Mensch und Gesellschaft: alle 75 Fragen mit Antworten

The 1984 Verdun meeting, where Mitterrand and Kohl famously held hands at the war memorial, symbolized Franco-German reconciliation and the EU's founding goal of ensuring lasting peace and security among former enemy nations.

Parental allowance (Elterngeld) is not automatic — a formal application must be filed with the Elterngeldstelle.

Parents hold the primary responsibility for raising their children in Germany.

Good education/qualifications are the key factor for job prospects in Germany, not religion, gender, or party membership.

Since 2000, children in Germany have a legal right to a nonviolent upbringing — hitting a child is punishable, not a private family matter.

You must register your new address at the Einwohnermeldeamt (residents' registration office) whenever you move.

The BIZ helps people, especially young people, find apprenticeships and explore career options.

From age 14, young people are criminally responsible (strafmündig) in Germany and can be punished — though under separate juvenile law, not treated exactly like adults.

Children in Germany have a legal right to a kindergarten place from age three until they start school.

Decorating a fir tree (Tannenbaum) is a classic German Christmas tradition.

Germany practices monogamy — being married to two people at once (polygamy) is not legally allowed, unlike the other listed living arrangements which are all legal.

Germany's General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG) prohibits discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, or sexual identity. Refusing a job applicant because she is a mother is gender discrimination — it is illegal regardless of the employer's reasons. The correct answer is that she is a mother (Option D).

Rejecting a qualified applicant solely because they use a wheelchair is disability discrimination under the AGG. Disability is an irrelevant factor for an office-based accounting role. The other options — lack of experience, salary expectations, language skills — could be legitimate hiring criteria. Only using a wheelchair (Option A) constitutes discrimination.

If you receive a Steuerbescheid (tax assessment notice) that you believe is incorrect, you must formally lodge an Einspruch (objection) with the Finanzamt (tax office) within one month of receiving the notice. If the Einspruch is rejected, you can take the matter to the Finanzgericht (tax court). Simply ignoring or discarding the notice is not a legal remedy and may result in the incorrect amount becoming legally binding.

Refusing entry to a public facility based on skin colour is racial discrimination, violating the right to Gleichbehandlung (equal treatment) guaranteed by Article 3 of the Basic Law and reinforced by the AGG. Public facilities open to everyone must not discriminate. The other rights listed — freedom of opinion, assembly, and movement — are not relevant to this situation.

When you receive an incorrect bill or administrative decision from a German authority, the correct legal step is to lodge a Widerspruch (formal objection). This must typically be done in writing within one month. Simply returning the document or ignoring it is not sufficient and the incorrect charge could become legally enforceable. The Widerspruch triggers a review process within the authority.

In a rapidly changing economy and job market, lifelong learning (lebenslanges Lernen) is essential. Germany has a strong tradition of continuing education (Weiterbildung) and vocational training. Adults are expected to update their skills throughout their careers through further training, courses, and qualification programmes. This concept is reinforced by Germany's dual education system and extensive adult education institutions (Volkshochschulen).

As a salaried employee in Germany, Ms Frost must pay Lohnsteuer (income tax withheld at source), as well as social insurance contributions: Krankenversicherung (health), Rentenversicherung (pension), Pflegeversicherung (care), and Arbeitslosenversicherung (unemployment). However, she does not pay Umsatzsteuer (VAT / value-added tax) from her salary — VAT is paid by businesses on goods and services, not by employees from their wages.

In Germany, when an employee wishes to resign (kündigen), they must observe the Kündigungsfrist (notice period). The statutory minimum notice period for employees is four weeks (to the 15th or end of the month). Longer notice periods may apply depending on the employment contract or collective agreement (Tarifvertrag). Failing to observe the notice period can result in legal claims for damages. The resignation must generally be submitted in writing (Schriftform).

Germany's special responsibility for Israel stems from the Nazi crimes — above all the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews were systematically murdered. This responsibility is considered part of Germany's "Staatsräson" (reason of state). It means Germany supports Israel's right to exist, combats antisemitism, and maintains a special diplomatic relationship with Israel. This commitment is not based on EU membership, the Basic Law text, or religious tradition, but directly on the historical guilt of the Nazi era.

Refusing to hire someone because of their skin colour is racial discrimination, prohibited under Germany's AGG (General Equal Treatment Act). The colour of skin is entirely irrelevant to the ability to work as a waiter. The other options — insufficient German, high salary expectations, lack of experience — could be legitimate factors in a hiring decision. Only rejecting someone because of their skin colour (Option C) is discrimination.

In Germany, if you buy a defective product, you have the right to Gewährleistung (statutory warranty) for two years from the date of purchase. You can reklamieren — formally complain and demand remedy. The seller must repair the product (Nachbesserung) or replace it (Nachlieferung). If neither is possible, you may withdraw from the contract (Rücktritt) or reduce the price. This is a consumer right under German civil law (BGB § 437) and does not depend on any additional warranty (Garantie) offered by the manufacturer.

Germany collects a church tax (Kirchensteuer) that is calculated as a percentage of income/wage tax for registered church members, hence the need to declare church membership.

Pfingsten (Pentecost) is a Christian holiday celebrated 50 days after Easter.

The four weeks before Christmas are called Advent (Adventszeit) in Germany.

Turkey is historically the largest source country of migrants to Germany, following the 1961 labor recruitment agreement.

The GDR recruited contract workers mainly from fellow socialist/communist-aligned states like Vietnam, Poland, and Mozambique.

Italy was the first country with which West Germany signed a labor recruitment agreement in 1955, preceding Turkey's 1961 agreement.