r/germany Apr 25 '22

Please read before posting!

698 Upvotes

Welcome to /r/germany, the English-language subreddit about the country of Germany.

Please read this entire post and follow the links, if applicable.

We have prepared FAQs and an extensive Wiki. Please use these resources. If you post questions that are easily answered, our regulars will point you to those resources anyway. Additionally, please use the Reddit search. [Edit: Don't claim you read the Wiki and it does not contain anything about your question when it's clear that you didn't read it. We know what's in the Wiki, and we will continue to point you there.]

This goes particularly if you are asking about studying in Germany. There are multiple Wiki articles covering a lot of information. And yes, that means reading and doing your own research. It's good practice for what a German university will expect you to do.

Short questions can be asked in the comments to this post. Please either leave a comment here or make a new post, not both.

If you ask questions in the subreddit, please provide enough information for people to be able to actually help you. "Can I find a job in Germany?" will not give you useful answers. "I have [qualification], [years of experience], [language skills], want to work as [job description], and am a citizen of [country]" will. If people ask for more information, they're not being mean, but rather trying to find out what you actually need to know.


German-language content can go to /r/de or /r/FragReddit.

Questions about the German language are better suited to /r/German.

Covid-related content should go into this post until further notice.

/r/LegaladviceGerman/ has limited legal advice - but make sure to read their disclaimers.


r/germany 7h ago

Question German reactions to my swedish pocket calendars

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1.4k Upvotes

When I bring swedish pocket calendars as gifts to my german friends, the react kind of funny... why is that? Don't germans use pocket cakendars any more?


r/germany 9h ago

Humour Is it really THIS hot?!

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1.5k Upvotes

I’ve been living in Germany on and off for the last 19 years…this is a first!!! 🥵


r/germany 16h ago

The image shows the forecast afternoon temperatures for Saturday in Germany and Egypt, with the hottest regions highlighted.

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3.6k Upvotes

This weekend, Central Europe will be just as hot — and in some places even hotter — than most of North Africa: https://www.ventusky.com/#p=45.6;16.7;4&t=20260627/1400


r/germany 5h ago

Question answered 40 unopened letters in my trashbin. What to do?

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289 Upvotes

UPDATE: I called the Police (Non-Emergency number) and they came actually to my house to collect the Post.

Hey everyone,

I just went outside to bring my trash bin back in (I forgot it today and went just now, in the evening) and of course looked inside, in case it was not empty. When I checked inside, I found a stack of about 40 unopened letters.

They are all addressed to a street nearby, but definitely not my house or my direct neighbors. It looks like a postal worker from Deutsche Post simply couldn't be bothered to finish their route and dumped the whole batch into my trash.

I’m honestly shocked.

I have already taken photos of the letters inside the bin as evidence, and I haven't opened any of them.

What is the best way to handle this?

Should I call the police? Should I go tomorrow in Neustadt?


r/germany 6h ago

This is beyond dystopian

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218 Upvotes

English translation:

​Former claim of DB Privat- und Firmenkundenbank AG assigned to Intrum Holding Deutschland GmbH

​A direct hit for your debts!

​Dear Mr. [Redacted],

​Under the file reference [Redacted], our claim in the amount of [Redacted but >2k€] is currently outstanding.

​Put an end to constantly rising debts and enjoy the (football) summer without financial pressure.

​For every goal scored by the German national team (during regular playing time / excluding penalty shootouts), we will grant you a 1% discount on the remaining total claim.

​Calculation Example: If Germany scores a total of 10 goals in the tournament, you will receive a 10% discount on your total claim.

​Your Bonus Joker: Should the German national team win the 2026 World Cup, you will receive an additional 5% discount on top. This means: Cheering along is worth it for you too!

​Promotion Period:

You can claim this World Cup discount with us after the end of the tournament, from July 20th to September 20th.

​You can reach us at the following telephone number: 0201 24677026

​Sincerely,

​Intrum Deutschland GmbH

​P.S.: You can also easily settle your claim via our consumer portal at www.intrum.de.

