An assignment to Germany, the heart of central Europe, means living and working in one of the most dynamic, progressive and interesting of European countries. Today, it is an opportunity to witness, and participate in, an important new phase of German and European history. In addition, Germany offers a high standard of living, extensive travel opportunities both within and outside the country, world-class cultural events and recreational facilities for everyone.

Despite its linguistic and cultural affinity and close ties with the U.S., Germany is a distinctly foreign experience and assignment to Germany requires adjusting to a different pace and way of life. As Europeans, for example, Germans are more formal in business and social relationships than Americans. The national culture and its regional variations are shaped by patterns rooted in a long and unique central European history. Although English is a commonplace alternate language in parts of Germany, living in Germany will be more rewarding for those who speak German or who have the interest and initiative to take advantage of the many opportunities to learn the language.

In the 1996–1999 timeframe, Germany’s Government and Parliament and the American Embassy moved back to Berlin, the nation’s historic capital. The immediate postwar era is over. Both Germany and Berlin are whole again. Germany today is the world’s third largest economy and the economic foundation on which the EURO, Europe’s common currency, rests. The years ahead are certain to be filled with exciting new challenges, new issues and new opportunities for partnership with the United States as Germany and Europe reshape themselves for the future.

The Host Country

Area, Geography, and Climate Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:00 AM

Unified Germany comprises 16 states (Länder in the plural; singular: Land), of which three (Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg) are city-states. Berlin, with a population approaching four million, is surrounded by the State of Brandenburg, with the Brandenburg Land capital at Potsdam, a city that adjoins Berlin on the southwest. Bavaria is Germany’s largest land. Germany’s population exceeds 82 million and, with a total land area of only 137,800 square miles (slightly smaller than the State of Montana), the nation is one of the most densely populated and urbanized in Europe.

Germany has five distinct geographical areas and widely varying landscapes. From north to south these are:

the flat north German lowlands; the hills and the low mountains of the Mittelgebirge; the west and south German plateaus and mountains (including the Black Forest, the Schwarzwald); the south German Alpine foothills and lake country; and the Bavarian Alps with the Zugspitze (Germany's highest mountain, 9,717 ft.) near Garmisch. The most important rivers are the Rhine, the Weser, the Elbe, the Main, the Oder, and the Danube. The first three flow northward, emptying into the North Sea. The Main is a tributary of the Rhine. The Danube, starting as a spring in the beautiful, historic town of Donaueschingen in southwest Germany, flows east 1,725 miles to meet the Black Sea in Romania. Lake Constance (Bodensee), Germany’s largest lake, lies at the border separating Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Germany is in the Temperate Zone and enjoys frequent weather changes, sometimes daily. The country has four distinct seasons with rainfall frequent in most months, especially in the autumn. Winter temperatures and snowfall tend to be more extreme in the southern part of the country where the average elevation is higher, but even low-lying Berlin has snowfalls and winter temperatures which occasionally dip below 10°F. Summer temperatures are usually cooler than Washington, D.C., although short summer hot spells are common.

Population Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:02 AM

With a population totaling more than 80 million persons, Germany has one-quarter of the population of the European Union. It is the largest nation in Europe after Russia even though, in size, it is smaller than either France or Spain. Today, over 85 million people speak German as their mother tongue.

Many Americans call Germany home. There are thousands of U.S. military men and women including retirees, Government employees, representatives of U.S. businesses, academics and their family members throughout Germany. Relationships between Germans and Americans are generally very positive. Many older Germans remember the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshall Plan after World War II and the commitment and aid provided by the Berlin Airlift in 1948. America’s steadfast support of German democracy, especially during the crises of the Cold War, adds to the generally positive reputation of the U.S. in Germany. Many Germans travel or have traveled to the U.S. for business or pleasure and many learn English from the earliest years in school. English is a common second language, especially in the western parts of Germany, although some German-language ability is necessary everywhere for a rewarding living and cultural experience.

