The German History Society is proud to release the call for papers for our 2026 Annual Conference, held this year at the University of Stirling! The deadline for papers is the 14 April 2026. For more information check our website here: www.germanhistorysociety.org/conference/

#FunFactFriday: Bread is so beloved and important in Germany, that it was included in the UNESCO list of the world’s most ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’? According to the German Institute for Bread there are now over 3200 different types! Do you have a particular favourite?

Spring is in the air, so why not add a bit of Lüften into your routine? The German habit of opening windows for 5-15min daily helps replace stale air, prevent mould, and boost wellbeing. It’s done year-round, without fail. Try it in your ‘spring clean’ routine! 💨

The 2nd 🇩🇪🇬🇧 podium for Skeleton this past week! What a moment. If you missed it, it’s well worth a watch to catch the wonderful support and sportsmanship between the national teams. It’s been an exciting #WinterOlympics for both teams this year. Any moments that’ve stayed with you?

#WordyWednesday: Celebrating #LunarNewYear and Year of the Horse with some horse-themed German sayings 🐴🏮 We have ‘hold your horses’ and ‘don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ - but German horse idioms often paint very different pictures! Know any other German horse-themed sayings?

Last week, our Edinburgh Rep, Ross McEwen, spoke on behalf of the BGA at the Cross Party Group on Germany at the Scottish Parliament. After giving an insight into BGA's aims and ambitions, an encouraging discussion followed on German language learning and UK-German twinning in Scotland. (1/2)

Germany’s ‘fifth season’ celebrations are underway! #Karneval parades jam-packed with colourful outfits, masks and music will take centre-stage in many German cities and towns in the next few days. Have you got any fond memories of #Karneval celebrations? We’d love to hear about them!

Following on from our post about ‘Glückspilz’, we’re highlighting some more luck-themed expressions in German for this week’s #WordyWednesday! Are there any other German expressions or symbols associated with luck you know of, that mirror or differ from British culture?

#WhyLearnGerman? To appreciate the unique ways the language and culture expresses luck! In German, a lucky person might be called a ‘Glückspilz’, or lucky mushroom. It reflects how luck has found them as quickly as mushrooms appear from the ground. It’s even inspired this sweet garden decoration!

#FunFactFriday 🚂 Did you know Hamburg is home to the world’s largest model railway? Miniatur Wunderland recreates global scenes in stunning miniature detail, with over 15.4km of track! It’s consistently one of Germany’s top tourist attractions. #visitgermany #miniaturwunderland #hamburg

#WordyWednesday: Managed to find a recent bargain? Instead of using the typical English sayings like ‘for a song’, ‘for peanuts’ or ‘as cheap as chips’, why not mix it up and use the German equivalents? Funnily enough, they also have links to food…

Our U35 event, co-organised with Chatham House’s QEII Academy! We were honoured to have Jill Gallard, former UK Ambassador to Germany, speak on diplomacy held at Deutsche Bank’s London HQ. Thank you to our attendees, Deutsche Bank and of course Jill Gallard for an exciting and inspiring evening! 🇩🇪🇬🇧

#FunFactFriday: Germany is home to the world's narrowest street! The almost 300-year old street in Reutlingen is a popular tourist attraction... Spreuerhofstraße is in fact only 31cm at its narrowest, narrowly (pun intended) beating Parliament Street in Exeter for the Guinness World Record!

This week’s #WordyWednesday is embracing the wintry feel... Have you heard of “Schnee von Gestern”? It’s a great way to say that something is old news. It can even be used in a way that matches the English saying ‘water under the bridge’, depending on the context of conversation! #ShoutOutForGerman

Happy #ShoutOutForGerman week! Learning #German has lots of benefits, it’s fun and not as hard as some may think: theconversation.com/learning-ger... @uk.theconversation.com @goethe-institut-uk.bsky.social @daad-uk-ireland.bsky.social @uk.diplo.de @ags-gbi.bsky.social @britgerassoc.bsky.social

Thank you Deutsches Institut für Gutes Leben, Dr Rob Keeling, Dr Jurgen Grotz & Prof Bryony Hoskins for a great collaboration 🙌 The BGA was delighted to join this event at the RSA on citizen education, democracy & the future of volunteering.

