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Introduction:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:17:07 UTC

Germany, which is a central European nation with a rich history, has a complex and influential legal system rooted in Roman law, shaping modern codifications around the world. The country is known for its diverse cultural heritage, deep philosophical traditions, and global contributions to music and art. Germany’s blend of history, innovation, and natural beauty makes it a fascinating and influential country in Europe and beyond.

Legal System:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:22:38 UTC

Type: Federal republic with 16 states (Länder).
These states are as follows: Berlin

Bayern (Bavaria)
Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony)
Baden-Württemberg
Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
Sachsen (Saxony)
Thüringen (Thuringia)
Hessen
Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt)
Brandenburg
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Hamburg
Schleswig-Holstein
Saarland
Bremen
Saxony-Anhalt

Legal Foundation: Based on a civil law system rooted in Roman law, influencing many global legal systems.
Key Codes: The BGB (Civil Code), along with Austria’s ABGB and Switzerland’s ZGB, shaped legal codifications in criminal, commercial, and procedural law.
Historical Evolution:
- Early Development: States like Prussia developed their laws, while others adopted foreign laws (e.g., the French Code Civil).
- 19th Century: The historical school of law advocated for laws rooted in Roman sources.
- German Empire: The BGB was introduced in 1896, effective in 1900.
- Post-WWII: The Grundgesetz (Basic Law) established fundamental rights in 1949 to prevent future atrocities.
  Germanic tribes:
  - Written collections such as Edictum Theoderici (459-461) based on the Romans’ legal system.
  - Later, different local customary laws were recorded in thematically unsorted collections.
  - Most famously the Sachsenspiegel (1220-1227) by Eike von Repgow.
  - Such collections included typical phenomena of the Germanic legal tradition.
  Roman law:
  Roman law also developed and applied in the German Middle Ages, when local law did not offer a solution for the respective case.
  At the time of the Enlightenment, the law of reason spread and Roman law was adapted to suit the times.

Sources of Law:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:23:33 UTC

Codified Law: The main basis of the legal system; creates complexity but enhances certainty.
Case Law: Judicial interpretations are binding, especially rulings from the Federal Constitutional Court.
Customary Law: Long-standing practices accepted as law without codification.

Hierarchy of National Law:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:25:48 UTC

Hierarchy of National Law

Constitutional Norms (GG):
The Grundgesetz (GG) is the highest legal authority, superseding all other laws. Article 1, Section 3 mandates that fundamental rights are binding on the legislature, judiciary, and executive. The legislature must adhere to the constitutional order, while the executive and judiciary must follow established laws and regulations (Article 20, Section 3).
Formal Laws:
These are laws enacted by the federal parliament or state parliaments.
Material Law:
Created by the executive, this includes regulations and directives, primarily affecting the executive branch.

Population

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:27:25 UTC

84,407,538 (10/19/24 6:03 PM)

Male: 41,572,702

Female: 42,546,398 (2024 est.)

Heritage: German 85.4%, Turkish 1.8%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Syrian 1.1%, Romanian 1%, Poland 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.3% (2022 est.)

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 5,925,800/female 5,688,603)

15-64 years: 62.5% (male 26,705,657/female 25,875,865)

65 years and over: 23.7% (2024 est.) (male 8,941,245/female 10,981,930)

Territory:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:30:27 UTC

Geography: Central Europe, bordered by Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Area: 357,168 square kilometers; one-third covered by forests.
The Era of Partition:
After Germany's surrender in May 1945, the country was devastated. Much of the housing, factories, and transport systems were destroyed, leading to inflation and food shortages. Millions of refugees worsened the crisis, creating a period known as "zero hour."
Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. Berlin, within the Soviet zone, was also split into four sectors. This marked the start of Germany's reconstruction.

