Final Blog

Learning about Germany was interactive.  We did a lot of the work ourselves through research, and were further enlightened on topics of Germany by our professor.  The class started by learning about Germany’s 16 states, and ended with the topic of German food.

• There are 16 states in Germany: Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia. Three of the states are actual cities (Bremen, Hamburg, and Berlin) and the capital of Germany is Berlin.
• The German Political System is made up of two major parties.  The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), which represent the centre-right, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), representing the centre-left.  There are three other parties represented in the Bundestag: The Free Democratic Party (FDP), the Green Party, and the Left Party (Pirates).  The head of the government is the Chancellor, who at this time is Angela Merkel of the CDU party.  She is also the first female to be Chancellor of Germany.
• Dance & Fine Arts.  We learned about Pina Bausch, Wim Wenders, and Richard Wagner.  Pina died during the making of a 3D film by Wenders.  Pina had a unique way of expressing words and meanings in dance; such as love, power, beauty, joy, freedom.
• All Quiet on the Western Front – This was a book about a German soldier during WWI.  The book gave me perspective of what it was like to be a soldier during the time.  The main character is Paul Bremer.  His comrades are mostly his school pals, but there is an older mentor to Paul whose name is Stanislaus Katczinsky, or Kat. He is my favorite character in the book.  I enjoyed his caring manner, his ideals on life, and his ability to be self-sufficient.
• German Culture was discussed in the 18, 19 and 20^th centuries regarding topics of Industry & Business; Fine Arts, Music, Theater, Dance; Literature; Media; Role of Women; Health; Sports & Health.  Much information was given about these topics - too much to list - however, I will comment that it was interesting to learn about famous people from Germany, the many inventions, and firsts this small country had on the world.
• Youth Culture – The movie “Berlin Calling” depicted the life of a young DJ, Ickarus, who seems lost in life.  He takes many kinds of street drugs and ends up in a rehab clinic where he struggles to get a hold of his life.  In the end, it appears he is on the right path, but the movie leaves you questioning whether he goes back to drugs.
• Der Baader Meinhof Komplex – this movie tells of the Red Army Faction (RAF), which started in 1970 in Germany.  The RAF was a movement of young adults trying to change Government from its current state of fascism.  The group was in existence until 1998.
• German Food –I found it interesting that Pizza is very popular, and not just pepperoni pizza, lots of different toppings are put on pizza.  Another very popular food is Doner.  We also talked about German Christmas cookies and Stollen.  Food is a main determinant of any culture and most of us are already familiar with some type of German food.  But just because we have German restaurants in the states, doesn’t mean we’re eating authentic German food. 

Personal Comments:

What a great class to take.  I even learned how to blog!  I enjoyed the idea of not following strict rules.  Presentations and blog posts were left to our own creative minds.  And by allowing that, I saw a lot of different ideas of teaching a class.  Thanks Professor Specht-Jarvis for the added humor and making the class entertaining. 

 

German Christmas Meal

http://www.ifood.tv/network/italian_christmas

The Christmas meal is a very important part of the Christmas celebration.  And the Christmas dinner is traditionally served on Christmas Day rather than Christmas Eve.  The primary Christmas dish is roast goose and may be accompanied by apple and sausage stuffing, red cabbage and potato dumplings. 

The Christmas Eve meal is a simpler affair serving sausages, salads, soups and different types of breads and pastries, as well Christmas cookies (Weihnachtsplatzchen.)

             http://www.germanlanguageguide.com/german/christmas/

 

http://www.germanpulse.com/2011/12/14/world-capital-of-marzipan/

Stollen is a German delicacy served at Christmas time and is a unique, delicious, sweet bread containing nuts and fruit.  It is considered one of the most precious Christmas pastries.  The most famous is Dresden Stollen, originating in the city of Dresden.  This sweet bread will surely change your mind about the American fruitcake we are accustomed to.   Stollen is shaped with tapered ends and a ridge down the center, symbolizing the Baby Jesus in swaddling clothes.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzipan

Marzipan is also very popular in Germany and especially around Christmas time.  Marzipan is an almond flavored confection, consisting primarily of sugar or honey and almond meal.  It is commonly found in chocolates, but is also used as a spread.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_dinner#Germany

http://www.germanfoodguide.com/holiday-christmas.cfm

http://www.germanfoods.org/consumer/facts/germanchristmas.cfm

http://www.germanlanguageguide.com/german/christmas/

Answers to Questions

1. The opposition to the German authorities, as developed and implemented by the first generation of Baader-Meinhof group members needs to be defined.

