Germany

Nudist Flight ‘Taking Off’ in Germany
"Perfectly normal holiday company" OssiUrlaub.de in Germany is offering an all-nude flight this summer to a holiday destination – the flight is already booked.

Woman Kills Husband, Flushes Him down Toilet
A Macedonian woman living in Germany allegedly killed her husband, cut his body into pieces, and flushed them down the toilet.

Germany Facts: Interesting Facts About Germany
The land of Germany has always been known to be a rich and progressive nation. It has contributed a lot towards human progress. Here are some facts about Germany.

Germany: Rothenburg: City Council Upholds an 1898 Resolution to Follow Strict Guidelines for Planning Any New Architecture
The charms of a medieval Bavarian village await visitors to Rothenburg, a town that has withstood war and disasters for over a millennium.

Germany: Freiburg
For those interested in visiting some of the lesser-known cities in the old country, Germany's picturesque Freiburg is worth the trip.

Property Berlin: Your Chance to Play with the Big Boys
A little while back money week ran a story on how all the big financial institutions like Meryl Lynch, have been buying German apartments in bulk -- tens of thousands at a time.

Germany Drops 'roadmap to Biofuels' for Cars
Government climbdown after discovery that too many cars would be unable to run on proposed ethanol-petrol mix

David Stanley Redfern Expands German Operation
Germany was the biggest climber in A Place in the Sun's annual top-20 chart of the top investment destinations, which is based on a survey of visitors to their road-shows.

German Supermarket Chain Lidl Accused of Snooping on Staff
Investigation by German news magazine Stern uncovers extensive espionage system in Lidl shops across Germany

Merkel Tells Knesset of Shame Over Nazis
Germany's chancellor pledges closer relations with Israel while five MPs stay away in protest

Merkel to Address Knesset As Historic Visit Strengthens Israeli Ties With Germany
Countries agree on a closer strategic relationship, with agreements on joint investments and defence cooperation

Berlin Strengthens Ties With Israel
Israel and Germany agreed today on a new and closer strategic relationship with agreements on joint investments and defence cooperation during a visit to Jerusalem by Chancellor Angela Merkel

It Might Be Successful, But Does It Make Sense?
If you hanker for the days when football tickets were value for money, then you best head to Bradford, or perhaps Germany, writes Paul Wilson

Red Baron Recast As a German Hero
As RAF marks 90th anniversary, Germany reclaims Red Baron as national hero

Concessions to Merkel Threaten Climate Change Plan
Germany secures pledges that several of its heavy industries could be protected from international competition

Hamburg's Oldest Brothel to Close
Internet pornography, foreign prostitutes and a growing number of cheap dance clubs blamed for brothel's closure

The Joy of Six: The Epochs That Weren't
The Joy of Six: From Denmark's demolition of West Germany to Keegan's last stand, we look at the six new dawns that never were

Germany Pours Cold Water on Sarkozy Union
Sarkozy forced to back away from an ambitious scheme to launch a French-led 'Mediterranean Union'

It Might Be Successful, But Does It Make Sense?
If you hanker for the days when football tickets were value for money, then you best head to Bradford, or perhaps Germany, writes Paul Wilson

Travel Chaos As Germany Hit By Strikes Over Pay
Tens of thousands of public sector workers walk out with airports worst affected

Germany Urges Crackdown on Tax Havens
Finance minister wins support in Brussels for campaign to get tough with cheats

Taxing Times for Germany
German authorities' revelation that top executives evade tax to the tune of €30bn has prompted national soul-searching

Tax Swindle Police Raid Companies Across Germany
Police investigating Germany's biggest tax evasion scandal raid corporate offices

US and Eu Powers to Recognise Kosovan Statehood
US, Britain, France and Germany say they will recognize Kosovo after its declaration of independence, but Spain remains opposed

Germany's Search for Home Truths Continues, 75 Years on
Jonathan Steele: The exploration of a Nazi past unveils stories of pride - such as that of my grandfather - and of shame. But it must go on

Trader's Hidden Spree Exposed French Bank to €50bn Losses
Police step up questioning of alleged bank fraudster · Big losses in Germany may have triggered the alarm

England Announce Friendly With Germany
England will play Germany in a friendly at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on November 19, the FA has announced

German State Railway Confronts Holocaust Role
Germany's state railway company admitted the central role its Nazi-era predecessor played in the Holocaust yesterday, saying that without the cooperation of the network the systematic murder of millions of people would never have been possible

Berlin Hotels Offers Best of Hospitality and Warmth
Being the capital city of Germany, Berlin is the administrative, financial and cultural hub of the country. Berlin is the largest city of Germany and boasts of many tourists attractions and places of interest.

Lazy Mp Brings Shame on the Bismarcks
Count Carl-Eduard von Bismarck, great-great-grandson of Otto von Bismark, has been awarded the title of "Germany's Laziest MP" by the media, and provoked politicians' anger across the Bundestag for his apparent lack of interest in the post to which he was elected only in 2005

Cordial Service of Frankfurt Hotels
Frankfurt is one of the most modern towns of Germany. Being a major business hub and a busy place throughout the year, Frankfurt boasts of imposing skyscrapers. In Frankfurt art and culture are given a great importance.

Hotels in Germany and German Cities
Germany as a holiday destination is one of the most idyllic places around the world. With its pulsating life and stupendous architectural splendors, Germany provides its visitors an excellent gamut of attractions and delights.

German Communist in Hot Water After Dining Out on Lobster
By the time she had realized her mistake - that as one of Germany's top communists she should probably not be seen eating lobster - it was too late

Hospitality and Heidelberg Hotels
Being one of the best German Holiday destinations, Heidelberg is situated in the Neckar river valley. Since Heidelberg has the best university of Germany, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität or Ruperto Carola, the place all through the year attracts number of scholars and students from all over the world.

Bank Vault Plans Found in Bin
Germany's central bank has launched an investigation after classified plans for a vault system at its Berlin branch were discovered by a hairdresser in a rubbish bin in his backyard

Warm Hospitality of Hotels in Dusseldorf
Located on the banks of Rhine River, Dusseldorf is one the most gracious towns of Germany.

Berlin City and Berlin Hotels
On this page you will find some of the best places to visit in Berlin and about Hotels in Berlin that will make your visit to the place a memorable one.

Domenech Fumes Over Potential Euro 2008 'group of Death'
The seedings for Sunday's Euro 2008 draw have thrown up the possibility of Holland, Italy, Germany and France all being in the same group

Israel to Lure Soviet Jews From Germany
An Israeli intelligence organization is to send its agents to Germany to try to persuade tens of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union to settle in Israel

Israeli Migration Agents Target German Jews
Soviet migrants in Nativ agency's sights· Germany's Jewish council condemns 'offensive' plan

Arrested Man Denies Meredith Kercher Murder
Suspect detained on train in Germany appears in court for extradition to Italy over British student's stabbing

Defiant Wales Show Character to Hold Back German Onslaught
Wales brought the curtain down on their disappointing qualifying campaign with a brave draw in Germany

Toshack Warns Depleted Wales to Expect No German Let-up
Germany v Wales: Injuries to six key players means John Toshack will field the most inexperienced squad of his tenure in Frankfurt

UN Security Council Reform: Veto Right for Germany
Thus, with larger population and stronger economy than France and England, Germany should be viewed as another convincing candidate for the UN Veto Club, after Japan and India.

Germans Flush Out Loo Roll Usage
Germany's civil servants have been drawn into an investigation into how much toilet paper they use - and are being encouraged to calculate the amount by the sheet.

