Understanding German Culture Through American Eyes

By William Drake

Written by an American professor of cross-cultural studies this book is based on interviews with hundreds of German, European and American business people, professionals, students, and travelers. The value of this book to a careful, interested reader is that examining the German culture from an American point of view will yield valuable insights into both cultures.

This book covers topics of interest to the serious international student, traveler or business person who will be spending more than just tourist-time in Germany. Readers will come to see what is needed to go beyond the reserved, cautious face that Germans present to those they don't know well and become accepted.

This isn't a book of 'do this and don't do that'. There are many books that try to teach cultural etiquette. This book is specifically about navigating the cultural interfaces between German and American cultures in areas where increased understanding of how the idiosyncrasies of both cultures can either complement or clash with each other, whether in business, leisure travel, academia, the professions, or just in everyday life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bill Drake
• Release date: Dec 25, 2018

Book preview

Introduction – An American In Germany

Written by an American professor of cross-cultural studies this book is based on interviews with hundreds of German, European and American business people, professionals, students and travelers. The value of this book to a careful, interested reader is that examining the German culture from an American point of view will give you valuable insights into both cultures.

This book covers topics of interest to the serious international student, traveler or business person who will be spending more than just tourist-time in Germany. Readers will come to see what is needed to go beyond the reserved, cautious face that Germans present to those they don't know well and become accepted.

This isn't a book of 'do's and don'ts' - there are plenty of those books, and some very good ones. This book is specifically about navigating the cultural interfaces between German and American cultures in areas where increased understanding of how the idiosyncrasies of both cultures can either complement or clash with each other, whether in business, leisure travel, academia, soldiering, or just in everyday life. So, let's begin at the beginning, keeping in mind that for almost all German people their history, and even their very deep and long-ago history, is alive today in every moment.

Early Influences On German Culture

Germanic tribes, migrating south and west, entered the present lands of Germany nearly 4,000 years ago. They pushed back the Celts and were strongly established before encountering the Romans moving north under Varus, one of Emperor Augustus' most experienced generals. The Germans annihilated the Roman forces and killed Varus in the battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D., effectively stopping Roman expansion on the Danube-Rhine line.

Because of this battle and victory, much of Germany did not experience Latin culture directly and adopted Christianity later than did the Roman world. The baptism of Clovis in 496 A.D. opened the way for widespread conversion of the Germanic tribes and culminated three centuries later with the crowning of Karl the Great (Charlemagne) in 800 as Holy Roman Emperor. For the next 1,000 years, decentralizing forces dominated German politics, leaving power largely in the hands of local princes, often with devastating consequences. The Thirty Years' War (1618-48), a series of conflicts between Protestant and Catholic forces, decimated Germany's population. After the war, an uneasy balance remained between Protestant and Catholic states, which continued to war against each other periodically.

To this day the historical evolution of Germany leaves its mark on the distinctive regional character of the people. Much like in the US there are significant differences between people from, for example, Massachusetts, Kansas, Texas, and California because of the markedly different ways in which these societies evolved, so too both the astute visitor and the Germans themselves note the differences between the sophisticated, cosmopolitan Rheinlanders, the inventive, industrious Franconians, the cautious, businesslike Swabians, and the talented, independent Bavarians.

Then too there are the very strong differences between Protestant Northern and Catholic Southern Germans – the ‘plan for the future’ Berliners and the ‘live for today’ Bavarians. There are similar commonly-drawn contrasts between the West and East, with West Germans characterized as relatively cold and aloof, and East Germans as warmer and friendlier. As always, such stereotypes should be used with caution, and only as guidelines rather than as hard-and-fast judgments about individuals or groups.

Cultural Characteristics of The German People

The historical processes which for centuries fragmented them, and which now bring them together, have resulted in a deep and complex society with an abiding sense of itself as a People, a Volk. More than many other nations and cultures the Germans have worked hard throughout their history to discover and cultivate order and discipline in their society at all levels- institutional, community and family - based on profoundly-held concepts of what a family member of das Volk should be in thought, word and deed. To the dismay of many older Germans, a ‘me first’ approach to life seems to be creeping in among younger Germans today.

A notable reserve and a sense of formality that permeates every aspect of life is a core characteristic of German culture – with the differences between North and South, East and West just mentioned to be taken into account. There is an emphasis on the precedence that Law and Order takes over all individual freedoms. German culture is among the most diverse in the world in the depth and breadth of its intellectual, artistic, and physical expressions. Loyalty and dedication rank high on most Germans’ sense of what is admirable in others, and of course there is the often stereotyped but nevertheless core value placed on punctuality and precision. One’s background and pedigree matter a great deal in Germany – although of course the youth reject these standards as stuffy and old-school – and the qualities of self-respect and of being respected by others are both critical to self-esteem.

German culture teaches its members the importance of belonging, and both the family and other social units – work, school, fraternal and occupational – loom large in the self-identity of most Germans. There is a strong sense of community and place, a desire to be part of a team or group, and a strong identification with one’s work unit.

And finally, there is the sense of belonging to the German Volk, or Folk, which many Germans feel is what sets them apart from most other cultures in the world, an identification with all of those who have gone before and all who will come after, and a sense that there is a purpose to being German that may not always be articulated but which is always there, providing a sense of direction in a world that, for others, can seem to be without compass or rudder.

Even those, largely the young, who feel a sense of personal shame for the dark parts of German history nevertheless retain a pride in being German and a sense that they are part of a special people.

Finally there are core values in German culture around the importance of having warm relationships with others, of having fun and pleasure in life, and of leading a life filled with accomplishments and excitement.

Germany's two major religious groups have a definite split in attitude, with the Protestants being inclined to hold a serious view of life and the Catholics tending to see life as a source of enjoyment. Both groups take work, play, and life in general quite seriously. Due to the economic miracle, Germans have been able to enjoy life more, which they do with great gusto. Since Germany has always been a center of conflict and war, the German people have a greater awareness of death, mortality, and suffering.

They tend to enjoy the moment and celebrate life's special events more than Americans. Whereas Americans are inclined to see life as an upward movement with things getting better and better, Germans are more likely to see life as an eternal alternating of good and bad seasons.

Competitiveness seems to be more prized than cooperativeness, although Germans can be quite cooperative within the family or in certain situations. Competitiveness is the rule in school and in business, universities, and the professions. There is a certain amount of keeping up with the Joneses. The bureaucracy is also very competitive, and reaching the top has become more difficult in recent years.

However, every German has a