One of the greatest UK-German duos of all time is releasing a third Gruffalo book: Gruffalo Granny. The decades-long artistic partnership between Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler has seen the 🇬🇧🇩🇪 dream team release 30+ books. Here's to more Grüffelo! 🤩

⛷️🏒⛸️ The 25th Winter Olympic Games are starting today in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo with athletes from over 90 countries. More than 180 athletes will represent 🇩🇪, competing in alpine skiing, curling, ice hockey and many more. Viel Erfolg, Team Germany!

The Bundeswehr’s 45th Panzer Brigade stationed in Lithuania is a crucial military contribution towards NATO's deterrence and defence. Today it assumed command of NATO‘s Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania, bringing its total personnel in 🇱🇹 to 1,800. #WeInvestInFreedom

🧳 Wichtig: Reisende in das Vereinigte Königreich brauchen eine elektronische Einreisegenehmigung (ETA). 🛂 Ein Nachweis über eine Reisegenehmigung oder Ausnahmeregelung wird ab dem 25. Februar 2026 verpflichtend. ℹ️ gov.uk/eta

Rita Süssmuth, former President of the Bundestag, passed away on 1 February at the age of 88. She was a Member of the Bundestag from 1987-2002 and the second woman to hold the office of Bundestag President, from 1988-1998. Today, the flags on the Bundestag are flying at half mast in her honour.

Students from the German School London and the Jewish Community Secondary School gave a powerful and moving Holocaust Memorial concert with Ensemble 360. The Voices of Justice concert was a joint project between @wigmore-hall.org.uk, Learning from the Righteous and @theajruk.bsky.social. #HMD2026

NEW WORLD RECORD AT BEACH-BASKET-CARRYING WORLD CUP At the Strandkorb-WM, teams carry a 60kg beach basket over 20m of frozen sand. The previous record of 4.91sec was smashed at the tournament's 18th edition as beach-basket-ironmen Phillip Schmidt & Finley Liemen clinched gold in 4.56!

In a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Chancellor Merz said he condemns in the strongest terms the systematic destruction of civil Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The Chancellor said he welcomes efforts for ceasefire and that Ukraine needs a just and lasting peace.

EU designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation. Statement by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul 👇

140 years ago today, Karl Benz changed the world when he patented his 'Benz Patent-Motorwagen Nr. 1'. The three-wheeled vehicle powered by a single-cylinder petrol engine was granted German patent No. 37435 on 29 January 1886.

Huge thanks to all the 🇬🇧🇫🇷🇩🇪 journalists who came along to our annual Franco-German reception for press contacts in the UK, jointly hosted with our brilliant colleagues at the French Embassy.

It's vital that 🇬🇧🇩🇪 are on top of the newest technologies and are able to produce critical components such as batteries at scale. Deputy Ambassador Doktor hosted 🇩🇪 battery experts & Innovate UK to deepen 🇩🇪🇬🇧 battery ecosystem ties, as outlined in the #KensingtonTreaty.

Germany's GDP is projected to grow +1% in 2026 and +1.3% in 2027, according to the German government's Annual Economic Report, published today. #Jahreswirtschaftsbericht @bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de

🇩🇪🤝🇬🇧 Germany and the UK will deepen cooperation on developing renewable energy infrastructure in the North Sea, with a particular focus on Offshore Hybrid Assets. Connecting offshore wind farms to multiple countries, OHAs speed up offshore energy connection. #KensingtonTreaty

Climate action is a question of security, of our very existence. Ahead of COP31, we brought stakeholders together for vital conversations on strengthening international climate cooperation and formulating our COP positions at the Embassy's first Climate Talk of 2026. #GermanClimateAction

Chancellor Merz: Europe has awoken. Our European unity contributed towards the successful negotiation for Greenland. Germany, as a NATO ally, will do more for the High North's security within NATO's framework. I assured Mette Frederiksen und Jens-Frederik Nielsen of this.