Owen in Hands of Top Hernia Specialist
Michael Owen traveled to Germany to see a top surgeon, facing the possibility of two operations on a suspected hernia.

German Defence Minister Ready to Shoot Down Hijacked Planes
Germany's politicians are locked in a heated debate after the defense minister signaled his readiness to shoot down hijacked aeroplanes at the risk of killing innocent civilians in order to avert a wider disaster.

Germany's Mythic Titans
Hywel Williams: It is a brave novelist who attempts to convey how Wagnerian intensity led to Nazi catastrophe.

Scares in Turkey and Germany Add to 9/11 Jitters
An unexploded car bomb has been found in Turkey and threats have made against a US air base in Germany as jittery security forces fear terrorist action timed to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Germany's Fourth Reich
Germans have a proven history of confusing assertiveness for malignant narcissism. Liberalism and democracy are far from being an entrenched tradition in a nation that gave the world Kaiser Wilhelm II and Adolf Hitler.

Germany's Image of Probity Shattered By Us Mortgage Crisis
Banking sector is given a rude awakening - and faces a huge shakeup.

Raids Foil Plot to Bring 7/7 Terror to Germany
· Islamist trio had 700kg of explosives say officials· US bases, pubs and airport said to be on target list

Germany Arrests Three Over 'serious and Massive Bomb Plot'
Suspects arrested a week before September 11 anniversary with materials for bombs more powerful than those in London and Madrid blasts, officials say.

Nazi Victims' Greek Descendants Sue for Compensation in Italy
One of the most controversial Nazi war crime cases, arising from a massacre in a Greek village, has been reopened - not in Greece or Germany, but in Italy.

Historic Berlin Synagogue Reopens
Germany's largest synagogue, an architectural and historical landmark in the center of Berlin, will reopen today after extensive restoration work.

Poles Furious at German 'war Booty' Claim
The Polish government is demanding billions of euros in compensation from Germany for cultural artifacts which were stolen or destroyed during the second world war, after accusing Berlin of trying to rewrite history.

Silence on the Streets of Calabria's Mafia Capital As Deadly Feud Crosses Borders
Escalating rivalry blamed for six killings in Germany amid fears of all-out bloodbath.

A Mafia Feud That Began With a Row Over a Firework Leaves Six Dead
· Vicious and long-running dispute moves to Germany· Calabrian crime group is Europe's top drug supplier

The Click It Or Ticket Road to Fascism
Seventy years ago in Nazi Germany an extremely popular Hitler used the law and emotional propaganda to get his people to let him make important decisions for them. "Click it or ticket" laws are similar attempts by modern governments to force us to surrender our right to make free choices.

Germany Issues Catalogue of Missing Art Works in Push for Return of War Booty
· Donatello and Botticelli in list of 180,000 treasures · Inventory aimed mostly at Russia and Poland

Germany May End Ransom Payments for Kidnap Victims
· Number of hostages in Iraq and Afghanistan growing · Willingness to pay out believed to increase risk

Germany and Israel Unite to Film the Story of Concentration Camp's Clown
German and Israeli filmmakers have come together to tackle the subject of the Holocaust for the first time in an ambitious screen adaptation of a bestselling novel.

Mosque Stirs Racial Passion in Germany
While Muslims see a £20m building for Cologne as test of a nation's tolerance, critics fear the rise of a parallel, repressive society.

Bach Finally Comes Home As Eisenach Reclaims Composer
Most citizens of Eisenach, a former communist town in central Germany, know precisely how their long-running Bach legacy began.

Video Suggests German Politician Killed Himself in Parachute Jump
The unexplained death of Jürgen Möllemann - one of Germany's most flamboyant politicians - was judged to be a suicide yesterday after the emergence of an amateur video showing his final fatal parachute jump.

Impact of Minimum Wage on Germany's Economy
These may be the effects of a minimum wage on the German economy.

German Anger Over Boy, 17, in Turkish Jail
Germany's foreign minister is to intervene in the case of a 17-year-old German schoolboy jailed in Turkey after alleged sexual abuse of an underage British girl.

Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski
Profile: President Lech Kaczynski came to Brussels yesterday to voice Polish fears of German hegemony over Europe, supported by his twin brother Jaroslaw's ringing accusations about Germany's "incomprehensible crimes against Poland" - the murder of six million Poles, half of them Jews, by the Nazis.

The Differences Between an Eu Constitution and Germany's 'reform Treaty'
Analysis: Mark Tran examines the key differences between Germany's proposals for a 'reform treaty' and the terms of the now-abandoned EU constitution.

Germany Sets Collision Course With Uk on Rights
Germany threw down the gauntlet to Britain yesterday over one of the issues that will dominate a crucial EU summit starting today in Brussels.

Germany on Collision Course With Uk on Rights
Germany threw down the gauntlet to Britain yesterday over one of the issues that will dominate a crucial EU summit starting today in Brussels.

13 Killed in German Coach Crash
At least 13 people were killed yesterday when a tour bus carrying a group of pensioners plunged into an embankment after being hit by a truck in eastern Germany.

Proposed New German Pact for Eu Puts Uk on Collision Course
Germany insisted on a 'single legal personality' for the EU yesterday and called for a legally binding charter of fundamental rights across Europe. Both demands are anathema to the British government.

Police Injured in Clashes With Protesters Before G8 Summit
Eight police officers injured in clashes with anti-capitalist protesters trying to disrupt the start of the G8 summit in northern Germany.

16,000 Police Deployed to Halt Violence
A multinational coalition of protesters will today begin their bid to physically prevent world leaders from gathering at the G8 summit despite widespread criticism of violent tactics during growing demonstrations in Germany.

Heinz Berggruen
Obituary: Jewish art collector who made his peace with postwar Germany.

Germany Pushes for Lifting of Eu Sanctions on Uzbekistan
Germany is pushing strongly to lift or ease European sanctions against Uzbekistan, despite the central Asian dictatorship's appalling human rights record, protests from human rights watchdogs and opposition from other EU countries.

Red Army Faction Guerrilla to Stay in Jail, Germany's President Decides
Christian Democrat outcry prevents early release - 30 years on, no clemency for convicted terrorist

Economic Growth Drives German Unemployment to Five-year Low
Germany marked the traditional Labour Day celebrations yesterday by announcing that unemployment had fallen below the four million mark for the first time in almost five years.

Uneasy Echoes of Berlin in G8 Wall
7.5-mile fence round resort in Germany angers locals - Thousands of protesters expected at June meeting

Protest By Kremlin As Police Quell Riots in Estonia
Estonia was yesterday in the grip of its worst crisis since it won independence from the Soviet Union, after a second night of bloody ethnic rioting shook the capital. President Vladimir Putin expressed 'most serious concern' to Germany's Chancellor about the violence in Tallinn after the Estonian government's decision to remove a Soviet war memorial, the Kremlin said.

Outrage at Army Training Video
A video depicting a German army trainer telling a soldier to imagine he was firing on three black men in the Bronx has provoked outrage in the New York district and led to calls in Germany for an investigation.

A Special Relationship With Angela is Just What We Need
The dialogue that Britain has with Germany is as crucial to this country's role in the world as the one with America. By Martin Kettle

Germany Pushes Fast-track Strategy for Eu Constitution
Document rejected by voters in 2005 cut by 80% - Aim to have new charter in place by next February

Visit Munich for its remarkable culture, stunning sights and a stein - or more - of local beer
As Germany's third largest city, Munich has something to offer everyone - particularly if you enjoy a stein of beer every now and then!

Brother and Sister Fight Germany's Incest Laws
Siblings who grew up apart have four children - Man faces further jail term if law is not amended

Germany Plans New Eu-wide History Book
Berlin is to push for the publication of the book on the history of the EU to be used as a standard text in all 27 member countries.