How did they organize their protest?  What actions did they execute?

The first generation protesters were organized by Andreas Baader.  Although Andreas was bold in his actions, he wasn’t exactly ruthless.  Protests were mild at first and became increasingly more dangerous, but during the first generation of protesters, there weren’t many civilians in harms way.  It was the beginning and they were a small group.  Bombings were executed with careful consideration of time and place, which was successful to their cause - to get the Governments attention.  Besides the bombing at a department store, a protest was held at the newspaper publishing building.  Rocks were thrown into the building, and vehicles were burned and tipped over.  Guns, during the first executed actions, were used only in defense or to motivate their opposition.

2. In what ways did your level of identification with the group change from the beginning of the movie to the end?

At first I was confused as to who was on what side.  It was clear there was the government, but I wasn’t clear of whom the opposition was and why.  But eventually the cause and fight against government became known.  Seeing the government/police force act against protesters in the beginning of the movie really set the tone.  Their violence gave way to fight back with violence, which is exactly what the RAF group did.  I can understand why the RAF group formed, and believe they had a viable cause; however, as the movie progressed and the fighting and killing was more prevalent, I had less and less of an understanding as to why the RAF was taking the actions they did. At the end, the killings were absurd.  One shot would have been enough to kill a person, but when they unloaded their guns on a person, something was lost along the way. 

3. Did the determination and rudeness displayed by Andreas Baader have a key role in the group dynamics, and in what ways?

Yes, I believe the determination and rudeness of Andreas Baader played a key role in the group's dynamics.  A leader needs to be determined and not wishy-washy.  Determination and drive to change something like government, is a huge undertaking and only a strong leader can prevail in forming a group and motivate them to fight for a cause.  As for rudeness, this too has its place.  Rudeness defines a guerilla group.  If there wasn’t rudeness, then be politically correct and call yourself government.

 

The RAF

The RAF, which is the Red Army Faction, is a guerilla group standing up against the Grand Coalition.  The coalition comprised of two main political parties (SPD and CDU) and the Chancellor, Kurt Georg Kiesinger, a former Nazi Party member.  In 1966 ninety-five percent of the Bundestag was controlled by the coalition.  The RAF was in existence from 1970 to 1998.  The group was founded by their first leader Andreas Baader and described themselves as a communist and anti-imperialist “urban guerilla” group.  They were considered an extreme left-wing militant group fighting against fascism.  There were three generations that succeeded in the existence of the RAF group.  The first generation consisted of Andreas Baader and his associates.  One of his associates was Ulrike Mienhof, a well-known German journalist.  This generation operated in the mid to late sixties and into the late 1970s.  The wave of the second generation came about with the joining of former members of the Socialist Patients’ Collective.  The RAF actions between the 1980s and 1990 is considered the third generation of activists.  The end of the RAF was announced by an eight page letter being faxed to the Reuters news agency declaring the group had dissolved.  The similarities I see today with terrorist attacks and the RAF is that they are taking extreme measure to get attention.  The attention of whom they are trying to get is usually a government body that doesn’t seem to listen or hear opposing views until it’s blown up in their face.

Personal Response to Der Baader-Meinhof Komplex

How much sense is it to fight war with war, or violence against violence?  But then again, what other means did the RAF have to standup against their state government?  I recall thinking during the moving that I really don’t like this, and if I was at home watching this movie, I would have turned it off.  However, there is one reason I would stay and watch the movie, and that is that it’s a true story.  I enjoy learning about history in the 20^th century because it explains to me why we are in the place we are today.  The RAF made the government in Germany stand up and take notice.  There were times during the movie, though, that it seemed the government wasn’t taking the group as serious as they should , or they believed the groups actions had subsided.  I strongly believe there should be opposition represented in government because no two people think alike. 

