From bread culture to extreme punctuality: 20 comics about German culture

In Germany, there are more than 3,200 types of bread — not to mention innumerable rolls. In 2014, German bread culture was even included in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural assets. If keeping track of them and choosing one at a bakery is too complicated, pointing and saying "that one there," or "no, that one next to it," will usually do the trick.

Punctuality is a virtue in Germany. But the compulsion to always be on time can also be nerve-wracking. As the popular saying goes: "German punctuality is five minutes ahead of time."

Despite the widespread stereotype, funnily enough, neither German airlines nor railways are among the world's top 10 most punctual. Placing value on something and actually living up to it are two very different things.

Even before David Hasselhoff's legendary performance of "Looking for Freedom" on the Berlin Wall during new year's eve in 1989, "The Hoff" was a star in Germany. While he saw success in the US as an actor in series such as Knight Rider and Baywatch, in Germany he was also taken seriously as a singer. Several of his albums went gold and platinum in the country — much to the amusement of Americans.

The German love of cars seems to know no limits. A 2017 survey came to the conclusion that every 10th German considers having a car more important than having a partner. But in these tough times of diesel scandals and air pollution, this love is being put to the test. Alas, a happy ending is not yet in sight.

Austria and Germany are so close to one another, yet so far away. Germans tend to be viewed as condescending to their neighbors, and Austrians return this condescension with words that are less than kind.

Germans are known for being direct and speaking their mind, a form of unfiltered honesty that can border on rudeness for people from other cultures. Being superficially polite is not a German thing, and they usually don't mince words or beat around the bush, preferring to cut to the chase and say what they mean.

Germans are football crazy. The earth may shake, World War Three may break out, or a wedding may be planned: But everything comes second to an important football match.

The train is running late, so there's enough time for a cigarette — theoretically at least. But since 2007, smoking is banned outside marked zones at German stations. Some in the rule-bound nation are nonetheless "rebels" who dare to dangle their toes over the line.

Germans take their train seat reservations very seriously. By paying a supplement when they buy a ticket, passengers are assured to have a free spot waiting for them when they board the train. If a reservation feels necessary before holiday weekends for example, sometimes the train is empty enough to improvise — but not everyone will be that flexible.

Garden gnomes are a ubiquitous part of typical German front gardens and come in endless guises: Gardeners, musicians, footballers, bikies. These gnomes have a long tradition and remain a kitschy mainstay of the German suburban landscape. They are also sometimes so weird that they've developed an ironic kind of cult appeal.

In Bavaria, a pair of traditional lederhosen, or leather pants, belongs in almost every wardrobe. But beware: The traditional garment may cause confusion in some circles. Members of German bikie gangs also wear leather pants — but they're not quite the same.

Granted, the spoken German language is not known for its melodious sound. On the contrary; if you do not understand the language, you might get the impression that Germans are constantly arguing. But what makes the German language sound so harsh? One reason, say linguists, is the relatively large number of consonants.

There is nothing more German than Birkenstock sandals and socks, worn often in unison with shorts. Even this German Shepherd has adopted the national stereotype.

Sitting on 220 kilometers per hour on the highway is no problem in Germany. The country's car lobby has successfully resisted highway speed limits that are routine in other countries. Hence visitors to Germany might be shocked when they are travelling at twice the legal speed limit set at home.

Anyone who has spent their lives racing down speed-limitless German highways will want to continue the national pastime into old age — though sensibly of course. For pensioners, 120 kilometers per hour seems a good compromise.

"Red means wait, green means go!" This national rule is drummed into German children, sometimes even before they can walk, meaning that as adults few citizens would dare disobey a traffic signal — even when it's broken!

What would the Germans be without their jobs? Maybe healthier? At any rate, being sick and missing work is not as option for many duty-bound Germans. Here the motto is not "get well soon," but "get well fast!"

When it comes to beer drinking, the Germans have a mythical resilience. No wonder. Eight billion liters of beer are consumed in Germany annually. The nation is especially proud of its beer purity law, which states that beer may only be made from hops, malt, yeast and water.

Germans might not always be on time, but they remain sticklers for rules — and regulations. So it wouldn't be surprising if a rule-heavy game like chess was invented by a German, despite its ancient origins.