelm II (1859–1941)Chapter 3: Government and PoliticsOverviewArmed ForcesCitizenshipConstitutionsDie WendeForeign PolicyThe German Welfare StateGermany and the European UnionGermany and the United StatesGovernment and Politics in the German Democratic RepublicMerkel, Angela (1954–)Political PartiesRegional Government/FederalismSports and GovernmentTax PolicyChapter 4: EconomyOverviewAgricultureBankingCorporations in GermanyCurrencyEnergyEqual Pay ActFrankfurt Stock ExchangeGerman Automobile IndustryGross Domestic Product (GDP)Guest WorkersManufacturingServices IndustryTradeWorking in GermanyChapter 5: Religion and ThoughtOverviewBonhoeffer, Dietrich (1906–1945)Contemporary Attitudes toward ReligionGermanic ReligionsHolocaustIslam in GermanyJudaism in GermanyLuther, Martin (1483–1546)Pope Benedict XVI (1927–)The ReformationReligious WarsSaint Boniface (675–745)Chapter 6: Social Classes and EthnicityOverviewAristocracy and the ElitesThe Grey CultureImmigrationJews in GermanyNationalismPovertyRefugeesRoma and SintiSudeten GermansTurks in GermanyChapter 7: Gender, Marriage, and SexualityOverviewChild Custody LawsCivil Unions and Same-Sex MarriageFeminismGender Roles in GermanyLGBTQ Life in Modern GermanyRepresentation in GovernmentWeddings and DivorceWomen in the WorkforceChapter 8: EducationOverviewDAADEducation in the German Democratic RepublicGerman Universities and FachhochschulenGoethe-InstitutLibrariesMax Planck GesellschaftPrimary and Secondary EducationSchultüteVocational Training (Duale Ausbildung)Chapter 9: LanguageOverviewDevelopment of the ScriptForeign Influences on GermanGesellschaft für deutsche SpracheGrammarImportant Figures in the Study of the German LanguageInstitut für deutsche SpracheLanguage Development in Divided GermanyLanguage Development in the Third ReichOrthography and ReformsSprachgesellschaften (Language Societies)Standard and DialectChapter 10: EtiquetteOverviewEtiquette for Major Life EventsFormal and InformalGreetings and Leave-TakingKniggePunctualityRegional ClothingShoppingChapter 11: Literature and DramaOverviewBiedermeier (1815–1830), Junges Deutschland (1830–1850), and Vormärz (1830–1848)The Early Modern Period (ca. 1550–1750)The Enlightenment (Aufklärung) (1680–1789)Exile Literature (Exilliteratur)Expressionism (Expressionismus) and Its Successors (1905–1925)Literature of the German Democratic RepublicThe Middle Ages (ca. 718–1500)Post-Wall Literature (ca. 1989–2005)Postwar LiteratureRealism and Naturalism (Realismus and Naturalismus) (1848–1899)Romanticism (Romantik) (1788–1835)Storm and Stress (Sturm und Drang) (1767–1785)Turn-of-the-Century Literature (Jahrhundertwende) (1880–1920)Twenty-First-Century German LiteratureWeimar Classicism (Weimarer Klassik) (ca. 1772–1805)Chapter 12: Art and ArchitectureOverviewArchitectureArtistsBauhaus and Walter GropiusCarolingian RenaissanceDecorative Arts Biedermeier and JugendstilDegenerate ArtEast German ArtKollwitz, Käthe (1867–1945)MuseumsNaturalismChapter 13: Music and DanceOverviewBausch, Pina (1940–2009)BayreuthCabaretContemporary Popular MusicDietrich, Marlene (1901–1992)German Folk Music and DanceMusical Periods and ComposersOrchestrasChapter 14: FoodOverviewBeerBreadCake and Coffee (Kaffee und Kuchen)Food and Drink in the German Democratic RepublicFood Laws in GermanyGerman SausagesOktoberfestRegional SpecialtiesWineChapter 15: Leisure and SportsOverviewBeckenbauer, Franz (1945–)Becker, Boris (1967–)BundesligaFIFA World CupsGraf, Steffi (1969–)Leisure and Sports in the German Democratic RepublicOlympic GamesSchrebergärtenVereineWitt, Katarina (1965–)Chapter 16: Media and Popular CultureOverviewAmericanizationBoulevard PressFashion DesignersFilmJournalism under the Nazi RegimeOstalgieMedia PhotographyRundfunkgebührenSpringer, Axel (1912–1985)TatortAppendix A: A Day in the LifeA Day in the Life of a Server and Cook (Doris O.)A Day in the Life of a Foreign-Language Secretary (Marianne S.)A Day in the Life of a Mechatronic Technician (Dieter M.)A Day in the Life of a Retired Administrator (Eva L.)A Day in the Life of a Student and Teacher (Irma B.)Appendix B: Glossary of Key TermsAppendix C: Facts and FiguresAppendix D: HolidaysSelected BibliographyIndex