Germany Facts

German inventor Konrad Zuse built the Z1, the world's first freely programmable computer using binary logic, between 1936-1938 in his parents' living room. His Z2, completed in 1940, improved on the design by introducing electromechanical relays for better reliability.

The first chocolate eggs were made in Germany in the 19th century and remain one of the most popular Easter candies today.

Originally, BMW was an airplane engine manufacturer.

First four countries to have television: England, the U.S., the U.S.S.R., and Brazil.

In 2005, German TV channel RTL aired a show called 'Sperm Race' where male contestants donated sperm samples that were then raced toward an egg under a microscope. The man whose sperm reached the egg first won a red Porsche Boxster.

First aid training is mandatory in order to obtain a driver's license in Germany.

Some nursing homes in Germany have fake bus stops to keep Alzheimer's patients from wandering away.

Scientists in Germany have developed a candy that doesn't cause cavities.

It's still possible to see the division between East and West Germany due to different light bulbs.

A 2012 study in eastern Germany was unable to find a single person under the age of 28 who believed in God.

Oktoberfest started off as a wedding reception for a Prince in Bavaria in 1810, and the newlyweds enjoyed it so much, they suggested making it an annual event.