Here are the top 10 interesting facts about Germany that I bet you never knew.
10. The Broken Toilet Incident
During WWII, a German submarine was sunk by a broken toilet. The unfortunate design of the vessel placed the submarine’s batteries below the deep-water toilet. After a crew member operated the toilet without caution, it started to leak water onto the batteries. This reaction released poisonous chlorine gas into the sub, forcing it to surface. Upon surfacing, the U-Boat was bombed by the British. 4 crew members were killed and 24 others were captured in the attack.
9. They invented the first printing machine
Johannes Gutenberg developed the first printing machine in 1450. The printing machine played an important role in the development of the Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment, Renaissance, and the Scientific Revolution and laid the material basis for the modern knowledge-based economy and the advancement in education.
8. They Are One Of the Largest Consumers of Beer
Germans are the second biggest consumers of beer in the world. Germany drinks an average of 115.2 litres per person.
7. German heritage
About a quarter of all American citizens claim at least partial German ancestry. Many of them moved during the mid-1800s and in the 1920s. German immigrants include Albert Einstein and Robert Koch.
6. They’re Dominating the Arts
Classical music was dominated by German-speaking composers. A few famous ones born in Germany where Bach, Beethoven, Händel, Mendelsohn, Schumann, Brahms, Wagner and R. Strauss, to name a few.
5. They are the Largest Exporter of Goods
From 2003 to the present, Germany has dominated the world’s exporting industry. The country is the largest exporter of goods with $1.016 trillion exported in 2005. 10.1% of world exports come from Germany.
4. German Dialects
There are thirty five dialects of the German language, one of which is Yiddish.
3. They are Environmentally-Conscious
Germany recycles 48% of its waste. This places the country at No.3 in recycling after its neighbors Austria and Switzerland.
2. A German invented the Gummy Bear.
The German Hans Riegal invented the famous Gummy bears. Riegal was also the owner of the Jakobsburg Hotel and Golf resort near Boppard.
1. Large Producer of Bread
There are over 300 kinds of bread in Germany.