Recent History. The chronology of German events since the end of the Second World War has been dramatic and extraordinarily eventful. After Germany’s defeat, the country was occupied by the four Allied powers — the U.S., the U.K., France and the Soviet Union. In 1949, the zones under control of the three western nations united to become the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). In the same year, the eastern part of the country, under control of German Communist authorities and the Soviet Union, was declared a separate German State and became the GDR. On October 3, 1990, following the revolutionary changes of late 1989, the Federal Republic and the GDR joined to form a reunified Republic of Germany that extended the constitution and laws of the former West Germany to five new eastern States.

The city of Berlin, surrounded by East Germany, had a special status in the immediate postwar period and was under the military occupation of the four allies under a Four-Power Agreement. By 1948, Soviet violation of Four-Power Agreements from the immediate post-war days increasingly had isolated their zone from those parts of Berlin occupied by the Western powers and the division of the city began to take shape. The Berlin airlift of food and supplies in 1948–49 was an Allied response to Soviet efforts to use their control of overland access to Berlin to force the Western powers from the city. The Berlin Wall, the infamous dividing line between East and West Berlin, went up almost overnight in August 1961 in an effort to stem the tide of East Germans departing for the West. The Wall remained in place as a physical and psychological barrier until November 1989 when, under the pressure of weeks of peaceful protests throughout the GDR and changes in Soviet policy, it suddenly collapsed along with the government that had built it. One year later, Germany was unified. In 1991, the German Parliament, the Bundestag, made the historic decision to move the German Government and Parliament back to Berlin from Bonn where it had been located in a “provisional capital” since 1949.

Public Institutions Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:04 AM

Democracy in the Federal Republic of Germany is founded on the Grundgesetz (Basic Law), which came into force in May 1949. It provides for a parliamentary democracy and is protected by the Federal Constitutional Court. The constitution contains strong guarantees of individual rights for all. Matters requiring centralized direction, such as foreign policy, foreign trade, defense, and monetary policy, are reserved to the Federal Government. Parliament has two Chambers. The first Chamber of Parliament, the so-called “lower house,” is the Bundestag, which normally comprises 656 members popularly elected every four years. The “upper house,” the Bundesrat, is composed of 69 deputies appointed by the State or Land governments. This Chamber can approve or veto certain important legislation passed by the Bundestag.

Like the U.S., modern Germany is a highly decentralized nation. Each of the 16 States, or Länder, in the German republic has its own state government, with a Parliament and separate executive branch led by the head of government, the Minister-President. Education, social services, public order, and police are under Länder control. The ability of the Federal Government to affect Länder decisions in matters reserved to the states is quite limited, a feature of the German system of government deliberately created as a result of the experiences of the National Socialist period.

The Federal President, whose powers are mostly limited to ceremonial functions as head of state, is elected every five years by the Federal Convention, consisting of the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of members elected by the state legislatures. The Federal Chancellor, Germany’s Prime Minister, is elected by a majority vote of the Bundestag for a four-year term corresponding to the life of the Bundestag. As chief executive, the Chancellor has a strong position in the German system of government. The Bundestag can remove the Federal Chancellor by electing a successor with an absolute majority of votes.

The largest national political parties are the Social Democratic Party (SPD), leaders of the governing coalition following Parliamentary elections in 1998, and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) which operates in tandem with the Christian Social Union (CSU) of Bavaria. The CDU governed Germany during the periods 1949-69 and 1982-98. Germany’s “Greens,” a political party officially known as Alliance 90/The Greens, with roots in the environmental and left-wing movements of the seventies, entered government as junior coalition partner in 1998. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) is a small center-right party that has participated as a partner in most German governments since 1949, with the exception of the periods 1957–61, 1966–69 and after the 1998 elections. The Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) is the successor political organization to the Communist Party which ruled in the former German Democratic Republic. It enjoys limited regional strength, particularly in some districts of Berlin and the states of the former GDR.