On 27 January 1945, the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated. The inconceivable extent of Nazi atrocities came to light. Our responsibility remains: Antisemitism has no place in Germany. Today and always, we remember the systematic murder of Jews. #WeRemember #HolocaustMemorialDay

DANKE to everyone who took part in #ShoutOutForGerman week! 🖤❤️💛 We loved seeing so much joy, enthusiasm and love for the German language!

Today, Germany is hosting the international North Sea Summit in Hamburg. Guests include heads of state and government & energy ministers from 🇧🇪🇩🇰🇫🇷🇬🇧🇮🇪🇮🇸🇱🇺🇳🇱🇳🇴, as well as the EU and NATO. The focus is on expanding cross-border cooperation on supplying energy to Europe.

The Iranian regime is trying to cover up its crimes – through internet blackouts, disinformation campaigns, and repression. But it will not succeed. Today, the UN Human Rights Council convenes, at the initiative of Germany and close partners.1/2

🛑 "That's it – only German now!" Ex-England, Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and Cologne striker Tony Woodcock learned to speak German during his time at 1. FC Köln. Tony's #ShoutOutForGerman advice: anyone can learn German!

From haggis ("sehr gut!") to political talks, Deputy Ambassador Doktor's trip to Scotland saw him join a Burns Night supper, speak at @EdinburghUni and meet with @BenMacpherson, MSPs and the 🇩🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 community. The #KensingtonTreaty is boosting ties between 🇩🇪 and the 🇬🇧's nations.

A German company has launched its AI-powered predictive railway maintenance system in the UK, which could reduce delays and lower costs. Using sensors and machine learning, Konux's CoBrix system can help predict potential infrastructure failures in advance. #ResearchInGermany

Chancellor Merz: As European NATO allies, we must do more to secure the High North. This is a common transatlantic interest. Germany is doing this in the framework of NATO. Denmark and the people of Greenland can count on our solidarity.

What a start to German Week 2026 when the Munich Supercrew visited us in Bishopbriggs yesterday. Thanks to the Goethe Institut for your support. @goethe-institut-uk.bsky.social @scilt.bsky.social cilt.bsky.social #ShoutOutForGerman  #Gimagine

We couldn't agree more with Sascha! And even if you missed out learning German at school, you can still pick it up later in life, for example during your studies as a degree (from scratch, even!) or in one of the language centre courses! #ShoutOutForGerman

We asked guests to tell us their favourite German word at a reception for German-speaking civil servants, as part of #ShoutOutForGerman week. Alongside some top-notch animal names, we got some fantastic compound words and a few untranslatables too! What's yours? 🤔

Northern lights ("Polarlichter" in German) seen in 🇩🇪 this week.

🐻 The awards for this year's Berlinale film festival are being produced in a Berlin foundry in preparation for this year's festival. 🇬🇧 Fun fact: British director Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca was the opening film of the first ever Berlinale in June 1951. 📽️ Berlinale will kick off on 12 February.

We love hearing about incredible German language teachers like Mr. Green who pass on their passion for languages to their pupils! Echt klasse! 👏 #ShoutOutForGerman

Former West German capital Bonn 🇩🇪 will be the new home of a considerable share of 🇺🇳 UN Development Programme posts. Around 300 UNDP staff will relocate from New York to Bonn over the next 2 years. With this, the overall footprint of UNDP in Bonn will exceed 400 positions.

👉 How has learning German enriched your life? 👉 What's your favourite German word or expression? 👉 What do you love about the German language? It's Shout Out For German Week! If you're passionate about German, use #ShoutOutForGerman and join our week-long celebration of German!

The world's first Sesame Street traffic lights were turned on in Hamburg this week. German public broadcaster NDR (which is based in Hamburg) has co-produced the German version of the show for 50 years. Naturally, Bert is 🔴 and Ernie is 🟢!