Britain Shamed Over Cia Flights
The European parliament yesterday accused EU governments including Britain, Germany and Italy of turning a blind eye to CIA flights taking terror suspects to countries where they might be tortured.

Court Grants Parole for Baader-meinhof Killer
One of the last members of the former Baader-Meinhof gang still in prison is to be freed, a court ruled today in a case that has divided Germany.

Germany Braced for Release of Terrorist
Court will decide tomorrow whether a woman who murdered for the Red Army Faction must stay in jail longer than Nazi war criminals.

Travel in Germany: Great free pocket travel guide of Berlin by Flashbooking
Flashbooking chose to provide backpackers, students and families with a list of budget selected and independent accommodations worldwide, mostly run by locals, in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.

Germany Beefs Up Afghan Presence With Six Fighter Jets
The German cabinet has made a historic decision to boost its military presence in Afghanistan, voting in favour of sending six Tornado jets for use in surveillance operations against the Taliban.

Six Shot Dead at Chinese Restaurant in Germany
Federal police called in as triad link is suspected - Husband and wife owners among dead; child spared

Can I really teach English in Germany?!?
Thinking about living in Germany but not sure how to earn a living there? Have you thought about using your own language for profit? It’s possible to work as a freelance English trainer but you have to do a little prep work.

EU Faces Split on Police Powers
Germany presses reluctant European partners to allow armed police and undercover agents to operate with impunity outside their own country.

Germany Bids to Outlaw Denial of Holocaust Across Continent
Nazi symbols and racist speech 'should be banned' - Prince Harry's fancy dress would have broken law

Germany Puts the Sluggish Years Behind It As Confidence Returns
Strong global demand for manufacturing exports has pushed business confidence in Germany to its highest level since reunification, it was announced today.

German Gamers Face Jail for Acts of Virtual Violence
Players and creators of video games could face imprisonment for acts of virtual violence under draft legislation being drawn up by two of Germany's state governments.

German Inquiry Throws Up New Twist in Litvinenko Murder Case
Witness poisoned with polonium before meeting - Traces of material found in northern Germany

96-year-old Blazes a Trail on the Net
Francis Bartels has a story to tell. Of his experience as a black man in Hitler's Germany and of his memories of his pupil Kofi Annan, who would become the world's top diplomat. Bartels has written his memoirs but, at 96, knows time is not on his side to get it published, writes David Smith.

CIA Tried to Silence Eu on Torture Flights
Germany offered access to prisoner in Morocco if it quelled opposition.

Germany to Put Debt and Aid for Africa at Top of G8 Agenda
Germany pledged yesterday to use its presidency of the Group of Eight leading industrial countries next year to continue to push for a better deal for Africa and promote action on climate change.

Merkel Voices Concern Over Opera Cancellation
Angel Merkel today warned of the dangers of "self-censorship" in Germany after a Berlin opera house cancelled its staging of a Mozart opera because of fears that scenes in it would offend Muslims.

Berlin Signals New Tack Over Middle East
Germany is breaking sharply with its own past by deploying a naval force to Lebanon, writes Ian Black.

Constitution the Key to Future Expansion
The arrival of two new member countries, which will complete the 'big bang' enlargement of the union in 2004, will give Germany the chance to lead a debate on the growth of the EU.

Locals Had Climbed Peak Before It Was 'conquered'
Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, was conquered half a century earlier than thought, the German mountaineering association Deutscher Alpenverein admitted yesterday.

Shameful Secret of the Nazi Camp Guard Who Married a Jew
84-year-old widow sent back to Germany after dark past is uncovered.

Ghosts of Nazi Past
A regional election in Germany saw a province dip back into the darkest parts of the country's past, reports Luke Harding.

German Neo-nazis Gain a Platform By Taking Seats in Regional Assembly
Germany's neo-Nazis swept into a regional parliament in the north-east state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern last night, comfortably winning seats in the state's assembly for the first time.

German Neo-nazis Gain a Platform By Winning Seats in Regional Assembly
Germany's neo-Nazis swept into a regional parliament in the north-east state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern last night, comfortably winning seats in the state's assembly for the first time.

German Neo-nazis Set for Poll Victory
Germany's racist neo-Nazi party is poised to make a stunning breakthrough during elections this weekend, entering a regional parliament for the second time in three years, polls suggest.

Sixty Years After War, First Rabbis Ordained in Germany
· Ceremony marks new stage in healing process · Russian immigrants boost Jewish communities

Gunter Grass: I Needed Time to Reveal My Waffen-ss Past
Gunter Grass, the Nobel laureate whose confessions of SS membership during the second world war have shocked his native Germany, has denied lying about his past and claimed he simply needed time to tell his own story.

Merkel Joins Battle Over Tempelhof Airport
With construction under way on a new €2bn (£1.35bn) Berlin airport, capable of handling up to 25 million passengers a year, the future of the historic Tempelhof site is at the centre of a fierce new debate.

Visit Stuttgart to discover a city of easy contrast
Stuttgart is not a destination which many people would immediately think of as a getaway, but the city has a lot to offer all types of visitors.

Polish War Dead Log Challenges Germany
Poland is to name as many as possible of the more than 6 million Poles who perished in the second world war in a project aimed at countering what it sees as German attempts to rewrite history.

Why Germans become Famous
Germany is eminent because of its culture. Aside from being popular because of their many international car brands like BMW in Rover, Daimler Benz, Chrysler, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, and a lot more, the Germans are also famous because of their Oktoberfest or the Munich Beer Festival.

Germany May Block New Eu Members
Germany is threatening to derail the planned entry of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU on January 1, as fears grow over Europe's capacity to absorb new members.

Germany Threatens Enlargement Timetable
· EU entry for Bulgaria and Romania could be delayed · Concerns grow over influx of migrant workers

European Economy on the Rise
A resurgent Germany, buoyed by the football World Cup, is leading the mainland European economy in its fastest expansion for six years, figures showed today.

Germany Backs Britain's Refusal to Call for Ceasefire
Britain and Germany today watered down a strong European Union call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Lebanon conflict as foreign ministers clashed in Brussels.

EU Rejects Ceasefire Call and Un Fails to Act As Disunity Prevails
· UK and Germany achieve watered-down statement · Flurry of unilateral action leaves UN splintered

Will Germany Declare War On Iran?
With the "Hitler-like" rhetoric coming from Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his denial of the Jewish holocaust seems to have German chancellor Angela Merkel screaming for action.

Germany 'calls for Eu Ban' on Stem Cell Research
Germany is pushing for an EU ban on European funding for embryonic stem cell research, it was reported today, one day after George Bush vetoed a bill in the US to expand such research.

Hamburg's magical Mile - Hamburg is more than just a World cup venue
Whatever style of holiday you are after Hamburg is a great city for any tourist to visit all year round.

Polish-German Summit Halted After Potato Jibe
Poland's media was rife with speculation yesterday that the country's thin-skinned president, Lech Kaczynski, had pulled out of a top-level meeting in Germany because a German newspaper compared him to a potato.

Leipzig welcomes fans for the World Cup 2006
As one of the 12 venues for World Cup matches, the preparations in Leipzig are being put to the test this summer as the population swells.

Kaiserslautern's population explodes as World Cup fans flock to city
Kaiserslautern reaps the rewards as host city for World Cup matches

Hanover hit by influx of World Cup fans
Hanover is receiving a massive increase in visitors, as football fans flood to the city, but advanced preparations mean that problems have been kept to a minimum.

