LibGuides: German Culture: Media

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The Big Picture: Germany Today (28:43) In this classic episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series, the program checks in with the status of citizens in West Germany. This documentary from the National Archives and Records Administration shows how West Germany remains democratic after the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces defeated the German war machine. The video points out that no other force in military history has done so much to put a conquered nation back on its feet as the United States Army. (30 minutes)
Bombing of Germany: Battleline (21:49) Strategic bombing by the Allies undoubtedly had a crippling effect on German war production but what about the human toll on morale—and lives—of civilians? This classic program incorporates authentic WWII archival film footage and accounts from soldiers on both sides of the battleline. Part of the series Battleline.
Business Culture: Germany - Global Business (21:54) Business Culture: Germany uses a Q&A format to teach the basics of doing business in Germany. Understanding cultural differences is key to participating in the global economy. Topics include language, attire, and etiquette.
Germany: Country Watch (08:20) Germany is the industrial center of Europe and a leading influence on the European Union.
Germany: Triumph of the Bavarian Business Model (26:13) With much of Europe mired in the financial quicksand of a sovereign debt crisis, Germany’s domestic economy, especially that of Bavaria, tells a different story—in which businesses thrive, exports rise, and unemployment hits a 20-year low. What made it all possible? Well, the Germans have a word for it: Mittelstand. That’s the most succinct way to describe the German secret to success, a business model epitomized by modest family enterprises yet one that offers inspiration to corporate giants like Audi. This lighthearted program explores the meaning of Mittelstand, explaining why Germans remain allergic to debt, committed to hard work, and intent on continuing prosperity beyond one or two generations. If only other European countries could take a page out of the Mittelstand handbook! Unfortunately it’s all German to them.
Made in Germany: Europe's Economic Superstar (48:48) It’s almost miraculous: a few scant decades ago, what is now the world’s fourth-largest economy was brutally split in two. Today, all of Europe looks to Germany for answers. This documentary examines the nation’s economic, social, and cultural power—how it developed at the dawn of the 21st century and how it will continue to shape the EU and the world. Factors for viewers to consider include a national focus on work and industry that values family businesses, solid professional training, and lifetime employment within the same company; environmental policies that emphasize sustainable, efficient energy sources such as solar and wind, enabling even small towns and villages to profit; and an ongoing faith in economic pillars such as Volkswagen, whose Glass Factory in Dresden serves as the temple of the German car industry. Literary, philosophical, and folkloric aspects of German culture and their connection to current successes are also explored.
A Nation Returns: Germany (49:38) A neo-Nazi skinhead thinks democracy is unnatural; a typical liberal prefers to be a citizen of the world; a far-right office holder fantasizes about his hard-working, disciplined, Aryan fatherland. This program looks at Germany reunified: while there was an East/West, communist/capitalist split, Germans could forget about nationalism, which is now back with a vengeance. The liberals, we discover, don’t like the Germany they have, while the neo-Nazis love a Germany that doesn’t exist; after 45 years of longing for reunification, the two Germanys hardly recognize one another.
On Holiday in Germany (16:29) When the time comes for getting away from it all, Bavaria offers a wide range of options. This program introduces questions and answers related to shopping for vacation supplies and arranging for lodgings. Settings include a department store, a country hotel, a hostel in the Ammergauer Alps, and an ancient Benedictine convent located on Frauen Island, in the Chiemsee.