The movie also made me think about how important it is to stand up for something believed.  I don’t see myself of someone that would have taken the side of the RAF, mostly because I don’t support violence and fighting, and am not an extremist by any means.  But I also understand someone has to make a stand and not just sit back and be silent.  The RAF was for a good cause and it is very unfortunate that innocent people were killed.

I walk away from the movie thinking that it’s sad to know all the war and fighting that has taken place and still takes place today.  I truly believe we (the human race) will terminate ourselves through war.  Not in my generation, but in the distant future.

Berlin Calling

1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?

I see Ickarus using drugs to relieve stress, but also to break up what he sees at monotony. 

2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

Why they take drugs is a choice.  When they take drugs is to party.  And how they take drugs is a mish mash.  They take whatever drug is available; not specific.  A drug is a drug!

3. While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into a psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus is in focus on drugs?

It’s the type of music or beat that coincides with drugs; goes hand in hand.

4. Compare the standards you know from your home society with the people you see depicted in this movie. Which are the stark differences and contrasts?

My home society is small town and I may be blind to what is really going on.  My standards are very opposite to what I witnessed in the movie.  I think the group of individuals you hang out with and the type of work you are involved in is a choice and these choices play a part in the society you live in. There is no comparison of my family life to the life of Ickarus and Malthide in this movie.

5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation the world over. Do you think that the youth culture as depicted here could change that? How about work ethics of Ickarus and of Alice, the label director who fires and then re-signs him?

The youth culture as depicted in the movie will change Germany.  They will no longer be a strong industrial nation because they lack a work ethic; very selfish. The work ethic of Alice plays into the norm of what is witnessed in the movie; it is not industrial, but superficial. 

6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?
I’ve seen drug movies in the past, but I’m not sure if they are “cult movies.”  What I do recall are the movies always involved music, and more specific, music singers and their struggles with drug additions, which more often than not, leads to death.

Film Reaction:

Sex, drugs and rock and roll!  The words of a great party, or the sins of the world?  The words by themselves tell me fun, free of religion, selfish desires, living life.  But together, I can’t imagine living a life by these words.  If my life only involved sex, drugs and music I would feel lost and abandoned.  I would have a life without meaning.  There is so much more to life than these three words procure.  The movie, “Berlin Calling,” takes place in Germany, but it could take place anywhere in the world.  For sex, drugs and music is not specific to a region or country, but is most prevalent among youth.

I don’t seek out this type of movie to watch, mostly because it makes me cringe. I feel sorry for the person, or character, in the movie and want them to find help and a way out, but also feel disgusted that a person would allow themselves to fall into such an addiction.  In the movie, it is discovered that Ickarus lost his mother when he was young, which may or may not explain the path he has fallen into; abandoned by his mother and a father not really being there to fill in the gaps may explain Ickarus’ choices.  It’s sad to see an individual struggle with acceptance and something to believe in.  It tells me he has a hole in his heart and needs something besides sex, drugs and music to fill it.  Love may be an answer.  Acceptance from his father may be an answer.  I am not sure of the answer, but only know I see emptiness.

The end of the movie leaves you without a definite answer; more of a “fill in the blank.” Does Ickarus continue to say ‘no’ to drugs, or does he go back to his old ways?  I’d like to believe Ickarus has changed.  That he is heading down a path without drugs.  But is he really?  Given Ickarus’ profession, is it really possible to stay in his job and not be on drugs?  I tend to think they go hand in hand.  But I could be proven wrong!

Music

 
Music is a universal language.  Notes written on lines and spaces can be read and played by anyone throughout the world.  Classical, folk, and hymns, to name a few, are types of music we are familiar with.  Germany, though, was a leader in classical music. 

Famous composers from Germany include Mozart, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert.  Bach and Handel were part of the Baroque era (1600-1750).  Begin quote, “During the Baroque period, the foundations were laid for the following 300 or so years of musical expression: the idea of the modern orchestra was born, along with opera.”  

The classical era (1750-1830) followed with known composers of Mozart and Haydn.  Begin quote, “it was the Classical period which saw the introduction of a form which has dominated instrumental composition to the present day: sonata form.”  It is also said that the classical era is characterized by its structural clarity.