Terrorist's dream - World Cup Football 2006 Germany
Soccer: Terrorist usually choose social organizations, places with big accumulation of people as their targets. So, they choose all that what will the most widely lighted up by the mass media.

Placido Domingo Brings Curtain Down on Wagner Opera
Placido Domingo, one of the world's greatest tenors, yesterday pulled out of three high-profile Wagner performances in Germany, fuelling speculation that he is reaching the end of his glittering career.

Car Hire in Hamburg for World Cup 2006
When you get to Hamburg for the world cup you need to think about how you're going to get about the city

Going to Frankfurt for the World Cup 2006
Now that you have tickets for the match you need to think about how you get about Frankfurt, and where you're going to stay.

Places to stay in Dortmund for World Cup 2006
If you're heading to Dortmund for the world cup you should think about where you'll stay and how you'll get about the city

Have you arranged where you are going to stay in Cologne for the World Cup
Cologne is one of Germany's big world cup venues - you nedd to think about how you'll get about, and where you'll stay

The Economy is Coming Home for Germany
There is a growing confidence in Europe's powerhouse that domestic stagnation has ended.

The Worst Thing About This World Cup is It's in Germany
The relationship Brown should be forging with Berlin is inhibited by our perverse preoccupation with its Nazi past. By Martin Kettle

Car Hire in Stuttgart for World Cup 2006
If you're going to Stuttgart this year for the world cup then you'll need to hire a car.

Car Hire in Gelsenkirchen for World Cup 2006
Do you have a car sorted for your visit to Gelsenkirchen for the world cup this summer?

World Cup Fever - How to Celebrate - Win or Lose
With the world cup set to start next week it's time to party - have you got your party plans sorted yet?

Obituary: Eberhard Esche
An eminent actor, he kept his communist faith in an 'improvable' East Germany.

"München Liebt Dich" And You Will Love It, Too – Travel To Munich
The city’s new motto, "Munich Loves You," may be a bit commercial, but it is exactly how you will feel from the very moment you find your bags at the airport.

Car Hire in Berlin for World Cup 2006
Have you thought about how you're going to get around when you go to Germany for the world cup this year?

Car Hire in Munich for World Cup 2006
How are you going to get about Munich when you go to the world cup this year?

Europe's Biggest Railway Station to Open for World Cup
It took eight years to build, cost €700m (£480m) and dominates the heart of Europe's most vibrant architectural capital. On May 26 Berlin's main railway station will open just days before the World Cup begins in Germany.

Achtung! Fun ahead in Germany!
Germany is one of those countries that have such a diverse landscape of cultures due to its size and location within Europe.

Row Over Free World Cup Tickets
Germany faced fresh embarrassment yesterday over its handling of next month's World Cup after it emerged that an official sponsor had given hundreds of free tickets to leading German politicians.

Berlin Holidays
Enjoy your Berlin weekend break with MyBerlin.co.uk offering cheap flights and hotels in Berlin. Read more about the nice Berlin holidays.

Germany Accused of Paying Large Ransom to Free Hostages
· Two men released after 99 days in captivity in Iraq · Critics say such payments encourage kidnap gangs

Germany Accused of Paying Large Ransom for Release of Hostages
· Two men freed following 99 days in captivity in Iraq · Critics say payments encourage kidnapping

Travel to Berlin: A Cultural Evolution
It is difficult to think of a modern industrialized city that has been through quite as much upheaval and stress in recent times as Berlin. The German capital has been undergoing a massive reunification effort and cultural explosion since 1989 that has held an awe-inspired and utterly captivated audience of visitors since then.

Rights Group Backs Iranian World Cup Ban
The Simon Wiesenthal centre yesterday called on Germany to ban the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, from attending the World Cup, describing his possible presence at the tournament as "mind-boggling".

Germany to Release Archive Files on Millions of Nazi Victims
Germany bowed to decades of pressure from the US and Britain yesterday and announced that it would open a vast trove of Nazi-era papers detailing the fate of millions of Holocaust victims.

Big Money Bad for Soccer, Says Günter Grass
He is better known as Germany's most famous writer. But yesterday Günter Grass attacked the commercialisation of football and revealed that he used to play himself - on the left wing for his local side.

EU Threatens Legal Action Over Tobacco Adverts in Germany
· Deadline for internet and newspaper ignored · French PM launches debate on smoking ban

Social Democrat Leader Quits After 5 Months
Germany's Social Democrats, junior partners in Christian Democrat Angela Merkel's ruling coalition, were in disarray yesterday after party leader Matthias Platzeck resigned.

Munich, the capital of beautiful Bavaria
Munich is regularly considered as one of the best cities in the world in which best overall quality of life is achieved.

Hamburg, your second home
As Germany’s second largest city, Hamburg is more than just an exciting place; its beauty is rooted in surrounding nature and an artful set-up.

Frankfurt - Germany’s best kept secret
The old European charm stands out from the rest of contemporary Frankfurt.

Travel to Germany: The Pulse of European History
Germany has long been a mover and shaker of European history, creating waves in time for the rest of the continent to ride out...

Schröder Defends Secret Gazprom Loan Guarantee
Gerhard Schrdöer, Germany's former chancellor, was battling yesterday to save his political reputation amid new revelations that his government secretly agreed to underwrite a vast loan to the Russian state gas monopoly, Gazprom.

Auschwitz May Be Renamed to Reinforce Link With Nazi Era
Poland has asked the United Nations to change the title of the Auschwitz concentration camp to remind visitors that it was built and run by Nazi Germany.

Village Cries Foul Over Plans for Fans' Camp
The 2006 World Cup slogan is "A time to make friends". But for one small village in Germany the prospect of a summer invasion by hordes of England fans has proved it to be a motto too far.

EU's 'big Three' in Crisis, Says Third Way Guru
France, Germany and Italy are facing an economic crisis with worrying levels of unemployment, Tony Blair's intellectual guru has declared on the eve of an EU summit which starts in Brussels this afternoon.

German Birth Rate Falls to Lowest in Europe
The number of children born in Germany last year was the lowest since the end of the second world war, the Federal Statistical Office reported yesterday.

Artist's Homemade Gas Chamber Angers Jewish Groups
· Deadly exhaust fumes fill ex-synagogue in Germany · Work 'is protest against banalisation of Holocaust'

Government to Crack Down on World Cup Hooligans
Wide-ranging plans to crack down on hooliganism at this summer's World Cup in Germany will be unveiled today.

England Fans Miss Out on Learning the German for Penalties
They don’t exactly trip off the tongue. But Germany has come up with a novel way of educating England supporters ahead of the World Cup by ...

Germany Put on Alert As Cat Dies of Bird Flu
· Pet owners advised to not allow cats in bed at night · Virus discovered for first time in Sweden

Poultry Taken Indoors As Germany Confirms Bird Flu
European countries began shutting away their poultry flocks yesterday as Germany and Austria became the latest countries to confirm cases of avian influenza.

Migrant Workers From East Helping to Boost Eu's Fortunes, Says Report
France, Germany and other members of "Old Europe" were urged yesterday to throw open their borders to migrant workers as figures showed that east European workers were contributing to high economic growth.

Explainer: Depicting the Prophet
As newspapers in France and Germany reprinted controversial caricatures of the prophet Muhammad, Stephen Bates looks at the issues surrounding depictions of the prophet.

Germany Agonises Over 30% Childless Women
· Highest number in world choose not to have family · Minister highlights the threat of low birthrate

Germany's Oaks 'could Die Out'
Germany's once magnificent forests are feeling the effects of climate change, with one in every two oak trees officially sick, researchers said yesterday.