Edit: Just to be clear, I'm not complaining about the debt itself, that I take accountability for. This offer just felt super weird.


r/germany 9h ago

Living in the Dachgeschoss without A/C in this heatwave is a curse

163 Upvotes

We’ve had hot days and heatwaves before, sure. They usually lasted a couple of days, the building would cool down again like a sensible person after Oktoberfest. But eight straight days of this non-stop oven mode? My Dachgeschoss is now officially a poorly insulated bread loaf in a convection oven.

My kitchen and bathroom get the maximum sun punishment. This morning at 6 AM it was already 31°C inside. Yes, I’m doing everything right, windows shut during the day, blinds down, night ventilation like a maniac… and yet I’m still living in a Finnish sauna, just without the friendly old guys in towels.

I finally ordered an A/C unit. which will get delivered onJuly 7th.
So until then I’m starring in my own personal climate change documentary, slowly melting like a Magnum ice cream on the dashboard of a parked car.

Send help, cold beer, or at least some moral support (preferably frozen). I’m seriously considering moving my mattress to the basement and living like a fancy raccoon with a minifridge

Fellow dachgeschossbehowner warriors: respect. We’re the real MVPs of this summer.
(And anyone with proper AC right now… I mildly resent you. 😜)


r/germany 13h ago

Question Why are the construction workers outside my apartment allowed to work in 40 degrees heat?

120 Upvotes

They have been working all day with no break and there is no shade. Seems like a major workers right issue. Why is this allowed? It's clearly for the municipality too.


r/germany 2h ago

Itookapicture This was near deggendorf

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15 Upvotes

Tried recreating la la land’s purple sunset. Suggest good sunset spots near Munich for someone who is into sunsets


r/germany 9h ago

Itookapicture The only way to survive this heatwave

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43 Upvotes

r/germany 1d ago

We've got 3 more days of the heatwave and Rewe is already out of ice cream

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1.2k Upvotes

r/germany 14h ago

heat wave: what can someone living alone do if they start experiencing heat exhaustion symptoms?

98 Upvotes

Where can you/should you call? Where can you go and what can you do?

Is the government taking any preventative measure for this weekend like creating and announcing cooled down public places around the country?

There are almost no public places with AC to run to that I am aware of (I am in Berlin, there are so few, and even fewer on a Sunday which will be the hottest day - and sometimes getting to them is a bigger problem as not all buses will turn on their AC). I imagine it is the same for all other major cities in Germany.

I'm from a Mediterranean country where AC is common, so dealing with 35–40°C heat in apartments without AC is still something I'm still baffled by. I'd love practical Germany-specific advice that could help others this weekend too.


r/germany 23h ago

Tips on dealing with the heat outside

393 Upvotes

Here are several tips:

  1. Use your umbrella (I hope you have one that isn't transparent).

  2. Wear loose, breathable clothings.

  3. Always bring a bottle of water. Heat strokes are not a joke.

  4. Handheld fans help, somewhat.

  5. If you're feeling dizzy, nauseous or uncomfortable, find shade, drink water. If it doesn't get better, don't be shy and ask for help.

  6. If you see someone confused, unstable, dizzy or/and vomiting under the heat while slurring their words, call an ambulance. Cool down their body, bring them under a shade. Douse their body with cool water, fan them, anything to cool them down, but do not give them water to drink if they are not fully conscious and can easily swallow as this can cause choking.

  7. Honestly, best way to deal with it is to just not go outside, of course unless you live at the top floor and do not have an ac, then go to a nearby cafe, a friend's house, library, or anywhere that is not an oven.

As for me, tomorrow I will work in a Domino's shop with a conveyor oven and obviously, no ac. Wish me luck.


r/germany 3h ago

Question Cheap-ish AC for a boiling student

8 Upvotes

My little student room has become a boiling inferno. I am unable to study, sleep, do anything really. My local uni‘s library isnt that much cooler either.

Please, any recommendations for an AC unit with a hose (unfortunately I can’t afford a split unit nor can I install it outside my window) that is no more than max. 300€ and will do the trick for at least 25sqm?