Arts, Science, and Education Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:06 AM

Germany has an active and highly innovative theater culture, in both the large cities and smaller communities throughout the country. Theaters and acting companies are usually subsidized although more and more theatres are privatizing, especially in Berlin. Despite this financial dependence, theaters have great artistic freedom guaranteed by the German Basic Law.

For lovers of the visual arts, almost every city maintains art exhibitions and private galleries. Germany has more than 3,000 museums, of which 500 are concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most heavily populated of the Länder. There are outstanding art museums in Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Hannover, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Kassel, Stuttgart, and Wiesbaden. The most extensive art collections in the care of a local authority are found in the city of Cologne, including the Wallraf Richartz Museum and the Ludwig Museum of Modern Art. The latter institution contains one of the largest collections of American modern art outside the U.S. Cologne also enjoys a global reputation as a sales center for contemporary art. Every five years, the city of Kassel, in the state of Hesse, hosts the largest festival of modern art in the world. Meanwhile, Berlin is also experiencing a revival in the arts and is seeking to establish the Berlin Biennial as a major international show and marketplace.

Foreign artists are frequently involved in German cultural events. Almost every German opera house has American singers under contract. Several German orchestras have an American conductor, and many have American musicians. Every year major American orchestras and dance companies perform under commercial auspices in Germany, touring several cities. American artists are represented in all major museums, exhibits, and galleries around the country. German-language productions of American plays and musicals are frequently part of the repertoire of German theater companies.

As in the U.S., where education is a State and local function, education in Germany is largely the responsibility of the Länder. The Länder coordinate their educational policies through the “Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs” (Kulturminister-konferenz). The Federal Government can legislate on vocational training and regulations governing the basic principles of higher education and research, and, as in the U.S., it provides important subsidies in these areas.

As an industrial nation lacking raw materials, Germany sees high standards of education and high levels of productivity as essential to the quality of life of its citizens.

Although there are many regional variations in educational patterns and changes under way, certain basic practices remain as the German educational model. Compulsory schooling begins at age six and lasts nine years (in some Länder, 10). As in most European countries, Germany relies on early testing and the track system to select students for vocational training leading to skilled employment or further academic study culminating in the university. Most children are tested at age 10. Options include placement in a Hauptschule or Realschule — vocational high schools or in a Gymnasium, an academic high school. In some Länder there are comprehensive schools called Gesamtschulen. After completion of their compulsory schooling, students may qualify for higher-level specialized vocational training at a Fachöberschule, after which admission to a polytechnic university is possible. The Gymnasium leads to the award of the highly-prized Abitur, a certificate received after successfully passing stringent tests at the conclusion of the 13th year. (Most eastern Länder give the Abitur after only 12 years.) The Abitur degree is required for university entrance. The comprehensive school embraces all these tracks.

There are nearly two million students at institutions of higher education in Germany. There are over 200 advanced institutions of several kinds (universities and technical universities, polytechnic universities, comprehensive universities, teacher training colleges, and fine art colleges). Numerous adult education centers (Volkshochschulen) also offer an attractive spectrum of subjects for personal enrichment.

Study courses at the 70 universities are divided into basic studies (Grundstudium) and specialized studies (Hauptstudium). Basic studies culminate in an intermediate examination or Vordiplom (usually after four or five semesters) and specialized studies in the Diplom or State Examination (after eight or more semesters, depending on the field). American students with two years of full-time college study may be admitted to German universities if they have the required language proficiency. Students with combined SAT scores above 1,300 may sometimes be admitted with less U.S. college credit. Admission requirements for doctoral and other advanced programs vary. There is limited access to the medical fields.

Education in Germany, including university education, is free of charge for all students, including foreigners. There is, however, a registration fee.

Commerce and Industry Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:08 AM

The Federal Republic of Germany is one of the world’s leading economic powers. In terms of overall economic performance, Germany is Europe’s major industrial nation, the world’s third largest industrial country (after the U.S. and Japan) and the world’s second largest exporting country. Its per capita income is higher than the U.S. and second only to Japan. Principal German industries include automobiles and other road vehicles, chemicals, machinery, electrical goods, iron, steel, and coal. Germany imports food, raw materials, textiles, oil, natural gas, and various manufactured goods.