Ransomed By Rumour
Reports that Germany paid millions to free a hostage in Iraq are fuelling speculation that the move has only encouraged kidnappers, writes Luke Harding.

Cold Snap Reaches Germany, With Bavaria at -33c
Germany was yesterday in the grip of some of the coldest temperatures for 50 years after the recent freezing snap in Russia spread across much of Europe.

Rescuers Find Body of 15th Ice Rink Victim
The body of the 15th victim of the ice-rink disaster in southern Germany was recovered from the rubble today as officials confirmed that 12 of the dead were children.

Eleven Dead, Four Missing in Ice Rink Collapse
Dangling ant-like from giant cranes, rescue workers yesterday frantically cleared snow from the collapsed roof of an ice rink in southern Germany where at least 11 people were killed on Monday.

CIA's Secret Jails Open Up New Transatlantic Rift
· Hundreds of flights landed in Germany over 2 years · Seizure of innocent people likely to embarrass Rice.

Fire at Hostel Kills Nine Homeless People
Nine homeless people in Germany were killed early yesterday after a fire swept through their hostel.

For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll
Luke Harding wonders how long the union of Germany's two biggest political parties will last.

For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll
Luke Harding wonders how long the union of Germany's two biggest political parties will last.

VAT Deal Brings Coalition Agreement Closer
A deal between Germany's two coalition partners on VAT early today has paved the way towards a formal agreement which will see Angela Merkel finally become chancellor - nearly two months after the general election. After talks went into the early hours of the morning, negotiaters from the...

Athletics: Forgotten Victims of East German Doping Take Their Battle to Court
Nearly 200 athletes who were given drugs prior to competing for East Germany are now seeking £8m in compensation.

German Coalition Stalls As Social Democrat Leader Quits
Negotiations over a "grand coalition" in Germany were thrown into crisis yesterday when the Social Democrats' chairman, Franz Müntefering, announced that he was stepping down.

Merkel Promises to Transform Germany's Relationship With Us
· Next chancellor plans to loosen ties with France · Foreign ministry in SPD hands may limit changes

Indian Soldiers of Ww1 Remembered in Germany
For more than 80 years the German graveyard where 206 Indian volunteers are buried was forgotten. But today the war cemetery in Wünnsdorf, in a forest 40km south of Berlin, is to be officially reopened.

Four Arabs Jailed for Planning Attacks on German Jewish Targets
Three Jordanians and an Algerian linked to al-Qaida's frontman in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, were each sentenced to between five and eight years in jail yesterday for planning attacks on Jewish targets in Germany.

Stasi Row Derails German Left Party Leader
The leader of Germany's Left party was at the centre of a damaging row last night over allegations that he worked as an informer for East Germany's secret police. Lothar Bisky, the head of the Left party, suffered a humiliating rebuff on Monday when MPs meeting for the first time since...

Schröder Bows Out With Swipe at Blair
Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of Germany yesterday announced he was bowing out of public life and said he would not serve in a "grand coalition" under Angela Merkel, despite earlier speculation he might stay on as foreign minister.

First woman chancellor in Germany
Though Germany will get the government, the going will be 'real' tough. Find out why?

Merkel Becomes Germany's First Woman Chancellor
· Schröder resigns after secret negotiations · Social Democrats emerge with key cabinet seats

Wait till your father gets home
The hot ticket in Germany this weekend was a play about the Milosevics, based on their real family life. Luke Harding reports from Berlin

German Rivals Hold Talks to Resolve Power Struggle
The prospect of a "grand coalition" in Germany between Gerhard Schröder's Social Democrats and Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats grew closer last night after the rivals met for two-and-a-half hours of talks.

Suitors Circle a Poland in Limbo
Like Germany's voters one week ago, Poles opted for change in parliamentary elections at the weekend - but not too much or too fast. Simon Tisdall

Germany's New Left Mps Accused of Collaborating With Stasi
Germany's new Left party, which could play a crucial role in deciding the next chancellor, faced acute embarrassment yesterday amid claims that at least seven of its MPs had collaborated with the Stasi, the East German secret police. The head of Germany's state-held Stasi archive,...

Keeping an Eye on the Neighbours
The fallout from Germany's inconclusive election has sparked anxious debate among French politicians, says Jon Henley.

Germany faces an autumn of intense
For long experts have been saying that country stability depends upon the nature of its political process rather than electoral process. Germany answer this question.

EU Plans Frustrated
European leaders, who had been banking on a clear victory by Angela Merkel and her allies, returned to the drawing board yesterday as hopes of a fresh start in Germany diminished.

Parties Bicker Over German Power Struggle
Bickering broke out among Germany's political leaders today after neither of the big two parties polled enough votes to form a new government in yesterday's general election.

Battle to Form German Government Begins
Germany's political leaders today began the tortuous process of trying to form a new government after Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats won yesterday's elections by a tiny majority.

Confusion As Both Merkel and Schröder Claim Chancellorship
Germany was plunged into uncertainty last night when the leaders of the two main parties claimed they could become chancellor after neither won a majority in the general election.

Berlin Blues
For 40 years it basked in the glory of its postwar economic miracle, its spirit made brighter still by reunification in 1990. But as Germany goes into elections this weekend, the mood is one of fear that the good times may be past. James Meek investigates what went wrong - and whether the Germans can put it right. James Meek

Schröder in Surprise Comeback to Close Poll Gap With Merkel
· Likelihood of left-right 'grand coalition' grows · Germany in danger of drift into political instability

Russo-German Pipeline Deal Raises Tension
Russia and Germany are on the verge of signing a multibillion pound pipeline deal that has the potential to alter Europe's political landscape and seriously aggravate the Kremlin's relations with its former Soviet neighbours.

Schröder Has Been a Disaster, So I'm Rooting for Merkel
The social democrats have nothing left to offer either Germany or Europe. Martin Kettle

Schröder Falters in Tv Clash With Rival
Germany's conservative challenger Angela Merkel last night scored a decisive victory over chancellor Gerhard Schröder in the only live debate of the German election campaign.

New Left Strikes Chord in Disillusioned East
The disillusion of many east Germans has prompted a surge of support for Germany's newest political party, the Linkspartei or Left party. It could even help determine Germany's general election in a fortnight.

Rowing: Germans Storm Through
Britain's women were convincing winners of their quadruple sculls heat in Gifu; but Germany threw down the gauntlet, storming through the other heat with seconds to spare.

Nervous, Hatless, the Pope Returns to Germany
Four months after his election as Pope, the 78-year-old former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger arrived in his native Germany yesterday for his first trip abroad as pontiff.

Pope Arrives in Germany on First Foreign Visit
Pope Benedict XVI arrived in his native Germany today on his first foreign trip since being elected four months ago.

Germany's New Left Upsets the Applecart
Helmut Scholz is up for a fight - and the political establishment is running scared. Simon Tisdall

Bribes, Corrupt Chiefs and Paid-for Sex ... Corporate Germany is in Crisis
Big brands are being linked to widespread corruption.

Germany Blocks Extradition of Al-qaida Suspect
The pan-European fight against terrorism was thrown into crisis yesterday when Germany's highest court blocked the extradition of a suspected al-Qaida financier to Spain after rejecting an EU arrest warrant.

Schröder Adviser Resigns From Vw in Sex Scandal
Germany's embattled chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, suffered a major embarrassment yesterday when the architect of his controversial reform programme became the latest victim of a sex and corruption scandal.

Protest Fails to Halt End of Berlin Tribute
Workmen began demolishing a makeshift memorial at Checkpoint Charlie yesterday, dedicated to those who died crossing the frontier with East Germany, after a bank that owns the land enforced an eviction order on the site.