#WordyWednesday: we’re diving back into German’s amazing one-worders! There’s something special about capturing a fleeting feeling into a single word, and German really does it best. What word mash-up would you create as an English equivalent?

#FunFactFriday: 🇩🇪 has more zoos than any other country in Europe, and is 2nd 🌍. Berlin Zoo even welcomed 3.85m visitors in 2023, and was interestingly inspired by London’s Zoological Garden before opening in 1844. Have you managed to visit? And do you remember the iconic polar bear, Knut? 🐻‍❄️

#WordyWednesday 🥣 German has a great phrase for “to beat around the bush”: um den heißen Brei herumreden, literally meaning “to talk around the hot porridge.” Same meaning but with a nice wintry feel to it!

Watching Dinner for One: “the same procedure every year!”🍾 This 🇬🇧 sketch has become a NYE's tradition in 🇩🇪 - up to half of the population tune in each year. It’s usually shown without subtitles, relying purely on its physical comedy. Some fans even recreate Sophie’s meal!👇

A lively and fulfilling year for the BGA, marked by inspiring events, thoughtful discussions, and meaningful connections. From panels to cultural gatherings, we brought people together to strengthen 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 ties. Grateful to our members and partners for their support.

One of Germany’s iconic festive decorations: Räuchermänner! Meaning “smoking men”, these wooden incense figures come from the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) in eastern Germany. Hand-carved, they release fragrant smoke through the mouth, bringing each character to life. #Räuchermann

Lebkuchenherzen are a familiar sight at 🇩🇪 Xmas markets. Unlike soft lebkuchen, these are much harder - usually bought as souvenirs or gifts, not snacks. They come wrapped in film and with ribbons to hang up, with messages ranging from sweet, to more tongue-in-cheek! 🤎

#WordyWednesday: Party season is here! Work-dos, reunions, and all the Christmas celebrations are in full-swing. If you’re looking for a fun way to describe the livelier gatherings you’ll be heading to at the end of this year, remember the saying ‘“da steppt der Bär”! 🐻💃

A little insight into our Carols and Readings event with the Christuskirche in Knightsbridge last week. A lovely evening packed full of hymns and readings in 🇩🇪and 🇬🇧, Glühwein and Lebkuchen! Have a listen to Fever Pitch Choir’s ‘Es is ein Ros entsprungen’.

UK band Radiohead wrap up their Europe tour in Berlin tonight. 🇩🇪 music has played a part in inspiring them: the band often cites Krautrock, especially Cologne band CAN. Thom Yorke even referred to Krautrock synths and knowledge of ‘70s 🇩🇪 when scoring Suspiria (2018)!

State dinners show off national pride, and this 1958 Guildhall menu cover says it all. With the State Visit last week, it’s fun to compare menus from different times. Take a look at last week’s compared to the 1958 luncheon. What would you serve at a 🇬🇧-🇩🇪 state dinner?

#WordyWednesday: Butter will be used generously in German cooking and baking in the upcoming Christmas season. But did you know there are German sayings dedicated entirely to butter? 🧈

#twinningtuesday The Odenwald Association is joining Falkirk’s first Festival of Trees! Their tree features Odenwald photo baubles, handmade German-themed decorations, and more. See it on 13–14 Dec at the Howgate Centre, Falkirk. 🇩🇪🌲

#FunFactFriday🎅 Tomorrow is St Nikolaus Day in Germany! Kids are polishing their boots tonight and leaving them outside in the hope of finding it filled with treats and gifts all from St Nikolaus. For many families, it’s seen as the start of Christmas fun. Did you celebrate it?

Christmas markets are back in both Germany and the UK - and so is Bratwurst season. 🌭 With the smell of sizzling sausage everywhere, it’s the perfect moment to enjoy Germany’s best sausage-themed sayings. Heard any other good ones we should add? #WordyWednesday

🇬🇧🤝🇩🇪 King Charles and the Royal Family welcomed German President Steinmeier for the first German State Visit in 27 years. BGA Chair Peter Barnes is live at Windsor for the BBC with Kasia Madera and Sean Coughlan.

"Advent, Advent ...ein Lichtlein brennt” Yesterday’s first Advent candle marked the true beginning of the season. Germany is officially in Christmas mode 🎄 Who’s got one? And who is thinking of starting this cosy German tradition?