International trade is crucial to the German economy and the nation enjoys a steadily increasing trade surplus of almost $60 billion. Principal exports are motor vehicles, machinery, chemical products and electrical engineering products. In percentage terms, over 70 percent of Germany’s trade is with European Union nations. The U.S. is Germany’s third largest export partner, behind France and the U.K. At the same time, the U.S. is the fourth largest importer to Germany.

The German labor market has had to cope with profound changes since reunification. The unemployment rate, and the aging of the population remain major issues. Reforms to stimulate the economy and to create jobs have been at the forefront of government deliberations and public discussion. The employment problem remains most acute in the eastern parts of the country, the former GDR, where an unemployment rate about 50 percent higher than in western Germany persists. About 25 percent of German workers belong to large, powerful trade unions that bargain collectively for wages and working conditions and commonly participate in industrial policy and managerial decisions.

Transportation

Automobiles Last Updated: 4/28/2004 4:06 AM

Private vehicles owned by American staff members accredited to U.S. diplomatic posts in Germany are exempt from vehicle tax and, after proper registration, entitled to special license plates. Holders of the diplomatic list Ausweis from the Foreign Ministry are entitled to diplomatic license plates. A separate series of plates are issued to holders of a non-diplomatic list Ausweis. Direct-hire American Consular Corps employees at Consulates have a consular Ausweis and receive consular license plates. Posts in Germany assist American employees with German automobile registration. Any purchase, sale, or importation of a vehicle must be reported to the Embassy Transportation Office.

Regulations and requirements pertaining to the importation, registration and inspection of vehicles in Germany are the responsibility of the Länder. These may vary in important details from one location to another. What follows is valid for Berlin and is representative of standards throughout the country. Specific questions regarding the importation of automobiles should be addressed to GSO at the American Embassy in Berlin or to the destination post.

All cars imported into Germany must be inspected by the German Technical Inspection Team (T/V) before licensing and then reinspected every other year. Used cars without catalytic converters need to be reinspected annually. New cars shipped directly from the factory must undergo first inspections after three years, then once every two years after that. Cars that do not hold a German title (the KFZ Brief, the proof of ownership) require a technical certification (technisches Gutachten) that includes all the technical data required for the German title and registration paperwork. Waivers for non-conforming cars (i.e., cars built to U.S. specifications, left-hand-drive vehicles, etc.) are usually issued for the duty period of the individual diplomatic assignnment, whether the employee possesses a diplomatic Ausweis or a non-diplomatic Ausweis. The sale within Germany of a registered car for which waivers have been granted to a “non-privileged” person requires modification of the vehicle to conform to German technical standards, as well as (depending on the length of time the vehicle has been in Germany) payment of VAT and other taxes.

Identical models of vehicles sold in the U.S. may or may not be sold in Germany. Even the largest automobile manufacturers often distribute very different models in different countries. It is wise to check through local dealers whether a particular model of car purchased in the U.S. is marketed (and thus serviced) in Germany. Employees importing vehicles not sold in Germany should bring with them, if possible, a “technical data sheet,” typically issued by the manufacturer of the automobile and available on request from most dealers. This will facilitate the technical certification process. This information is required by the inspection process and is not available locally for some vehicles, particularly for certain Japanese-made vehicles.

Tires must have sufficient tread (at least 3 mm deep in summer and 4 mm in winter) on the entire width that touches the road. Tires must be free of breaks or cuts.

Requirements as to tire quality are based on the maximum speed capability as shown by the speedometer markings, regardless of whether the car can actually reach that speed. The higher the speed of which the vehicle is capable, the more demanding the tire specification.

Dangerous projections (e.g., hood ornaments or protruding emblems) must on occasion be removed.

A road safety triangle must be carried in the trunk. These may be purchased locally.

A first-aid kit, according to German standards, must be in the car at all times.