The 'ordinary But Ambitious' Girl From the East Who is Set to Be Germany's Next Leader
Small-town origin, research chemist, religious father ... ring any bells?

Germany and France Are Struggling With a New World
Britain is coping better with the transition to a US and Asian-led economy. Martin Kettle

Tale of two skulls divides Germany
As a nation remembers Schiller, its literary giant, doubt is cast over whose remains are in his sarcophagus.

The Hotel at Hitler's Hideaway
Luke Harding samples five-star luxury in Berchtesgaden, a place that became famous for all the wrong reasons

Bush Jr to Mend Fences in Germany
In a tour heavily loaded with symbolism, Mr Bush will begin his odyssey tomorrow in Brussels - the institutional heart of Europe and home to the EU and Nato.

Luke Harding on the Rise of Neo-nazi Support in East Germany
Sixty years after the end of Hitler's Reich, neo-Nazis are winning alarming levels of support in eastern Germany. Luke Harding visits Königstein in Saxony to meet them - and those struggling to rid the town of its reputation as a far-right stronghold.

German Jobless Rate Soars to 70-year High
Germany's unemployment has soared to its highest level since Hitler came to power in 1933, with figures yesterday showing that more than 5 million Germans are without a job.

Germany's Jobless Feel Budget Pinch
Schröder takes drastic steps to cut dole queue. Sitting on the sofa of her modest living room, Caroline Schellenberg fingered the letter she had just received from Germany's job office.

Germany Fights for Rubens
Germany renewed its demand last night for the return from Moscow of a priceless Rubens oil painting that mysteriously vanished during the second world war. The Russian businessman who is refusing to give it back was threatened with legal action.

Winners and Losers in ... Germany
In the first of a series on how countries fared in 2004, Luke Harding reports from Berlin.

Bush Plans to Visit Germany
President George Bush is to visit Germany at the end of February, the government in Berlin announced yesterday, in a trip designed to heal the US-German rift over Iraq.

Damaged Trees Sound Alarm Bells in Germany
Germany's forests are in an "alarming" condition with nearly three-quarters of all trees suffering from some kind of damage, according to an official government report.

A Beach and 900 Sunbeds - Germany's Tropical Heaven
Entrepreneur hopes indoor theme park, which boasts a lagoon, beach and a forest, will attract Berliners seeking respite from cold winters.

For Germany, Being Right is an Unbearable Burden
Chirac is willing to break from the US; Schröder is not so sure. When George Bush makes his triumphant post-inauguration trip to Europe early next year, the German capital will not be on his itinerary.

Press Review: What They Said About 15 Years of a United Germany
... 15 years of a united Germany. Fifteen years after the fall of the Berlin wall, which divided Germany for nearly 30 years, the papers were able to find little to celebrate.

Gloom Prevails As Germany Remembers Fall of the Wall
Germany's former chancellor Helmut Kohl yesterday admitted that 15 years after the demise of the Berlin Wall the divisions between east and west Germany ran "much deeper" than he had originally anticipated. Speaking on the anniversary of the wall's fall on November 9 1989, Kohl said that...

Doing Business in Germany
Tips and guidance on protocol and business practices when visiting Germany on business.

Germany Wins Army Truck Contract
A German-owned company is poised to win Britain's biggest order for military trucks for a quarter of a century in a move the Ministry of Defence says will create and support hundreds of jobs in the UK. Man ERF, the UK arm of the Munich-based Man group, has been appointed preferred bidder...

Germany's Silicon Valley
Heather Stewart on state-funded attempts to turn a rusting industrial heartland into a 21st century economy.

Car wars test mettle of Germany
A union dispute at Volkswagen is the litmus test for a nation's economic guru. At the end of Porsche Strasse there looms the raison d'être for the Lower Saxony town of Wolfsburg. Four chimneys tower over the Mittelland Canal. Below them is fixed a giant marque. It reads VW, for Volkswagen.

Upturn for Germany's Top Companies Fails to Boost Employment
Germany's economic performance is too weak to boost employment despite strong showings from some of the country's top companies. Unemployment is at almost 4.4 million, according to figures released yesterday, while the latest survey suggests a third of German workers are worried about...

Germany to Drop 9/11 Plot Charges
Evidence against only man jailed for terror attack 'weak'.

Italy and Germany Clash Over Aid Arrests
Silvio Berlusconi's government was again at loggerheads with Germany last night after officials arrested three German aid workers who rescued a group of shipwrecked Africans and landed them on Sicily. As Italian ministers protested that they had been "duped" into accepting the immigrants,...

Dresden Church Rises From the Ruins After 60 Years
Restoration work on one of Germany's most famous baroque churches was completed yesterday nearly 60 years after allied bombers destroyed it in the second world war. In a symbol of reconciliation between Britain and Germany, the exterior of the Frauenkirche or Church of our Lady in Dresden...

Germany Has Moved on Since D-day. But Have We?
Britain's continuing obsession with Hitler is unhealthy. You can hardly blame the Germans for not thinking much about D-day. The economy is barely growing. Young people find it increasingly hard to get jobs.

Germany Laid Low By a Virulent Case of Collective Angst
What it means to be a European, and what the people of Europe think of the way we are governed, are both under renewed scrutiny. In the first of a series of articles running up to the EU elections in June, we test the mood among German voters.

Germany Tests Two Women for Bird Flu
German health officials were examining two women last night suspected of having contracted the deadly bird flu disease. If confirmed, the infections would be the first in Europe and the latest in an outbreak which has so far killed 12 people and spread across 10 Asian countries...

Decision to Let France and Germany Off Deficit Hook Was Illegal, Says Ec
The European commission threatened to reopen a poisonous dispute over the size of budget deficits yesterday.

Germany Raises the Stakes on Eve of Eu Talks
The German government yesterday raised the stakes ahead of this weekend's crunch EU summit by refusing to countenance any compromise on the distribution of power within the union and predicting that the meeting could end in failure. "There is no plan B. We are talking about the central...

Germany Immovable in Row Over Eu Voting Rights
Germany's chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, last night set the stage for a major diplomatic row at a summit later this week when he said Germany would not back down in a dispute over EU voting rights.

Schröder is Germany's Least Wanted
Chancellor becomes most unpopular leader as jobless lash out at welfare state cuts. They are too hard-up to afford haircuts and have to do it themselves. Most days they stay at home eating cheap liver sausage and watching television. They don't go away on holiday but sit on their balconies instead.

Germany Begins Phasing Out Nuclear Power
Germany took a major step towards ending its nuclear power programme yesterday when it shut down the first of its 19 atomic power stations. Its second oldest nuclear reactor in Stade, near the northern port city of Hamburg, was mothballed with little fanfare by the simple pressing of two...

France and Germany Return to Growth
Hopes of economic recovery in the eurozone received a boost yesterday with news that the two powerhouse economies of the single currency bloc, Germany and France, have returned to growth. Stronger exports, particularly to the buoyant US, are believed to be the source of expansion that has...

France and Germany Discuss Union
France and Germany are publicly discussing the possibility of a "Franco-German union" that would allow them to cooperate more closely in such areas as education, social affairs and the economy and even merge their defence and foreign policies, the French daily Le Monde said yesterday. The...

Germany Fires Top General
The head of Germany's equivalent of the SAS was sacked last night after he expressed support for a rightwing German MP at the centre of a growing row over an anti-semitic speech. The German defence minister, Peter Struck, announced that the commander, Brigadier General Reinhard...

France and Germany to Flout Budget Rules Until 2006
The economic fundamentals that underpin the eurozone looked shaky last night after the European commission warned that its two biggest economies - Germany and France - are on course to flout EU budget deficit limits for four years running. Despite the threat of punitive fines, Pedro...

