Which country has the largest population entirely within the European Union?
Germany has the largest population of any European Union country, at around 83 million people.
- Home
- Fact categories
- Germany Facts
Germany Facts
Germany facts and facts about germanies, from the Random Facts shelf.
18 facts on this shelf
Do Germany's highways have a speed limit?
Many stretches of Germany's Autobahn have no general speed limit, though drivers are advised to stay around 130 km/h (81 mph).
When did the Berlin Wall fall?
The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989. East and West Germany officially reunified less than a year later, on October 3, 1990.
Who invented the movable-type printing press in Europe?
Johannes Gutenberg developed the movable-type printing press in Mainz, Germany, around 1440. It made books dramatically cheaper and helped spread ideas across Europe.
How did Oktoberfest begin?
Munich's Oktoberfest began in 1810 as a celebration of the wedding of Bavaria's Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese.
What was the Reinheitsgebot?
The Reinheitsgebot, a Bavarian law from 1516, said beer could only be made from water, barley, and hops. It is one of the oldest food-safety laws in the world.
How many countries border Germany?
Germany borders nine countries: Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Who patented the first practical automobile?
German engineer Karl Benz patented his gas-powered Motorwagen in 1886, and it is widely considered the first practical automobile.
How long did it take to build Cologne Cathedral?
Construction of Germany's Cologne Cathedral started in 1248 and was not finished until 1880, more than 600 years later.
How many FIFA World Cups has Germany won?
Germany has won the FIFA World Cup four times: in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014.
Where did the Poodle originate?
Even though the Poodle is the national dog of France, it actually originated in Germany. Its name comes from the German word "Pudel," related to splashing in water, because it was originally a duck-retrieving water dog.
What is the national dog of France?
The Poodle is the national dog of France, even though the breed actually comes from Germany.
Where does the Rottweiler's name come from?
The Rottweiler is named after the town of Rottweil in southern Germany, where the breed's ancestors worked herding and guarding cattle.
What was the Rottweiler's job in medieval Germany?
Rottweilers were once called "Rottweil butcher's dogs" because they drove cattle to market and pulled carts loaded with meat for butchers.
When did Rottweilers start working as police dogs?
In the early 1900s, Rottweilers were among the first breeds used as police dogs in Germany, thanks to their strength, intelligence, and protective instincts.
What was the German Shorthaired Pointer originally bred to do?
The German Shorthaired Pointer was developed in 19th-century Germany as an all-purpose hunting dog that could point, retrieve on land and in water, and track wounded game, basically a hunting Swiss Army knife.
What is the German name for the German Shorthaired Pointer?
In Germany, the German Shorthaired Pointer is called the "Deutsch Kurzhaar," which literally translates to "German Shorthair."
Who helped develop the German Shorthaired Pointer?
Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Braunfels of Germany is credited with helping develop the German Shorthaired Pointer in the 1800s by encouraging breeders to focus on versatility and hunting ability.