Beethoven came on the scene at the end of the eighteenth century and made way for the romantic era (1830-1860), which Schubert was also a part of.  Begin quote, “The emotional range of music during this period was considerably widened, as was its harmonic vocabulary and the range and number of instruments which might be called upon to play it.” 

I rarely listen to classical music, but as my children are learning to play piano and are playing music composed from the artists named above, I find myself enjoying the sound and see myself, one day, listening to classical music often.  In fact, I may even find the ambition to play it myself!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Germany

http://www.germany.co.za/german_music.html
http://www.naxos.com/education/brief_history.asp

Role of Women

The topic I chose to expand on is the role of women, and more specifically, the history of a midwife.  In Germany, a midwife is called die weise frau.  When I looked at the translation of weise, I found it means wise – wise women.  But together, the combination of words translates to midwife – plain and simple.  The work of a midwife was technical, and also magical in the eyes of some.  The magical part comes into play because, in earlier times, women were not educated and so it was a mystery as to where these midwives learned their practice.  It was thought they had a power from supernatural sources.  A traditional midwife practiced in small rural towns and villages, without formal training.  Knowledge of a midwife was passed down from Grandmother to Mother to Daughter.  As the male medical profession began to evolve, midwifes were prosecuted.  Many women were tortured and burned, and referred to as witches in order to suppress the competition.

In class we touched on the German nun Hildegard von Bingen, who is known for her medical practices of healing through prayer, song and herbal science.  I also discovered Justine Siegemund was a renowned German midwife who authored the first female medical book - Court Midwife (1690).  Justine never was able to have children, and after incompetent midwives wrongly assumed she was pregnant, Justine educated herself about obstetrics and began practicing as a midwife.  Her services at first were free to peasants and poor women, but eventually her expertise and experience was summoned by nobles.  At Justine’s death, it was noted she had birthed almost six thousand two hundred infants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Justina_Siegmundin1.jpg

http://midwifeinfo.com/articles/a-short-history-of-midwifery

http://www.midwiferyservices.net/historyofmidwifery.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justine_Siegemund

Agriculture

I chose Agriculture as a topic to expand on regarding Industry and Business in Germany.  During class presentations, most of what was talked about was industry, which made me curious if farmers were present in Germany today.  Germany, indeed, has farmable land; and more than I would have ever guessed.  Roughly one third of the land is fit for cultivation.  Agriculture was popular in Germany before industry expanded and become a major player in Germany's economy.  Today, agriculture in Germany is a small sector of the German economy.

Germany can be divided into four topographic regions; the northern part of Germany is lowland, in the center is uplands, and southern Germany is the Alpine foreland and the Alps.  In the north, where the terrain is relatively flat, sugar beets are mostly grown; near the river valleys you will find vineyards; and large cities are usually surrounded by fruit orchards and vegetable farms.  Since beer is well known in Germany, there must be grain crops.  Which there is!  And almost all of German beer is produced in Bavaria.  The top crops in Germany are Sugar Beets, Wheat, Barley, and Potatoes.  Even though Germany has tillable land, it is one of the largest importers of agricultural products.

Agriculture in the 20^th century has greatly declined since the 18^th century and the Industrial revolution.  Industry attracted farmers because of the potential to earn more money.

The European Union agriculture reform provides financial assistance for development of agricultural land and requires good agricultural practices.  Farmers using environmentally friendly practices are compensated, in recognition of their conscience farming methods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Germany  10/30/12

http://www.germanymapxl.com/agriculture-map.html   10/30/12
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Germany-AGRICULTURE.html  10/30/12

19 Century Business & Industry

Presented by: Jessica Hall, Scott Reid, Will Wacholz



All Quiet on the Western Front

• How important is comradeship to soldiers?
• Would a soldier today share the same thoughts as Paul and his friends that war leaves you with nothing?

• Paul reflects many times on nature.  Is this the Authors way of restoring normalcy in the face of inhumanity?

• The missing civilian years of a young adult!

• A Mother’s pain when a son is at war.

