1. THE GERMAN LANGUAGE Facts compiled from vistawide.com

2. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF : Germany Austria Switzerland Liechtenstein Luxemburg Northern Italy Eastern Belgium

3. Maps of GERMANY

5. German is the most widely spoken language in Europe. More people speak German as their native language than any other language in Europe. It's no wonder, since Germany's 83 million inhabitants make it the most populous European nation.

6. Germany has the 3rd strongest economy and is the #1 export nation in the world. In 2007, for the 5th year in a row, the Germans were world champions in exports. The country exported 940 billion US dollars worth of goods, just ahead of the US exports.

7. Knowing German creates business opportunities. Companies like BMW, Daimler, Siemens, Audi, Lufthansa, SAP, Bosch, Volkswagen, BASF, Adidas, and many others need international partners. The Japanese, who have the 2nd most powerful economy in the world, understand the business advantages that a knowledge of German will bring them: 68% of Japanese students study German.

8. Knowing German creates business opportunities. If you're looking for employment in the United States, knowing German can give you great advantages. German companies account for 700,000 jobs in the United States, and US companies have created approximately the same number of jobs in Germany.

9. Germans are innovators. Gutenberg's printing press Hertz' discovery of electromagnetic waves from Ehrlich's development of chemotherapy to Einstein's theory of relativity to Brandenburg's creation of the MP3

10. Germans are innovators. As a nation committed to research and development, Germans are on the frontline of new technologies. Germany exports more high-tech products than any other country except the U.S. More than 600 firms are active in the field of biotechnology. The east German city of Dresden has become Europe's microchip center with its more than 765 semiconductor firms.

11. Germans are the biggest spenders of tourist dollars in the world. While German workers are highly productive, it is clear that they know how to play just as hard as they work. With ample disposable income and an average of 6 weeks of vacation a year, Germans have the time and the means to travel,... and they do!

12. Germans are the biggest spenders of tourist dollars in the world. If you are a world traveler, you are certain to encounter Germans wherever you go since nearly 3 out of every 4 vacations by Germans are spent in other countries. In 2007, they spent a record 91 billion euros on international travel. Year after year, the residents of Germany spend more on foreign travel than those of any other nation

13. Germans form the largest single heritage group in the U.S. In the year 2000 census, 42.8 million or 15.2% of Americans reported having German ancestry, making German Americans the largest single heritage group in the U.S.

14. Germans form the largest single heritage group in the U.S. Family names and names of thousands of towns and cities indicate the German heritage of their ancestors or founders. Such cultural mainstays as kindergarten, the Christmas tree, and hot dogs and hamburgers were introduced by German immigrants to America. They founded multiple breweries, created Levi's jeans, invented ketchup, and created Hershey's chocolate.

15. President Horst Kohler

16. Berlin: capital of Germany

17. Largest city of Germany Center of culture, business, fashion Monuments: Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, Berlin Wall,

18. Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall was a physical barrier encircling West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. 98 people were killed trying to cross. The “Fall of the Wall” paved way for reunification of Germany.

19. Bradenburg Gate: symbol of Berlin

20. Brandenburg Gate Main symbol of Berlin and Germany. Built 1788 as a symbol of peace Led to city palace of Prussian monarchs Presidents Kennedy, Reagan, and Clinton have spoken there

21. Berlin:The Reichstag (parliament)

22. Berlin: Zoologischer Garten Opened in 1844 1,400 species and 14,000 animals

23. Hamburg, Germany Second largest city in Germany Waterspray in harbor 2300 bridges “Venice of North” Hagenbeck’s animal park: 1907, first zoo to use moats instead of cages

24. Hamburg: Heide Park

25. Munich, Germany

26. Munich = monk 1972 Summer Olympics Marienplatz= town center

27. Munich: Marienplatz Town center of Munich Pedestrian zone Rathaus Glockenspiel reenacts 2 stories of 16 th century with 43 bells and 32 figurines

28. Munich: Olympiapark

29. Munich: Allianz Arena 2006 World Cup

30. Munich: Oktoberfest

31. Koln, Germany Koln Cathedral (600 years to build) Shrine of Three Kings

32. Koln, Germany On the Rhine River One of Europe’s Oldest Universities Home to more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries

33. Koln: Eau de Cologne Koln Wasser (A perfume of citrus oils, lavender, rosemary) Originated in 1709 and is still made today

34. Koln: Carnival

35. Frankfurt, Germany

36. Known as Frankfurt am Main Main River (pronounced “mine”) Financial center of Germany: stock exchange, European Central Bank, Bank of Germany Transportation center of Germany: Frankfurt Flughafen and Lufthansa

37. Frankfurt, Germany Only German city with significant number of skyscrapers Old Opera House International book fair

38. Dresden, Germany Called “Florence of the North” Palace called “Zwinger” Located on Elbe River Dresdner Stollen = famous fruit bread Dresden china

39. Dresden: Zwinger Palace

40. Leipzig, Germany

41. Trade and business center City of Fairs: Messenstadt Double “M” = symbol of city Home of Gewandhausorchester and St. Thomas Boys’ Choir Theater der Jungen Welt Belantis Theme Park

42. Map of Switzerland

44. Geneva, Switzerland Known as “Genf” International conference center Gigantic water spray in harbor of Lake Geneva Second home to celebrities

45. Zurich, Switzerland

46. Major banking center Lake Zurich

47. Maps of Austria

49. Vienna, Austria Capital and largest city of Austria On the Danube (Danau) River Busy port for international cargo Known as city of music Vienna Boys’ Choir Spanish Riding School with Lippizan Stallions

50. Wien or Vienna

51. Vienna Boys’ Choir Best known boys’ choir in world From ages 10 to 14 Perform 300 concerts for over 500,000 each year Since 1924

52. Vienna’s Spanish Riding School Since 1572 Hapsburg family of Vienna and Spain Strong sense of tradition in school (salute Emperor Karl VI), costumes Horses from Lippiza, Yugoslavia

53. Salzburg, Germany Birthplace of Mozart Salzburg Music Festival Sound of Music filming Name comes from salt mine