A plate showing manufacturer, year of the manufacture, engine and chassis numbers, and axle-loading weight must be affixed to the engine compartment. Such a plate can be installed at the time of technical inspection for a minimal charge. In view of the rigorous inspection, only roadworthy cars (newer cars in very good condition) should be brought to post. Inspection of personal vehicles brought to post is the responsibility of the individual although posts will offer limited assistance and guidance to the extent possible. Special care should be taken before deciding to import U.S.-specification vehicles since repair facilities for such vehicles may not exist or repairs may require delays while parts are ordered from the U.S. Third-party liability insurance from an F.R.G.-accredited company is mandatory. Several U.S. companies are accredited to offer automobile insurance in Germany. Policy premiums are determined by class types (Tÿpen Klassen) that are reviewed regularly by German insurance companies. If a class type has not been sanctioned for the German market, insurance companies apply rates for the established class type that is most similar. Posts can advise and assist with obtaining automobile insurance after arrival.

Since cars imported into Germany or purchased here are duty free, certain rules apply to selling them in Germany. German law permits the sale of private cars without payment of duty after being registered in Germany for two years. Imported cars can only be sold before the two-year limitation after the payment of import and value-added taxes, which at present are:

Vehicles imported from non-European Union countries: 10 percent import duty from the present value of the vehicle and 16 percent value-added tax from the present value plus import duty.

Vehicles imported from the Common Market countries: Only 16 percent value-added tax from the present value of the vehicle. Germany requires a valid German driver’s license. No one under age 18 is issued a German driver’s license. You can get German and international licenses during registration if you present a valid drivers license either from the U.S. or another country with an appropriate translation into German. A U.S. license must be valid on application. Without a valid license, you have to attend a local driving school to obtain a German license. Tuition rates are high, around Euro 2000-3000 ($2500-3750). A passport-sized photograph is needed for both the German and the international drivers licenses.

A driver’s license issued in the U.S. or any other country brought into Germany is not accepted in Germany unless you can prove that the applicant was a resident in the country where the driver’s license was issued for 6 months or longer.

Incoming staff should make every effort to ship their private vehicle from their previous post with license plates and a valid registration. This will greatly facilitate temporary registration of your vehicle.

Transportation

Local Transportation Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:15 AM

Germany’s urban transportation system is generally excellent and consists of electric trains, streetcars, and buses. Subways or U-bahns are found in several cities including Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich. All cities have superb taxi service. Taxi rates are relatively expensive and tipping is customary. Public transportation in Germany is easily accessible, clean, dependable, and safe, and is a common method of getting around cities.

As in other countries of continental Europe, Germans drive on the right-hand side of the road. City speed limits, unless otherwise posted, are usually 50 kilometers or 31 miles per hour; on State highways, 100 kilometers or 62 miles per hour. Sections of the German autobahns have no general speed limits for passenger cars, but certain stretches of roadway often will have posted limits that are strictly enforced by radar monitoring. Most emergency vehicles are painted off-white or red and white, with police vehicles painted green and white; emergency ambulances are lettered and numbered in orange or red. Fire vehicles are red.

Berlin. The Berlin transport system consists of buses, trams, and U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains. There is excellent service to most parts of the city. The four buildings of the U.S. Embassy are easily accessible by public transportation although travel times between sites may vary depending on the time of day or night. A single adult fare (Einzelfahrschein) costs more than $2 in Berlin although a variety of special fares exists for regular users of public transportation.

The large metropolitan areas of Düsseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich are also served by excellent S-Bahn and U-Bahn systems along with buses and trams. Leipzig has no subway system although public transportation is excellent and is being modernized.

Transportation

Regional Transportation Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:17 AM

Germany's largest transport network is the federal railway system (Deutsche Bahn AG) which was privatized and decentralized in 1994. More than 25,000 miles of track connect cities and towns throughout Germany and the system is constantly being upgraded and modernized. In addition to domestic high-speed intercity express service, German cities are connected to cities throughout Europe by frequent international express trains. Rail service between German cities, large and small, is excellent, and most European capitals, including London, can be easily reached within 24 hours. Rail fares in Germany are lower and rail usage much more common than in the U.S.