Chapter Five – All Quiet on the Western Front

 
The chapter begins with Paul and his friends killing louse by using their fingernails.  One of Paul’s friends, Tjaden, makes a contraption out of the top of a boot-polish lid and a candle to burn the louse.  Haie’s makes a joke saying he’s going to use the fat from the louse to polish his own boots.  This is the most funny to Haie, but not so much everyone else.  The arrival of Himmelstoss has dampened everyone’s mood. 

As everyone is spending hours talking and meditating, Albert shows up with a mess-tin of beans he’s scored for himself.  Muller asks Albert what he’d do if it were suddenly peace-time.  This brings Kat, Baumer and the rest into the topic.  Albert even awakes Haie to ask him what he’d do if it was peace time.  Haie eventually admits that he’d stay with the Prussians and serve out his time as a non-com.  During their conversation, Himmelstoss appears.  But they act as though they really don't notice him standing there.  Himmelstoss engages them and is expecting respect as a superior officer, but instead, he and Tjaden get into a discourteous dialogue that ends when Tjaden moons Himmelstoss.  Himmelstoss disappears in the direction of the Orderly Room and all bust out in laughter.  Tjaden then makes himself scarce for when they come looking for him. 

Muller brings the conversation back to Albert and asks again what he’d do if it were peace time.  The discussion turns to their classmates and their teacher Kantorek.  Some poking fun of their teacher is in order and brings on more laughter.  Schooling and what to do after the war is talked about.  They conclude that nothing will be the same after war and that the war has ruined them. 

Soon the sergeant-major and Himmelstoss appear looking for Tjaden.  Noticing he’s not there and no one telling where he is, it is ordered that Tjaden should return to the Orderly Room in 10 minutes.   Tjaden is made aware of the order and disappears.  The rest gather to play cards.  That evening they each are called to the Orderly Room.  Paul explains the bed-wetting incident involving Tjaden.  In the end, Himmelstoss gets a lecture and Tjaden gets three days open arrest. 

After an hour, Paul and Kat sneak to Tjaden and Kropp and play cards.  When the card game has ended, Kat and Paul go off to get themselves a goose for roasting.  For two cigarettes they get a ride to their destination and Paul agrees to get the goose.  The getting of the goose didn’t go as smoothly as planned.  After quite a ruckus and the meeting of a bull dog, a goose is thrown over the wall.  The goose is roasted at once in a small deserted lean-to; this takes a long time and they take turns while the other sleeps.  Paul feels very close to Kat and feels peace with his presence.  Finally, the goose is done and they eat.  The remainder of the goose is wrapped up and brought to Tjaden and Kropp.  The feathers from the goose are kept and will be used to make pillows.  Dawn is approaching and Kat and Paul return to their huts.

Stanislaus Katczinsky

Stanislaus Katczinsky, or Kat has he is called throughout the book, is an older soldier, forty years of age, and married with children.  One of the first things to learn about Kat is his ability to survive.  He is a great scavenger; and from the sounds of it, a great cook.  The soldiers seem to really enjoy his works, especially Tjaden, who is the biggest eater of them all.  Kat is also keen at sniffing out trouble.  Paul comments that Kat has a sixth sense.

Kat is one to think before he talks.  He doesn’t usually say much, but when he does, he seems to be the voice of reason, and one with his feet planted on the ground - not much of a dreamer. 

Paul, most of all, seems to love Kat.  I think Paul looks at Kat as someone that fulfills a father and mother figure.  He is a leader and can teach, but yet caring as a mother.  I remember a part in the book when Paul came back from leave and had volunteered with the rest of his comrades to sneak to the front line in the night.  Paul is struggling with thoughts of home and, for the first time on the front line, feels unsure of himself; unsure of his direction, and frozen in fear.  But when he hears the sound of Kat’s voice, the world is clear again.

At the end of the book, Paul tries to save Kat after he is hit with shrapnel in the shin.   Paul carry’s Kat to the dressing station.  Only to find out he is dead.  Paul doesn’t believe it at first, but soon learns that Kat caught a splinter in the head.  Kat was the last of Paul’s friends to leave him.  This is the saddest part in the book because with Kat gone, Paul feels nothing more

I felt like I related to Kat the most out of all the characters.  I liked that he could fend for himself and was willing to share his knowledge.  I also appreciated his ability to find and cook food.  The funniest was when Kat and Paul commandeered a goose.  Kat took care of Paul and his classmates and I’d like to think that if it wasn’t for Kat, the rest may not have lived as long as they did throughout the war.