#GreatBritishBakeOff’s Jürgen Krauss shares why cinnamon stars (Zimtsterne) are his ultimate German Christmas treat. Catch his full chat with EatingWell’s Abigail Abesamis Demarest, all about his German Christmas Cookbook and festive memories: youtube.com/watch?v=UsYpM6…

#WordyWednesday: In German, “Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof” (“I only understand train station”) means “I’m totally confused”. English says “It’s all Greek to me,” French/Spanish/Swedish use Greek or Chinese… but Germany? They opt for the train station! 🚉

#WhyLearn German? German shares many familiar words with English, making vocab a breeze! But beware of false friends, gift is not the same in German! ☠️ Which German word has made learning easier, or caused a funny mix-up for you?

#FunFactFriday: Hamburg has around 2500 bridges, more than Venice, Amsterdam & London combined! 🌉 Check out Speicherstadt, the historic warehouse district and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its iconic red-brick buildings, canals & bridges. #Hamburg #DiscoverGermany

Join us 24 Nov 2025, 6:30pm GMT for an exclusive BGA online event with @juergenthebread.bsky.social Jürgen Krauss and Abigail Abesamis Demarest celebrating The German Christmas Cookbook. Festive bakes, expert tips, Christmas inspiration! 🎄✨Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#WordyWednesday 🍺 Ever notice how languages say the same thing in different ways? English: “It’s not my business”. German: “Das ist nicht mein Bier” (“That’s not my beer”). Same meaning, German style!

#WhyLearnGerman? Because German words often explain themselves. Many long words are built from smaller parts you already know. Just think of Staubsauger (“dust-sucker” = hoover). This structure makes new vocab easy to decode. What are your favourite examples?

The German Academic Scholarship Foundation celebrated their 100-year anniversary last weekend in London with a full programme – including a networking fair at King's College. The BGA was delighted to take part. Thank you to Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes for the invite!

#FunFactFriday: Christmas Markets are popping up across the UK: Manchester and Birmingham are in full swing, and Hyde Park’s #WinterWonderland opens today. But did you know 🇩🇪 has over 150 cities and towns with established Christmas markets? Berlin alone has more than 70! ✨🎅

Great turnout last night at Edinburgh Uni for “Still a Model? What We Can (and Can’t) Learn from German Federalism” — a joint BGA & @ccc-research.bsky.social event. Thanks to @angusrobertson.bsky.social, Elke Heins, David Smith, and everyone who joined us! 🙌📸 #GermanFederalism #Edinburgh

#WordyWednesday: Last night in 🇩🇪, lanterns jingled and swayed for St. Martin’s Day, with children singing “Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum!”. These mimetic words echo how languages hear the world: like English’s ding-dong and German’s kling-klang. Do you have a favourite sound-word?

#WhyLearnGerman? 🇩🇪 Even knowing the basics can turn your next TV watch into a language lesson! Switch your Netflix or Prime shows to German audio/subs and pick up vocab + grammar naturally. Low effort, high reward. 📺

#FunFactFriday: Next Tuesday, 11 Nov, holds meaning in both 🇩🇪 & 🇬🇧! In Germany, it’s St. Martin’s Day – lanterns, songs & kindness. In the UK, it’s Remembrance Day – honouring those who served. Different traditions, same spirit of compassion & remembrance.

📢 #BGAEvent: It is not too late to book for our first in-person event in Edinburgh, organised jointly with @ccc-research.bsky.social. We're honoured that @angusrobertson.bsky.social will share this thoughts on German federalism. Register here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/still-a-mo...

Yesterday's #GermanLinksQuiz question was this: buff.ly/L2fRUFv And here's the answer 💡 Congratulations to everyone who got it right ❗️

#GermanLinksQuiz: our series explores British-German links by asking what connects familiar aspects of UK life with Germany. Questions on a Wednesday, answers on a Thursday. Feel free to post your guesses below 👇 Enjoy and be kind in your comments!

Last month, 30 people from Königslutter (DE) visited their twin town Taunton (UK). The partnership has been going since 1992. A week-long programme included local trips, museum visits, a reception given by the Mayor & quintessentially West Country experiences such as cream tea. (1/2)