The Germans

A major ethnic group of Germanic origin, living in the present Germany, today covering a substantial part of northern and central Europe. As a nation they were formed in the Middle Ages. Their rulers used to be on the Roman German throne for a long time. After numerous wars, the German nation was divided into many small states. With time, two strong political and military powers were established: Austria and Prussia. Austria led its own independent policy, but as a result of Prussian pressure, Germany was united in 1871.

Despite the trauma the people experienced as the guilty party for the two world wars, their country today is among the first in terms of education, technological development and industry. Germans have hugely contributed to the world science and culture. A great part of the Western Civilisation was built upon the heritage of thought and creative spirit of German brilliant minds.  They were particularly outstanding in the fields of philosophy and art.

In the period of National Romanticism, the 18th and the 19th centuries, Serbs developed a fruitful partnership with the representatives of the German culture circles. After the negative experience regarding the 20th century wars (in both wars the Germans were an irreconcilable enemies of Serbs), this political and cultural collaboration is undergoing a process of renewal

RELIGION AND TRADITION

In Germany there are Protestant Christians, some Roman Catholics, and a substantial number of population who does not state their religion.

GEOGRAPHY

There are 85 million Germans in the world today. The majority lives in Germany, which was forcefully divided after the defeat in the Second World War, but was united once again in 1990. Today, there 7 million foreigners living in Germany.