Germany's Forgotten Victims
Luke Harding explains why a new book about the allied bombing of German cities in the 1940s has created controversy.

Dim Outlook for Growth in Germany
Germany's battered economy is expected to show a modest comeback next year but the recovery is unlikely to cut the dole queues, according to a group of economic thinktanks. They are predicting the economy - once the power house of Europe - will stagnate this year and improve 1.7% in 2004....

US in muted call for restraint while France and Germany condemn raid
Washington yesterday called for restraint in the Middle East, warning of the threat of a "circle of violence" engulfing the region, but did not condemn the Israeli attack deep inside Syria

Becker Quits Germany for Swiss Tax Haven
Boris Becker became the latest wealthy German celebrity to flee the country last night when he announced that he was moving to Switzerland to escape his homeland's notoriously high taxes. The former tennis star said he was swapping his home in Munich for the Swiss alpine town of Zug,...

France and Germany Seek Full Un Control Over Iraq
France and Germany will back the new UN resolution on Iraq sought by President George Bush only if the proposal gives the UN full political rule over the country.

Germany Complains to Italy About Hitler Wines
Germany's justice minister, Brigitte Zypries, has protested to her Italian counterpart, Roberto Castelli about the sale of Italian wines labelled with pictures of Hitler, threatening another Italian-German rift.

EC to take on France and Germany
Commissioners threaten to 'throw the book' at Europe's big hitters if they do not comply with 3% deficit rule. The European commission set the stage for an unprecedented and potentially destructive showdown with France and Germany yesterday, promising to hit both with fines unless their ballooning budget deficits are brought under control.

Pension Age to Rise in Italy and Germany
The Italian and German governments risked a public outcry yesterday by proposing that people should work, and make pension contributions, for up to five years longer to help pay for their ever-growing number of pensioners. The proposals come as countries across Europe struggle to defuse...

Germany in warning to freed hostages
The German government has warned 14 Europeans released last week after a hostage ordeal in the Sahara desert against profiting by selling their story to newspapers.

Germany suffers worst quarterly job loss since 1990
Germany suffered its worst quarterly job loss since being reunified in 1990, official figures showed today. In the three months to the end of June, total employment shrank by 646,000 to 38.07 million, the federal statistics office reported.

Germany slides into recession
Germany, Europe's largest economy, has slipped into recession for the second time in two years, official figures confirmed today.

Germany Confronts Nazi Atrocity
Reunion of war veterans intensifies calls for prosecutions over Cephalonia massacres. Mittenwald, nearly 1,000 metres up in the Alps, epitomises the wholesome face of Germany. Visitors come to hike and ski, or to marvel at the town's elaborately painted 18th-century houses.

Heart of Eurozone Skips a Beat As Germany Slips Into Recession
Gerhard Schröder's embattled government was plunged into fresh crisis yesterday when a second quarter of falling output pushed Europe's powerhouse economy into recession and caused growth to grind to a halt across the 12-nation eurozone. The Netherlands joined its larger neighbour in...

Germany Hit By Economic Woes
Germany today received a double dose of dismal economic news as manufacturing orders plunged in March, while unemployment looks set to hit 5 million. In what analysts described as shocking news, manufacturing orders fell 3.9% in March from the previous month, with domestic demand plunging...

France, Germany Deepen Uk Rift
Europe's anti-war camp risked new tensions with Britain and the US yesterday by establishing a joint military headquarters that could operate separately from Nato. President Jacques Chirac of France and Gerhard Schröder, the German chancellor, insisted...

Hostages in 100-mile chase across Germany
A hijacker who seized a bus in Bremen yesterday, forcing its driver into a 100-mile chase on Germany's autobahn network, had written a letter to his parents in praise of the September 11 terrorists, the police said last night.

Germany's biggest bank takes 1bn euro hit
Deutsche Bank, Germany's biggest, yesterday warned it is taking more than €1bn (£691m) in charges against the falling value of its investments - pushing it into the red.

Germany and Uk Rebuild Bridges
Tony Blair and Gerhard Schröder last night staked out a role for themselves as mediators between the US and France in the postwar world. The prime minister and the German chancellor were the two European leaders whose views on Iraq were furthest apart at the start of the war. Last...

Germany Faces a Thatcherite Conversion
David Gow doesn't think Germany should be put through the kind of radical economic restructuring that the UK underwent in the 1980s.

Germany's Copyright Levy
Based on the recommendation of its Patent Office and following fierce lobbying by VG Wort, an association of German composers, authors and publishers, Germany is poised to enforce a three years old law and impose a copyright levy of $13 plus 16 percent in value added tax per new computer sold in the country.

Abuse scandal rocks Germany
German police are hoping the ground will thaw enough this week for them to start digging in a quarry in their hunt for the body of a five-year-old boy whose death at the hands of a paedophile ring has sent shockwaves through the country.

France, Russia and Germany harden stance
France, Russia and Germany yesterday raised the stakes in their defiance of Washington's war plans against Iraq, vowing jointly "not to allow" a resolution authorising war to be passed by the United Nations security council.

Germany: a Powerhouse in Crisis
Germany continues to pay a high economic price for reunification and it will take "an entire generation" to solve the problems of the former communist eastern states, the country's finance minister, Hans Eichel, says today. In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Eichel says that Germany is...

Sluggish Germany makes General Motors see red
General Motors yesterday underlined the fragility of the European car market by warning that it may miss its target of break-even this year and run up a loss of $218m (£138m).

Germany Sells Off the Silver
In desperate need of cash, German local authorities are using byzantine and dubious arrangements to lease their assets to America, writes John Hooper.

Germany's Rebellious Colonies
Invited by a grateful United States, the Czech Republic on Saturday sent a representative to meet with Iraqi opposition in Kurdish north Iraq. The country was one of the eight signatories on a letter, co-signed by Britain, Italy, Spain and the two other European Union central European candidate-members, Poland and Hungary, in support of US policy in the Gulf.

Nato deadlocked as France and Germany refuse to back down
Nato's plans to defend Turkey in case of war with Iraq remained deadlocked last night after France, Germany and Belgium ignored the entreaties of their fellow allies and refused to back down.

Washington to cut bases in Germany as its forces head east
Washington is planning to cut and downgrade its network of military bases in Germany and to transfer some its European military assets to the new pro-American Nato allies of eastern Europe, according to diplomats and officials on both sides of the Atlantic.

In a sign of growing division, Germany and France kept US in dark over plan to avert war
The Franco-German plan to intensify UN weapons inspections and step up spy flights over Iraq is both a calculated snub to the US and an attempt to derail what is seen as Washington's determination to go to war.

France and Germany harden stance against war
The transatlantic gulf widened further last night after France and Germany hardened their stance against mounting US pressure for military intervention ahead of the presentation of the UN weapons inspectors' report on Monday.

Chirac Draws Germany Into Embrace
Jacques Chirac made clear his ambition for the recently revived Franco-German alliance yesterday, saying it would be the "driving force" for the "refounding of the European project". As they prepare to celebrate the 40th anniversary this week of the 1963 Elysée friendship pact, Mr...

Brown Calls for Reforms in Germany to Help Uk Growth
Gordon Brown will today call on Germany to boost growth through structural reform amid evidence that the weakness of the European economy will prevent Britain from meeting the government's target for 3% expansion this year. The chancellor will use talks in Berlin with the German finance...

Germany Isn't Working
A radical shake-up of the EU's stability and growth pact would help Germany find a way out of its economic crisis, writes David Gow.

