#DeutschlandNoFilter: The Germany Magazine of the Goethe-Institut

Wolfgang Becker during the Berlinale 2009, looking into the camera, his face resting on his hand.

Obituary for Wolfgang Becker A Touch of Lubitsch

Wolfgang Becker knew that punchlines work best when they target collective emotions. The director of “Good Bye, Lenin!” has now died at the age of 70.

The U-Bahn line U8 crosses Berlin from north to south, stopping at central places such as Alexanderplatz.

Detours | U8 Beneath the Streets of Berlin

There’s nowhere better than Berlin to take a tour by underground train – the U-Bahn – through German history. The capital’s subterranean network of tunnels is a repository of memories of the German Empire, the Second World War and Germany’s division.

Illustration of a snowflake in the center of the picture. Smaller snowflakes, snow people and snow-covered trees are depicted all around.

Christmas through the Eyes of a Snowflake What Would a Snowflake Say?

In a thought experiment, we bring nature to life and imagine a snowflake sharing the story of its journey during Christmas season.

Graphic with beige background showing a marzipan Santa Claus, a marzipan reindeer and a marzipan angel surrounded by nuts.

Christmas Through the Eyes of a Marzipan Santa A Scrumptious Santa

The life of a marzipan Santa starts in spring and ends in your tummy. In this article, the almondy man himself tells us his story.

Advent Calender 2024 — Christmas Through the Eyes of ...

What would Christmas be without a Christmas tree, candles and Santa Claus? Our article series introduces you to objects that characterize German Christmas.

Language

Illustration: An upset-looking person with a jagged speech bubble that says “WILLST PUTZ HABEN?!” (Do you want trouble?!)

Word! The Language Column Coal English and rocker language

Hamburg has a lot to offer when it comes to special and secret languages. Klaus Siewert uncovers the latest sources and provides insights into the communication styles of sailors, showmen, and other nocturnal figures.

Illustration: Wide open square mouth with a jagged speech bubble containing the word “Edelkiopperkli”

Word! The Language Column Hamburg Specialities

Today, Klaus Siewert invites us to join him on a journey to the Hamburg of yesteryear. On this journey back in time, we learn the nocturnal jargon of Hamburg’s docklands. And we learn how the kettle-beaters in the dockyards conversed – despite the infernal noise they made.

The picture shows an illustration. In the middle of the picture you can see a river with ducks and swans. On one side of the river you can see the city and cyclists, on the other side nature, trees, butterflies etc.

Environment & Language How we Talk About Our "Environment"

We own pets, slaughter meat breeds, pull weeds, and associate warmth with something pleasant. Lena Maurer discusses how language can change our perception of nature.

Culture

Achtsam Morden

A burned-out Berlin defense attorney in thrall to a gangster takes a mindfulness course and finds enlightenment. Not the path of virtue, but the way to dispatch the biggest problem in his life - the gangster. But then he has to assume control of the gangster’s criminal operation himself.

Cherrypicker | Literature Sex and text with your ex

In her new novel, Katja Oskamp tells the story of a great love - how it began and how it ended.

German singer Ace Tee performs on the club stage during the Spex Hip-Hop-Festival in Bern, Switzerland

Sound Bites | Music The German Rebirth of 90s R'n'B

A tweet made it go viral: the song “Bist du down?” by Hamburg musician Ace Tee. First in the USA and later in Germany. How did this transatlantic ping-pong come about?

Germany

Green background, in the middle a graphic with a colourful gift wrap roll

Christmas Through the Eyes of a Roll of Gift Wrap Christmas (Paper) Comes Around Each Year

How sustainable is recycled wrapping paper? And what is the Blue Angel? Christmas through the eyes of a roll of gift wrap.

They look like they have jumped right out of the pages of a fairy tale, idyllic and mystical at once: the historic cave houses in the Harz region.

Detours | Cave houses in the Harz region Carved out of rock

What’s the solution when housing is in short supply? Once upon a time in the village of Langenstein in Germany’s Harz region, people decided simply to carve themselves caves in the sandstone rock. Some of these homes can still be visited to this day – and actually look pretty cosy.

Christmas market in Frankfurt am Main, night scene

10 things you should try at Christmas markets Year after year

It's dark when you get up and it's dark when you get home. It's dreary and you need two pairs of socks. Just some of the reasons why many people long for the end of winter. But: it's the only time of year with Christmas markets! You shouldn't miss out on these ten things at one of the 2500 markets in Germany!

EIne Graphik mit verschiedenen Gebäuden und Richtungspfeilen, dazwischen der Schriftzug "Umwege" bzw. "Detours" — Detours

Once a month, we take you to a place in Germany that you absolutely must discover!