Due to its geographical position in the heart of Europe, Germany is a hub of European air traffic. Almost all major international airlines operate services to or within the Federal Republic. Frankfurt has the busiest international airport in Europe. Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Munich airports also accommodate international flights including direct flights to and from the United States. The Bonn/Cologne airport is a "feeder" for Frankfurt as well as an intra-Europe airport hub.

Only the United States has a more extensive network of highways than Germany. Because of its well-developed road system, Germany is an ideal country for automobile travel. Most people find a car desirable--sometimes for transportation to and from work--as well as for shopping and recreation. Express highways connect most major German cities, and secondary roads are usually excellent, so all parts of Germany are easily accessible by car.

International road signs are used everywhere in Germany. Drivers need to be familiar with these signs as well as with local driving rules, which are sometimes very different from U.S. driving customs. Parking regulations are rigorously enforced throughout the country and several different systems of paying parking charges may be encountered. Eligible Embassy employees may use Military Exchange (AAFES) gas coupons to obtain duty-free gasoline at most Esso stations in Germany and, on the autobahns, BP stations. Although most Esso Stations accept coupons, it's wise to ask before pumping gas especially at distant locations that may be unfamiliar with the coupons. Exchange coupons are limited to 400 liters per vehicle per month. The cost of gasoline in Germany is usually about $3.50 per gallon. The use of duty-free coupons reduces the cost to around $1.50 a gallon.

Communications

Telephones and Telecommunications Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:18 AM

Post and telecommunication services in Germany were reformed by a landmark 1995 law in response to European Union requirements and the enormous technical and marketplace changes occurring globally. Further changes resulting from deregulation are continuing. Telephone service in residences is now available through Deutsche Telekom AG, Europe’s largest telecommunications company and the third largest in the world. The company traditionally enjoyed a monopoly on local telephone service in Germany. Telephone service is charged on a “per unit” basis of actual usage and tends to be slightly more expensive than U.S. phone service, especially for high-volume users although deregulation and competition are forcing rates lower. Rental and call charges are paid monthly. Itemized bills are now available. Direct long-distance dialing is available in all German cities to most places of the world. Dialing the U.S. from Germany costs much more than direct dialing from the U.S. to Germany. Collect calls from Germany to the U.S. are charged at U.S. rates. AT&T, Sprint, and MCI credit cards and callback services are currently used by many employees for U.S. calls at considerable savings although international long-distance rates are falling as more and more competition enters the communications marketplace.

U.S. telephones, including most cordless telephones, answering machines, and fax machines will operate in Germany although devices with internal clocks may run slow because of the difference in cycles in the electrical current. Most Embassy housing and most German housing still have German telephone hard-wiring that may not accept American-standard plug-in communications devices or computer modems without adapters. Adapters may be purchased locally.

Communications

Telephones and Telecommunications

Wireless Service Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:19 AM Germany has an extensive cellular telephone network covering nearly the entire country and personal telephones are commonplace. Deutsche Telekom offers ISDN service to businesses and residences in most locations and the use of ISDN channels is growing fast. Installation fees and monthly service rates vary but are reasonable.

Communications

Internet Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:19 AM

There are scores of Internet service providers (ISPs) in Germany, both local and national, including AOL and CompuServe. Deutsche Telekom offers Internet connections through its T-Online service. UUNET, an affiliate of MCI World Communications, also provides Internet access throughout Germany. Costs to connect to the Internet are somewhat higher than in the U.S. because, in addition to paying the service provider, users must pay for their local calls on a “per unit” basis.