Culture:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:31:59 UTC

Alcohol: Beer is a popular beverage in German culture.
Art & Philosophy: Known for significant contributions to philosophy and the arts; heroes are poets and thinkers.
Heritage: Home to 20,000-25,000 castles; birthplace of many classical composers.
Tradition: Germany invented the first Christmas tree or Tannenbaum. With the assistance of several German royals, the tradition had spread throughout the country and neighboring areas by the nineteenth century. This custom was introduced in the US by German immigrants.
Germany also has a rule for baby names. When a child is born, the name must be approved by Standesamt or the German Civil registration office.

History:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:34:06 UTC

Formation: The modern German nation emerged in the 19th century, unifying under Bismarck in 1871.
World Wars: Experienced major conflicts, resulting in division during the Cold War and reunification in 1990.
Emergence of Nazi: Germany was humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles (1919) after World War I, losing territory, being deprived of its heavy armaments and forced to pay disproportionate reparations to pay (forced payments). Its aftermath saw the setting up of the Weimar Republic, which suffered from constant economic crises such as hyperinflation in 1923 and the Great Depression (1929) which caused mass unemployment, reached at 6 million in 1932. However, these conditions helped Adidas to rise, through Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP). The Nazi Party gained 37.3 per cent of the vote, the biggest share in the Reichstag, in July 1932 elections.
Hitler's Rise to Power: On January 30, 1933 Hitler was installed as Chancellor of Germany. In February 1933 he used the Reichstag Fire to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree, suspending civil liberties. Hitler became Führer after President Hindenburg's death in 1934 after the Enabling Act had been passed in March 1933, thereby dismantling the democratic institutions.
Nazi Rule: Aggressive militarization and expansionist policies which lead to the invasion of Poland and World War II fueled Hitler’s regime; rearming, and aggressive militarization of Germany. Propaganda, the Gestapo (secret police), and the SS were used by Hitler to suppress any dissent. In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws institutionalized antisemitism through restricting the right to citizenship and society.
The Holocaust: Under Nazi rule a systematic genocide of 6 million Jews were accompanied by the deaths of 5 million others, including Romani people, people with disabilities and political dissidents. The "Final Solution" was formalized at the Wannsee Conference (1942) and resulted in the construction of extermination camps, like Auschwitz and Treblinka. Auschwitz killed over 1.1 million people in and of itself.
End of Nazi Rule: Defeats such as Stalingrad (1943) and D-Day (1944) turned the war against Germany. On April 30, 1945 Hitler committed suicide, Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945. In 1945-1946 Nazi leaders were prosecuted in Nuremberg for war crimes.

Government:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:36:36 UTC

Germany is a federal parliamentary democracy where citizens elect the Bundestag, the parliament, every four years. The country is divided into 16 states (Länder), each with its own responsibilities, while federal powers are centralized in Berlin.

Germany's Grundgesetz (Basic Law), passed in 1949, serves as its constitution, shaping the democratic framework and being flexible to change. The system balances power between federal and regional authorities to prevent centralization.

Germany's government is led by the chancellor, with the president as a ceremonial figure. The Bundestag passes laws, while the Bundesrat represents state interests, with both required to approve constitutional changes by a two-thirds majority.

Special tourist attractions:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:46:02 UTC

Neuschwanstein Castle:

Neuschwanstein Castle, with its towers, turrets, and throne hall, looks straight out of a fairy tale. Commissioned in 1868 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria after losing power in the Austro-Prussian War, the castle became his retreat into a fantasy world of kingship. Ludwig never saw it completed, as he died in 1886 before the final towers were finished in 1892. Shortly after his mysterious death, the castle opened to the public and is now one of the world’s most-visited attractions.

Cologne Cathedral :

Germany’s largest religious cathedral is the Cologne cathedral. It took 632 years to complete its construction. It got completed in 1880. Its infrastructure is so strong, it even withstood the heavy bombing during World War II.

Margravial Opera House:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:46:57 UTC

World Heritage & Museum: Margrave Wilhelmine and Margrave Friedrich III of Brandenburg-Bayreuth commissioned star architect Giuseppe Galli Bibiena to build this structure for their daughter Elisabeth Friederike's wedding. This Baroque building, with its remarkable wooden interior, anticipated the grand public theatres of the 19th century.