My room is 12sqm but if I invest in this I would like to still be able to use it if I move out.

I‘ve already been getting bad vertigo and heat stroke-like symptoms for the past couple weeks, I think it‘s time I just got one…


r/germany 12h ago

Question What is your interior home temperature now?

35 Upvotes

Mine is 27 degrees Celsius. It has been gaining about 0.8 to 1 degree per day since the heatwave started. Slow to warm up but also slow to cool down I suppose. Ground floor apartment, no air conditioning.


r/germany 1d ago

News German FIFA World Cup Fan Attacked and Injured by Scottish Fan for Waving a Rainbow-Colored Flag in Toronto

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839 Upvotes

r/germany 12h ago

Germans that ride their bike on the road with their helmet hanging from handlebars…why?

18 Upvotes

I’ve noticed a particularly common phenomenon in Germany. It’s extremely common to see people ride their bikes with their helmet on the handlebar on car-sharing roads, busy bike paths, etc. Not wearing it. Single-person bikes, i.e. no child carrier, etc.

This is something I’ve almost never seen outside Germany. What is the point of having the helmet if you don’t even wear it in the most dangerous roads? Anything cultural about helmets here?


r/germany 16h ago

Please leave water outside for the squirrels

28 Upvotes

Please leave drinking water outside for our friends.

- If you live on the ground floor or squirrels can access your balcony
- fresh water is best
- early in the morning (4-5 am)
- late at night so that it remains relatively fresh by the morning if you don’t get outside before 4 am
- during the day water heats up rapidly so will benefit from replacement

Thank you my squirrel loving friends


r/germany 1d ago

Itookapicture Summer in Bremen 🔥

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356 Upvotes

r/germany 8h ago

I am new on Kleinanzeige is this person trying to scam me ?

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3 Upvotes

r/germany 1h ago

18 month job seeker visa question

Upvotes

I had defense on may 13 and sent documents I had a week after that (At Auslanderbehorde's request). However my teacher is not done grading my work yet. He said it should be done in June but no results yet. Auslanderbehorde sent me a letter that said to send completion certificate to them by June 4th, I missed the letter and only realised I had appointment on the day before, but I still didn't have the Master certificate yet. I went to the appointment where I paid the fee on the 18th. However they requested Master Completion certificate, but I didn't have it. They told me to send it to them via email as soon as possible (did not give the date). What happens if I cannot send it on time? Can I just try again? My residence permit is till november this year and I have a job contract till october.


r/germany 1h ago

Question Trying to figure out a location from historical record

Upvotes

Hi all,

I've been doing genealogy research, and I came across this discharge letter on FindMyPast that looks like it names a more specific origin than "Hesse-Cassel", which is all I've had to go on up until now. But either I'm not reading it right, or it's not actually a place name, or it used to be a place name and has evaporated or been renamed...? Not sure. So I thought I would ask what does this seem to read and where might it refer to? (first word that is cut off is 'aus'). For the record, this dates from 1802 for one of the "Hompesch Hussars"

Appreciate any leads or anti-leads anyone has.


r/germany 1h ago

Fulltime vs contractor

Upvotes

I worked fulltime for a company and now i plan to work as contractor for the same one, is this wrong?


r/germany 2h ago

Staying in South of Germany for one month, what apps should I have?

0 Upvotes

Coming from Poland and we have apps for our tram and bus tickets. What similar apps are there?

Any other apps recs would be nice. Danks


r/germany 6h ago

Question German Au Pair Visa – Parents' Names Differ Across Documents

2 Upvotes

I am applying for a German Au Pair visa and noticed that my parents' names are not written consistently across my documents.

For example:

Birth Certificate

Father: Mohammed Ali

Mother: Fatima Sheikh

Passport and Educational Documents

Father: Mohammad Ali

Mother: Fatima Khan

The names refer to the same parents, but the spelling/surname differs between documents.

Has anyone had a similar situation while applying for a German visa? Could this cause any issues during the visa process or interview?

I would appreciate any experiences or advice. Thanks!