Communications

Mail and Pouch Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:21 AM

APO or diplomatic pouch facilities at posts in Germany are open to all eligible military and Foreign Service employees and their family members. U.S. postal rates apply. It is important to advise the Postmaster at your post of assignment of your anticipated arrival date as well as the names of all family members who will be receiving mail through the APO. With this information, APO staff will be sure to hold your mail for your arrival. Failure to alert the APO to your arrival may result in the return of mail as “addressee unknown.” The following are APO addresses for the U.S. Embassy in Berlin and constituent posts of the U.S. Mission to Germany. Letters and packages may be sent to individuals by name at these addresses:

Berlin American Embassy (Berlin) PSC 120, Box (number to be assigned) APO AE 09265

DLO Bonn PSC 117, Box (check with postmaster for unit designation) APO AE 09080

Düsseldorf American Consulate General Düsseldorf Unit 22115 APO AE 09103

Frankfurt American Consulate General PSC 115 (Agency/office) APO AE 09213–0115

Hamburg (by State Department pouch only) American Consulate General Hamburg Department of State Washington DC 20520–5180

Leipzig American Consulate General Leipzig PSC 120 Box 1000 APO AE 09265

Munich American Consulate General Unit 24520 APO AE 09053–4520

Available APO services in Berlin include certified and insured mail, as well as priority and express mail. Registered mail and the issuance of postal money orders are subject to certain U.S. postal service rules and may not always be available in Berlin. The Berlin APO operates a full service mail center at the Clay building in Dahlem and a limited service office at the Chancery in Mitte. Postal mailboxes are assigned to eligible employees on arrival, usually depending on which building houses their office. You may, however, request a box at either the Clay or Mitte location. Upon request, post box numbers will be assigned in advance of arrival for the use of employees with their changes of address. Such requests should be directed by cable or e-mail to the Postmaster Berlin or to Embassy Berlin’s Information Management Officer.

The German post office provides excellent mail service. The basic rate to the U.S. for airmail letters and postcards is DM 2 with delivery to the east coast in two or three days. All incoming APO mail addressed to the U.S. Embassy or to a constituent post in Germany transits Frankfurt where it is sorted. Outgoing mail is similarly handled before being air-lifted from Frankfurt to New York. Magazine and newspaper subscriptions sent via APO usually arrive with minimum delays although more substantial delays are possible during busy mail periods. For convenience and to avoid delays in German Customs, packages are best sent and received via APO. The three ways of sending or receiving parcels are as follows:

SAM (Space Available Mail) This is the cheapest rate with delivery time of two-four weeks. Mail travels by surface from the U.S. point of origin to destination.

PAL (Partial Airlift) Mail travels at the SAM rate plus an additional fee of $0.40 to $1.20. Mail is airlifted from most parts of the U.S. Delivery is one-three weeks.

Priority mail are the most expensive but delivery is quickest. Mail is airlifted to final destination and delivery time is three-seven days.

Communications

Radio and TV Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:23 AM

Germany has both government and commercial broadcasting. Radio and television in Germany are dominated by two major organizations, ARD, a national public broadcasting network combining eleven regional affiliates, each of which has a radio and a TV arm; and ZDF, Germany's national television broadcaster. The regional affiliates generate most of the programming for the main ARD channel, known in Germany as the “first channel.” ZDF is the “second channel” and the regional affiliates, such as WDR or NDR, are the local “third channel.” ARD affiliates and ZDF are neither purely commercial nor government-controlled broadcasters. They are independent corporations operating under public laws and controlled by boards whose members are selected by political parties, churches, labor unions, and other public groups. Television programming in Germany is supported both by viewer/listener fees and by commercials. All programs are produced or dubbed in German, including foreign programs and films. The public broadcasters usually favor a program mix more oriented towards news and documentaries.

The most important commercial television broadcasters include: RTL, SAT 1, RTL Plus, Pro 7, n-tv (the first all-news network in Germany), DSF (German Sports TV), RTL-2, and VOX (an “infotainment” channel). While the public companies broadcast on public frequencies, commercial companies rely mostly on the cable network and their programming emphasizes entertainment. Programs are interrupted by commercials. Households serviced by German cable networks can receive approximately 36 programs from Germany and neighboring countries. Satellite service is also available in Germany. English-language television broadcasting such as BBC World, BBC Prime, CNN International, CNBC and AFTN (Armed Forces Television Network) are available on many cable and satellite services.