Happy 100th birthday, Grüne Woche! 🎂 One of the world’s leading trade fairs in the area of food, agriculture & horticulture opened its doors today. Around 1,600 exhibitors will be presenting agricultural specialities from German regions and around 50 countries in Berlin.

Guten Morgen 👋 #Traitors #TraitorsUK

Joint G7 🇨🇦🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇯🇵🇬🇧🇺🇸🇪🇺 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the developments surrounding the ongoing protests in Iran ⤵️

👉 Strengthening the UK-German relationship 👉 Implementing the #KensingtonTreaty 👉 Working together to support Ukraine 2026 is set to be a defining year for 🇩🇪, 🇬🇧 and Europe.

The UK will become an Erasmus+ partner country in 2027. Welcome back! 👋 Erasmus+ provides exchange opportunities for: 🧑‍🎓 students 👷 apprentices 🧑‍🏫 teachers 🎒 pupils and more. Erasmus isn't just a chance to experience a new country (incl. 🇩🇪) and build friendships, it also boosts your employability.

The brutal actions taken by the Iranian regime against its own people are shocking. We emphatically call on #Iran to end the violence against its own citizens and to respect their rights. The Iranian Ambassador was summoned to the Federal Foreign Office today.

For decades, the rules-based international order, with the UN at its core, has provided the framework for peaceful cooperation and the resolution of interests worldwide. Today, we need the #UN more than ever. Thank you, Antonio Guterres, for the important exchange in #NYC.

Chancellor Merz: We call on the Iranian leadership to protect its population rather than threaten it. The regime’s violence against its own people is not a sign of strength, but of weakness. It must end immediately. To underscore this message, we are working on further EU sanctions.

Good and trusting conversation with Marco Rubio in #Washington. 🇩🇪 and 🇺🇸 are close allies - and friends. We are ready to act, determined, and share a common history, values, and interests. @aussenminister.diplo.de 1/3

Chancellor Merz: ”We are deeply concerned about reports of violence by Iranian security forces, and strongly condemn the killing of protestors. Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer and I urge the Iranian authorities to refrain from violence, and to uphold the fundamental rights of Iran’s citizens.“

Chancellor Merz: The EU-Mercosur agreement is a milestone in European trade policy and a strong signal of our strategic sovereignty and ability to act. This is good for Germany and for Europe. But 25 years of negotiations were far too long — we need to move faster.

Are you aged 18-25 and based in the UK? Do you fancy attending a fully funded youth summit in Berlin on democracy and civic engagement? Then apply for the 🇬🇧🇩🇪 Youth Summit taking place from 19–22 March 2026 – a lighthouse project under the #KensingtonTreaty! www.britishcouncil.de/en/uk-german...

Startup registrations hit an all-time high in Germany in 2025 🚀 🚀 3500+ new startups founded (+29% YoY) 🤖 AI important part of business model for 27% of new startups 🧑‍💻 853 new startups in the software sector 🧑‍🍳 Food startup sector +80% YoY 💊 Medicine sector +46% YoY

50 runaway sheep ram-paged through a German supermarket in rural Baa-varia, causing shear mania on Monday morning. After breaking away from their 500-strong herd, the brazen sheep spent 20 minutes milling around in the Penny supermarket before ewe-turning and seeing themselves out.

Many thanks to German Ambassador to the UK, Susanne Baumann, for hosting us yesterday. We had a wide-ranging conversation on Holocaust remembrance, antisemitism and extremism, strengthening interfaith relations, peace and security in the Middle East – and exciting plans for Jewish Culture Month.

Chancellor Merz: "Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe. We agree: Denmark – including Greenland – is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively: in conjunction with Allies including the United States. Greenland belongs to its people."

West Germany's first Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, was born on this day 150 years ago. During Adenauer's fourteen years in office, West Germany became a founding member of the EEC (which would later become the EU), joined NATO and signed the landmark Élysée Treaty with France.