Trivia

Trivia Q & A – September 21^st

Life in Germany

1.       When and where did German scientists recently discover a new species of ape?Answer: In Asia on Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-world/german-scientists-discover-rare-ape-species-in-asia-20100921-15lkn.html

2.       What city is known as the salt capital of Germany? When did the salt production end?
Answer: Lüneburg, a German city in the state of Lower Saxony, is known as the salt capital of Germany.  It was not until 1980 that the production of salt in the Lüneburg Saline finally closed.
Source: http://worthgem.blogspot.com/2010/09/german-salt-museum-at-luneburg.html

3.       What type of schooling is forbidden?
Answer: Homeschooling
Source: www.german-way.com/educ.html

German History

1.       What was the difference in population in Germany from 1939 to 1946?
Answer: 4 million less people from 1939 to 1946

2.       In the early and middle eleventh century the Saxon kings were able to defeat which Germanic tribes thus strengthening the Elbe Saale frontier?
Answer: The Magyars and the Slavs

3.       What Germanic tribe held onto their tradition of worshiping heathen gods the longest?Answer: The Saxons

German Media

1.       What date did the "television contract" (Fernsehvertrag) get signed?
Answer: March 27, 1953
Source: pg 91 of "The Mass Media of the German Speaking Country" by John Sandford

2.       The Deutsche Welle first began broadcasting is what year?
Answer: 1953
Source: pg 39 of "The Mass Media of the German Speaking Country" by John Sandford

3.       What German newsmagazine is on the rise while its predecessor is on the decline?
Answer: The Focus is on the rise while Der Spiegel is on the decline.
Source: http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/facts/bl_newspapers.htm

German States: Bavaria

1.       Who are the three primary Germanic tribes to inhabit Bavaria in history?
Answer: Bavarians, Franks, and Nordgau

2.       Pope Benedict was born in town of Marktl Bavaria. Where did he live his adolescence?
Answer: Traunstein
Source: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/biography/documents/hf_ben-xvi_bio_20050419_short-biography_en.html

3.       The Hofbrauhaus is a famous beer hall in Munich Bavaria. What family still owns and operates this historic site?
Answer: The Gerdas
Source: http://www.aviewoncities.com/munich/hofbrauhaus.htm

German States: Schleswig-Holstein

1.       Where was the chief base for the Third Reich's navy operations?
Answer: Kiel
Source: pg 259-260 of “Discover Germany” by Jack Altman

2.       Schleswig-Holstein was part of Denmark until what year?
Answer: 1866
Source: pg 259-260 of “Discover Germany” by Jack Altman

3.       What is the world famous annual rock fest that takes place in Schleswig-Holstein?
Answer: Wacken Open Air
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Rhine-Westphalia

Rugen

Rugen Document

Berlin Today and Past: Berlin Tram

The Berlin tram is one of the oldest tram system in the world. The tram system was established in 1865 with the use of horse tramways. Sixteen years later they started the conversion into the use of electric tram cars so by the end of the nineteenth century the network was developed rapidly and horse trams were obsolete by 1910. In 1929 all of the operating companies brought together by Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) and by 1930 the number of tram lines was up to 90 and covered 630 KM.



After the end of WWII the BVG company was separated in to east and west companies. The BVG west was composed into three section with a total of 36 lines. The BVG-ost which is the east soviet section had controlled over 13 lines. In the west the tramways were soon considered old fashion and unnecessary and were being replaced by bus routes and underground lines by 1960, this was the same for the east.



The two companies were reunited on January 1 of 1992. The present transportation company consists of U-Bahn the Urban rapid transport rail system, trams, buses. The fares of using the transportation system today is about €6-7 for a day pass depending on which zone in Berlin.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mk_Berlin_Tram_6.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_tram

German Culture before 1870

https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhj6c44b_2fd85c8hv