6) Piano tuning: In the same vein, Germans like their peace and quiet and it is streng verboten (strictly forbidden) to tune your piano at night.
7) Chimney sweeps: Did you know it is easier for a chimney sweep to access your home than it is for the police? It’s against the law to deny a chimney sweep access to your home if he or she demands it. The law was first introduced in the Middle Ages, but the current legislation goes back to the Third Reich. By giving chimney sweeps a fixed wage and assigning them districts, Hitler would ensure the loyalty of his country’s chimney sweeps, which meant he could use them to spy on citizens.
8 ) Be polite to police officers: If you’re struggling learning German make sure you don’t get your “du” and “Sie” mixed up when talking to policeman or another government employee. In Germany it is against the law to address a policeman with the informal “du” rather than the informal “Sie” and could cost you a hefty fine of up to €600. A good reason to continue those German lessons.
9) Deutschland, Deutschland über alles: It is illegal to sing the first verse of the German national anthem. The verse which begins with, “Germany, Germany above everything.” was made the national anthem by the Nazis during the Third Reich and was banned at the end of World World II. Deutschland Lied (Song of Germany) has been the national anthem since 1922. Joseph Hayden wrote the music to the song in 1797 but the words were written later by the poet August Heinrich Hoffmann in 1841.
10) Beer at the Oktoberfest: Fans of the annual Oktoberfest in Munich will be pleased to know that only beer brewed according to the German Purity Law (permitted ingredients: water, hops, yeast and malt) within the city walls of Munich is permitted at the festival and no other beer. Prost.