CDU Presentation

My work on CDU Party:

Parliamentary Groups

http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/bundestag/groups/index.html

A parliamentary group is a voluntary association of Members from one or more parties who pursue the same political aims and who do not compete with one another in any Land. A parliamentary group must comprise at least five percent of the Members of the German Bundestag.

The CDU/CSU parliamentary group has been the largest such group in the German Bundestag since the early federal election of 2005. In the current 17th electoral term of the German Bundestag (2009-2013), it has 237 Members, 193 of whom belong to the CDU and 44 to the CSU. The number of seats held determines their relative strengths.

The formation of a parliamentary group enables them to work together to achieve shared goals.

 http://www.cducsu.de/

Angela Merkel is the Chancellor of Germany (2005 – present) and the Chairwomen of the Christian Democratic Union (2000 - Present).  She is the first female Chancellor of Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volker_Kauder

Volker Kauder is the Chairmen of the CDU/CSU group in the national parliament.

As the strongest parliamentary group supporting the government, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group has the important function of actively shaping legislation together with its coalition partner, the FDP. In this area, parliamentary group chairman Volker Kauder and his team work in close cooperation with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and her cabinet. The parliamentary group implements its own political ideas through legislative initiatives, motions and bills, which are prepared by those politicians in the coalition working on the specialised committees.

The parliamentary group plays an instrumental role in helping to form public opinion. At parliamentary group meetings, the views of the individual Members are gathered, thereby enabling the group to speak with a single voice during plenary debates. Prior to these meetings, substantive discussions are held in the working groups and executive committee bodies. In plenary debates on general political topics, the chairman of the parliamentary group adopts the role of group spokesperson. The parliamentary secretaries act as “parliamentary group managers”. They coordinate parliamentary business within the parliamentary group, seek consensus with representatives of the CDU/CSU governments at federal state (Land) level, agree on the parliamentary agenda in the German Bundestag’s Council of Elders and ensure that the Rules of Procedure are adhered to. Sources 09/15/2012:

http://www.cducsu.de/Titel__two_parties_one_joint_parliamentary_group/TabID__19/SubTabID__21/InhaltTypID__98/Texte.aspx

http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/bundestag/groups/index.html

Group work:  Our group communicated mostly through email.  It is a bit difficult to get a group of nine together to work on a presentation and because we weren't able to meet all together, we could have been a bit more prepared, but in the end it seemed to pull together.  I enjoyed learning about our party and felt it wasn't so different than the united states.  Because the CDU party is the largest of all the parties, it is also the most influencial.

Brandenburg Germany

 
History
 
Brandenburg is relatively new in its current form. It was one of the federal states that emerged after the reunification in 1990. In medieval times (and into early modern times) the area now known as Brandenburg was considered to be the area known as Prussia. Prussia was the first unified state of the German empire. From 1772 to 1918, the area was known as the Kingdom of Prussia, but the area still referred to as Brandenburg was the most important part of the kingdom, becoming a province of Prussia in 1815. There was a sharp increase in population during this time due to a booming industrial economy. Prussia became a free state in 1918 and in 1920 the greater Berlin area marked itself as its own province. Potsdam became the capital city of the Brandenburg province.

After World War II, Prussia was dissolved and Brandenburg was split into separate districts. Brandenburg was a part of East Germany, where there was a socialist government. Brandenburg remained a big player in the agricultural economy of East Germany. On October 15, 1990 the present form of Brandenburg was founded. The reunification of Germany brought much unemployment to the state, as its economy could not compete with the western half of Germany. Recently, the unemployment rate has declined and the economy has picked up significantly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Gate

The Brandenburg Gate located in Berlin Germany. It got its name because it is supposed to point towards the city of Brandenburg.