Media:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:49:54 UTC

Until the mid-1980s, only public corporations were allowed to broadcast in Germany. Today, public broadcasting is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. While the government has tried to influence media narratives, these attempts have largely been resisted.

As a result, German television, more so than radio, enjoys significant independence.

Since 1945, political influence in Western Germany's press has been minimal. The journalism profession is largely self-regulated, with ethical standards set by the Presscodex of the self-governed Presserat (Press Council). However, the state plays a more active role in regulating broadcasting than in print media.

Language:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:57:11 UTC

German is the fifth most taught language worldwide.
There are many German dialects, and experts believe there could be as many as 250.
German (official); note - Danish, Frisian, Sorbian, and Romani are official minority languages; Low German, Danish, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, and Romani are recognized as regional languages

Sources:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 09:57:55 UTC

https://www.studying-in-germany.org/interesting-facts-about-germany/

https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany

https://softschools.com/facts/cultures/german_culture_facts/3255/

https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/Media-and-publishing

https://bayreuth-wilhelmine.de/englisch/opera/index.htm

https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/germany/

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-did-germany-get-its-name.html

https://www.ieg-ego.eu/en/threads/crossroads/legal-families/elisabeth-berger-the-german-legal-system

https://www.expatrio.com/about-germany/german-political-system#who_has_the_political_power_in_germany?

https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/The-era-of-partition

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/nazi-party#nazi-party-origins

https://www.italki.com/en/blog/facts-about-germany?utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=pmax&utm_campaign=pmax_persona_en_learnfigs_EU_DE&utm_content=pmax_persona_en_learnfigs_EU_DE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw1NK4BhAwEiwAVUHPUHDxinLFFltXZppLEvVPkYVImwmoq5VhbPSTdRWSmMja5tjLrxSbmBoCR9kQAvD_BwE

https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/The-Third-Reich-1933-45

Brief History of the Legal System:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 13:38:51 UTC

The German legal system has evolved through various stages:

Early Development:
After the establishment of different German states, some, like Prussia, created their legal frameworks, such as the General Prussian Land Law (1794). Others adopted external laws, like the French Code Civil in Baden.
19th Century Influences:
The historical school of law, represented by figures like Friedrich Carl von Savigny, opposed further codification of private law, advocating for laws rooted in original Roman sources.
German Empire and Civil Code:
When the German Empire was formed in 1870/71, the Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB) was introduced in 1896 but did not take effect until 1900.
National Socialist Era (1933-1945):
During this period, the law was manipulated as a tool of the regime, leading to absurdities through special legislation and political show trials in the "People’s Court."
Post-Nazi Era:
In response to the Nazi regime's atrocities, Germany aimed to prevent future horrors, establishing the German constitution (Grundgesetz – GG) in 1949. The GG emphasizes fundamental rights (Grundrechte) and the rule of law.
Division and Reunification:
After World War II, Germany was divided into West (Federal Republic of Germany) and East (German Democratic Republic), each with its own legal system. The former followed its historical legal traditions, while the latter was influenced by Soviet law. The division ended with the Unification Treaty in 1990, which established Western law as the constitution for a reunified Germany, rendering former GDR laws gradually obsolete.

Name:

gggermanyyyyy — 2024-10-20 13:41:48 UTC

Germany is known by more names than any other country, varying across cultures and languages. Examples include Niemcy, Deutschland, Alemania, Saksa, and Vuoceja. Researchers have grouped these names into six origins: Saxon, Protoslavic, Old High German, Alamanni, Latin or Greek, and some with unidentified origins.

English speakers originally translated "Deutsch" as "Dutch," but this was applied only to people in the Netherlands. To distinguish between regions, they began using "Germany," derived from the Roman term "Germania," with the first recorded use in 1520 AD.