France, Germany Forge New Links
Chirac and Schröder consider plan to encourage ministers to take part in each other's cabinet meetings.

Germany on Tightrope Over Election Pledge
Tony Blair arrives in Hanover today for an informal dinner with Germany's chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, at which Iraq will be at the centre of discussions.

Deal Saves Germany From Public Sector Strike
Trade union and German government negotiators announced a deal early today which should avert the threat of national public sector disruption and bring a much-needed respite to the embattled chancellor, Gerhard Schröder. The deal was reached in face-to-face bargaining between the...

Germany: Always look on the bright side of life
Instead of running a headline across the top of its front page yesterday, the Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel stuck in a huge four-leafed clover.

Germany in a Muddle Over War
Gerhard Schröder's government is losing credibility over its confused policy on Iraq, reports John Hooper.

Mike Burleson: Is Germany Selling Weapons to Iraq?
For the past few months the German media has been reporting secret shipments between Sadaam Hussein and German industries. Now it seems official and the mainstream press has been stangely silent.

Germany heads for winter of strikes looms over
The prospect of rubbish piling up in the streets - that universal omen of a troubled society - loomed large in Germany yesterday after the collapse of talks between the government and public sector workers.

UK Economy Poised to Pass Germany
Germany's reputation as Europe's economic powerhouse was dealt a grievous blow yesterday when one of its most influential thinktanks named Britain as one of a group of countries poised to overtake it. With the government of Gerhard Schröder struggling to cope with a deepening...

Germany was 'key supplier' of Saddam supplier
Iraq has identified Germany as the country whose companies did most to help Baghdad in its drive to acquire weapons of mass destruction, said a German newspaper yesterday.

Germany Forced to Cut Defence Spending
Germany announced cuts in its defence purchasing yesterday, in a move that will disappoint its Nato allies. Presented as a drive to adapt the armed forces for the global "war on terror", the package formed part of measures aimed at holding back the growth of Germany's burgeoning budget...

Germany's cast iron chancellor
Schröder is determined to keep out of any US war with Iraq. Pity Germany. Usually caricatured as a country with militarist instincts, for the last few months it has been in the dock on a different charge. The Bush administration accuses it of pacifism.

East German developers say hi-di-heil
The camp was intended to be the biggest package holiday complex the world had ever seen, a totalitarian Torremolinos to keep the Aryan faithful fit, happy and productive.

Soviet Pows to Sue Germany
A Berlin lawyer will today bring a suit against the German government that could end up costing it up to £300m. Stefan Taschjian is seeking compensation on behalf of two Armenian veterans of the Red Army who were held as prisoners by the Germans during the second world war...

Germany at Pains to Mollify Washington
Transatlantic allies rebuild relationship after Hitler jibe.

Germany Mirrors Japan's Problems
Two of the world's leading economic players are facing serious difficulties - and their troubles have plenty in common.

Deutsche figures deepen Germany's banking gloom
Germany's banking woes today deepened as Deutsche Bank announced a surprise loss in the third quarter. Germany's largest bank reported a pretax loss of 181m euros (£115m) compared to a 363m euro profit a year ago. Analysts had expected Deutsche to make a profit of 282m euros.

How Germany paid for the boom
Investors in Britain and the US watching their pension savings rapidly shrinking might think things couldn't be any worse. But they would be wrong - they could have invested in the German stock market.

'Fatal Error' If Germany Swings Right, Says Grass
Germany's greatest writer has warned that social democracy is at risk if Schröder loses today's poll, Kate Connolly reports from Berlin.

Right this way your table's waiting...
Berlin is my kind of town. A modern metropolis where the past is always present. A shifting shape-changing city. Historical melange of decadence and repression that pulls you in and spits you out like a rock steady bouncer. This is an ordered city where logic needn't apply.

Ex-communists in Line to Be Kingmakers in Germany
Tübingen's PDS candidate and her comrades across Germany could hold the key to the next government.

Germany to put September 11 'banker' on trial in Hamburg
A Moroccan man arrested in Hamburg last year has been charged with taking part in the World Trade Centre attack.

New Surge Threatens Germany
Worst may not be over as rivers in central Europe reach record heights.

Germany's Mr Charisma is losing his touch, say polls
Concern about the economy eat into Schröder's lead. Gerhard Schröder's best hope of remaining chancellor of Germany - his considerable personal popularity - is starting to come under threat, according to a new poll. It suggests that, in the past couple of weeks, the gap between him and his challenger, the austere Bavarian Edmund Stoiber, has halved.

Larry Elliot: Germany Should Regard Brown As Flexible Friend
Germany travails serve as a warning to the Blair government of how euro membership could blow up in its face. What went wrong?

Organic Scandal Halts Germany's Green Revolution
Prince Charles gives his backing to Schröder's beleaguered farming policy in an effort to restore consumer confidence in green products.

Law threatens East Germans' weekend retreats
A new law could ensure the gradual disappearance of one of the oddest by-products of the communist era in East Germany. An estimated 2.5 million lives will be affected by a new act which strips away much of the protection afforded to owners of weekend retreats or Datschen.

Germany's Liberal Party Flirts With the Far Right
The Austrian far-rightist Jörg Haider extended an endorsement to the leadership of Germany's august liberal party yesterday amid claims that it is being hijacked by anti-semitic populists in the run-up to September's general election. His congratulations will be viewed with profound...

Germany Pulls Out of Recession With 0.2% Growth
Germany pulled out of recession as its economy grew by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2002, ahead of elections later this year, government figures showed today.

New zeppelin offers views of Berlin and German history
The zeppelin airship, once a symbol of German power and grace in the skies, is once again taking passengers over Berlin.

Energis Gives Up on Germany
Struggling telecom company Energis yesterday admitted defeat in its search for a buyer for its German web hosting business, Ision, as it pushed the company into insolvency. Energis bought 75% of Ision, which employs 770 people, in December 2000 for just over £500m as part of its...

Germany moves to raise age of majority
A debate is raging in the German Social Democrat party about the legal age of majority, in consequence of the school shooting last month in which a teenager killed 16 people.

Germany Sees Record Number of Company Insolvencies
The number of German companies filing for insolvency soared last year with more than 32,000 firms affected, according to official figures yesterday. The economy has already been hit by a series of high-profile companies to file for insolvency this year, including construction group...

Brussels Fumes As Germany Fights Tobacco Advertising Ban
Supposedly health conscious Germany is proving an implacable foe to the European commission's efforts to curb smoking in the EU.

Germany Avoids Eu Reprimand Over Rising Deficit
EU finance ministers today approved a compromise that avoided a formal reprimand for Germany over its rising budget deficit, but insisted that the fudge did undermine the EU's financial credibility. "I think the credibility has been clearly maintained," EU economics and monetary affairs...

It's No Carnival for Germany
The European commission spoils Chancellor Schröder's party to warn Berlin over the size of its budget deficit.

Germany faces EU warning as recession bites
The European commission is considering issuing an unprecedented written warning to Germany, architect of the eurozone's tough budget rules, over the deteriorating state of its public finances, EU sources disclosed yesterday. Officials in Brussels fear the rapidly widening gap between...

Mattress cash worries Germany
With just days to go before the abolition of the mark, the German authorities are waging a fierce campaign to persuade countries in central and eastern Europe that depend on the 52-year-old German currency, to adopt the euro rather than abandon it in favour of the dollar. "We're trying...

Germany raids Islamist groups
A network of extremist Islamic groups based in Germany was outlawed yesterday under new legislation that lets the state act to dissolve religious organisations with suspected links to terrorism. During the day searches and raids were carried out on houses, offices and mosques in seven...