 

The Landscape

 

http://www.travelsthroughgermany.com/website2/Maps/bradenburg-map.htm

 

The state of Brandenburg is densely forested and contains Europe’s most extensive landscape of rivers and lakes. There are more than 3000 lakes with the Havel, Spree, and Oder rivers. It contains Lower Oder Valley National Park, three Biosphere Reserves and eleven Nature Parks. Brandenburg surrounds Berlin but does not include the national capital and city-state. The capital city of Brandenburg is Potsdam. Other cities include Cottbus, Brandenburg an der Havel, and Frankfurt (Oder).

Potsdam is situated on the River Havel and is the capital of Brandenburg. It is the largest city in Brandenburg with twelve palaces, including Sanssouci Palace – the summer residence of King Frederick II. Before 1918, Potsdam was the residence of the Prussian kings and German Kaisers. Potsdam has many architecturally significant buildings associated with Prussian royalty. The Babelsberg Film Studio is located in Potsdam and is the oldest, large-scale, film studio in the world. There are three public colleges and more than 30 research institutes in the city.

Cottbus is the cultural centre of the Lower Sorbian minority. It is also home of Brandenburg University of Technology and the maths/science-oriented Max-Steenback-Gymnasium, which is named after the physicist Max Steenbeck.

Brandenburg an der Havel, also known as Brandenburg City, is located on the banks of the River Havel and is the oldest town in the state. During the Nazi era it had a concentration camp, one of the first in Germany. After closing the camp, the Nazis used a prison in Gorden, a suburb of Brandenburg an der Havel, that later became the Brandenburg Euthanasia Centre. Brandenburg an der Havel was one of the first locations where Nazis experimented with killing their victims by gas.

Frankfurt (Oder) is a smaller city in Brandenburg located on the Oder River, which separates Germany and Poland. Frankfurt (Oder) is not to be confused with the larger city Frankfurt am Main located in the state of Hesse. Here, in Frankfurt (Oder) you can walk across the city bridge and be in the Polish town Slubice. Frankfurt an der Oder has one the largest Gothic churches and one of the oldest medieval town halls. The 18^th century German novelist and playwright, Heinrich von Kleist, is the town’s most famous resident.

Demographics

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Deutschland_Lage_von_Brandenburg.svg/155px-Deutschland_Lage_von_Brandenburg.svg.png

This is a state in northeastern Germany that surrounds, but is independent of the city of Berlin. Poland is to the east of this state and also bordered by other states of Germany such as, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the north, Freistaat Sachsen in the south, Saxony-Anhalt in the west and Lower Saxony in the northwest. The capital of this state is Potsdam. The population was recorded as 2,495,635 in 2011. The state area is 29,478.63 km²(11,381.76 sq mi).

Economy

 

The main economic industries include agriculture, automotive industry, energy industry, electrical industry and optical industry. 7 universities and 21 other higher-education institutions with more than 182,000 students, as well as over 100 private and public institutes and development facilities make Berlin-Brandenburg one of the densest research networks in Europe.

Brandenburg is a vital place for logistics. Nine out of ten of the biggest German logistic companies are located here, German Railways, German Post, Kühne+Nagel, Dachser, DPD, UPS, Rhenus, Panalpina and Fiege. There are also hundreds of bringing companies located here. The GDP of this state ranked 11^th in 2011 which was 55,090 Euro€ (76,680 US$).



Sources

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg#Geography, 09/04/2012

http://www.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php/bb2.c.413681.de, 09/04/2012
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110509/NEWS02/705099975/1001，09/04/2012
http://www.login-bb.de/fileadmin/login/bilder/Presseveroeffentlichungen/WorldMarket_2008-6.pdf, 09/04/2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_states_by_GDP#2011_List , 09/04/2012

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Germany/brandenburg.htm (09/02/12)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg (9/2/12)
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/77676/Brandenburg/277639/Geography (9/2/12)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg_an_der_Havel, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdam (9/2/12)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottbus, http://www.study-in.de/en/life/culture-travel--11830/ (9/2/12)
http://www.germanfoodguide.com/brandenburg.htm (9/2/12)
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg (9/3/12)
http://www.genealogienetz.de/reg/BRG/bb.html (9/3/12)