Germany
Business meetings tend to be formal in Germany and suit and tie should be worn to important meetings. The use of titles and surnames, presentation of personal and corporate credentials -- all are characteristic of the German business practices. Then addressing Germans, academic or job titles are important and should be used. Punctuality is an extremely important feature of German business relations and should be kept in mind in scheduling and keeping appointments. Expeditious handling of correspondence, including the use of airmail and postal routing codes is indispensable. Telephone calls and faxes should also be promptly returned.
Although German is the preferred business language, most upper level managers are quite capable of carrying on a conversation in English. Due to the importance of German at the retail level and among end-users, the need to print promotional literature and manuals in German cannot be overemphasized. Office hours are 0800-1600 Monday to Friday, however, some businesses close early on Fridays.
Violent crime is rare in Germany, but it can occur, especially in larger cities or high-risk areas such as train stations. Criminal activity directed at foreigners consists mainly of non-confrontational street crime such as purse snatching and pick-pocketing. Congested pedestrian areas, subway stations, and bus stops are the main venues for this type of opportunistic crime. Residential crime in the form of burglaries, break-ins and vandalism, continues to be of concern in all areas of Berlin, including the wealthier neighborhoods in the western part of the city. Within the past year, there has been a sharp increase in the number of burglaries of diplomatic residences.
Practice the same common sense personal security awareness practices that are an everyday part of life in large cities.
Hanover in Lower Saxony is frequently the scene of leftist violence, such as the city's now annual "chaos days.” These violent demonstrations take the form of attacks against police and public authority and the destruction of private property. Elsewhere in Lower Saxony rallies by neo-Nazi skinhead groups have led to clashes between pro and anti-racist organizations. Foreigners, particularly from Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries, have been attacked during neo-Nazi marches and rallies.
There have also been reports of assaults on lone females in the parking garages at Frankfurt Rhein-main airport.
German police response time to emergency calls is excellent, usually under 10 minutes. Nationwide, the police phone number is 110; the fire and medical phone number is 112.
There is sufficient hotel space in most major cities, unless there happens to be a major trade fair or a similar event in a particular city. Business class amenities and services can be found in all major cities, including those in the eastern states. Some hotels are situated in old castles, palaces and monasteries.
Full telephone IDD is available. The country code is 49 and the outgoing international code is 00. Germany's communication infrastructure, at least in the western parts of the country, is comparable to any in the world. Direct telephone dialing is available within Germany and to most places in the world, and calling cards such as AT&T's can be widely used. Worldwide fax, telegram, and cable services are also available. All the major air courier companies -- DHL, United Parcel Service, Federal Express -- offer services in Germany. Post office hours: 0900-1800 Monday to Friday and 0900-1200 Saturday. Smaller branches may close for lunch.
Electricity is at 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style round 2-pin plugs are in use. Lamp fittings are screw type.
230 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style round two-pin plugs are in use. Lamp fittings are screw type.
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The main meal of the day in Germany tends to be lunch with a light snack eaten at about seven in the evening. Breakfast served in homes and hotels usually consists of a boiled egg, bread rolls with jam, honey, cold cuts and cheese slices. Available from snack bars, butcher shops, bakers and cafes are grilled, fried or boiled sausages (Wurst) with a crusty bread roll or potato salad. There are also bread rolls filled with all kinds of sausage slices, hot meat filling (such as Leberkäse), pickled herring, gherkins and onion rings or cheese. In bakeries, strudel with the traditional
apple filling, a variety of fruits and fromage frais is available. There is also an astonishingly wide variety of breads. A set menu meal in a simple Gasthof or cafe usually includes three courses: soup is the most popular starter. The main meal consists of vegetables or a salad, potatoes, meat and gravy. For pudding, there is often a sweet such as a blancmange, fruit or ice cream. Restaurants often serve either beer or wine. Cakes and pastries are normally reserved for the afternoon with Kaffee und Kuchen (‘coffee and cakes’) taken at home or in a cafe. Cafes serving Kaffee und Kuchen are not only to be found in cities, towns and villages but also at or near popular excursion and tourist spots. International specialty restaurants, such as Chinese, Greek, Turkish and others, can be found everywhere in the western part of the country. Waiter or waitress service is normal although self-service restaurants are available. Bakeries and dairy shops specialize in lighter meals if preferred.Things to know
Bars can either have table service and/or counter service, although customers will often find that the drinks bought are simply marked down on a beer mat to be paid for on leaving. The legal age for drinking alcohol in a bar or cafe is 18. Minors are allowed to go into a bar if accompanied by an adult but they will not be served alcohol. Opening hours depend on the proprietor but generally bars in major towns and resorts are open all day and close around midnight or later. Exceptions are Berlin and Hamburg where every pub can open for 24 hours.National Specialties Frankfurt and Hesse
• Rippchen mit Sauerkraut (spare ribs).
• Frankfurter sausages.Westphalia and Northern Rhineland
• Westphalia is famous for its smoked ham, sausages and bread such as Pumpernickel.
• Rheinischer Sauerbraten (beef marinaded in onions, sultanas, pimento, etc).Stuttgart and Baden
• Schlachtplatte (sauerkraut, liver sausage and boiled pork).
• Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Gateau).Munich and Bavaria
• Leberkäs (pork and beef loaf).
• Weisswurst (white sausage).Hamburg and Northern Germany
• Hamburger Aalsuppe (eel/lobster/crayfish soup).
• Rumtopf (fruit marinated in rum).Bremen
• Hannoversches Blindhuhn (hotpot with bacon, potatoes, vegetables and fruit).
• Kohn und Pinkel (kale and sausages).Berlin
• Eisbein mit Sauerkraut (leg of pork) and mashed potatoes.
• Eierpfannkuchen (pancakes).March of Brandenburg
• Mohnprielen and Mohnstriezel (pastries with poppy seeds).
• Schwarzsauer mit Backpflaumen und Klößen (black pudding with prunes and dumplings).Saxony
• Dresdner Stollen (German christmas cake).
• Speckkuchen (bacon flan).Saxony-Anhalt
• Lehm und Stroh (sauerkraut with mushy peas).
• Baumkuchen (literally tree cake, the thin layers of pastry are like the rings of trees).Thuringia
• Thüringer Rostbratwürste (grilled sausages).
• Hefeplinsen (pancakes with raisins).Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
• Plum’n un Klüt (plums and dumplings).
• Spickbost (smoked goose breast). Tipping:
It is customary to tip taxi drivers, hairdressers, cloakroom attendants, bar and restaurant staff; a 10 per cent tip in standard.National Drinks Munich and Bavaria
• Weizenbier.Hannover
• Mumme (bittersweet beer withour hops).Frankfurt and Hesse
• Appelwoi (cider).Stuttgart and Baden
• Cannstatter (white wine).
• Kirschwasser (cherry schnapps).Wurtzburg
• Wurtzburger (dry white wine).Nightlife
In all larger towns and cities in western Germany and also in the major eastern cities, visitors will have the choice between theater, opera (Deutsche Oper Berlin, Hamburgische Staatsoper and the National Theater in Munich are some of the most famous names), nightclubs, bars with live music and discos catering for all tastes. Berlin, in particular, is famous for its large selection of after-hours venues. Traditional folk music is found mostly in rural areas. There are Bierkellers in the south and wine is drunk in small wine cellars in the Rhineland Palatinate, Franconia and Baden region.