Radio broadcasting in Germany is dominated by ARD affiliates. Virtually all of them broadcast on two or three frequencies. One channel typically concentrates on pop music and casually presented features and news. Other broadcasts are reserved for classical music, political magazines, educational programs, and radio plays. The number of commercial radio stations in Germany is growing constantly and there are nearly 200 private radio stations.

It is well-known that transmission standards differ for European and American television (PAL vs. American NTSC). European television sets will not operate in the U.S. and American television sets will not operate in Germany. Similarly, NTSC video products cannot be shown on PAL-only television sets. U.S. military post exchanges, as well as department and appliance stores in Germany, carry multi-system color television sets that receive both U.S. and German color programs and will play VTRs of either standard. Multi-standard sets are required to receive programs where American community cable television systems are operated. CB use by U.S. citizens in Germany is authorized, but it is more restricted than in the U.S. Licensing is obtainable from German civil telecommunications authorities. If turntables for LPs and/or reel-to-reel tape recorders are brought to Germany, remember that the electrical current here is 230v, 50 cycles. Although transformers will reduce voltage to 110v, the 50-cycle adjustment requires replacing the 60-cycle pulley for operation at the correct speed.

Communications

Newspapers, Magazines, and Technical Journals Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:24 AM

Germany’s Basic Law guarantees freedom of opinion and freedom of the press. There is no censorship. As a consequence of the strong position of a free press, Germany is as media rich as the U.S. In fact, in terms of the availability of news and information from other countries, Germany, like many other European countries, is far more news-saturated than the U.S. There are, however, significant differences between the media in the two countries. Germany remains principally a newspaper-reading nation but the broadcast media are possibly even more influential in their ability to influence public opinion.

Regional newspapers, many with national circulation, play a larger role than in the U.S. and general newspaper readership far exceeds that of the U.S. A circulation of 200,000 is an average circulation for a German regional paper with even higher figures for several regional papers that circulate nationally. Large circulation newspapers in Germany include the tabloid Bild (Hamburg), Süddeutsche Zeitung (Munich), Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Frankfurt) Rheinische Post (Düsseldorf), Leipziger Volkszeitung (Leipzig) and the influential Hamburg-based weekly Die Zeit. In Berlin, Berliner Zeitung is the daily with the largest circulation, followed by Berliner Morgenpost and Der Tagesspiegel. In addition to daily and weekly newspapers, about 9,000 periodicals of all sorts are published in Germany. Der Spiegel, a weekly news magazine with a circulation of over one million, is one of the largest. A typical well-educated German household might subscribe to a local paper, a national paper and a weekly news magazine. Many major papers and magazines are openly identified with particular political parties or political viewpoints.

Nearly 75 German newspapers are now on-line with Internet sites. One particularly good English-language site is: http://www.Berliner-Morgenpost.de. Updated every two weeks, the site has translations of the newspaper’s feature stories about Berlin, lots of the latest information about the city and links to many other useful Internet sites with important information about Germany. Another valuable site is: http://www.dwelle.de, the home of Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster, which features the news of Germany and the world in English and links to other Germany sites. Visitors may also subscribe to Deutsche Welle’s daily English news summary via e-mail.

The German Press Agency (Deutsche Presse Agentur-DPA) is the leading German news agency, with offices worldwide. The leading U.S. news agency, Associated Press, also services German newspapers. The English-language International Herald Tribune, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal are available in most locations. The daily U.S. military newspaper, The Stars and Stripes, is also available in many locations near U.S. military bases. European editions of Time and Newsweek are widely sold along with daily editions of British newspapers. Bookstores in larger cities sell a limited number of English-language books, usually in British editions.

Health and Medicine

Medical Facilities Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:28 AM

Excellent medical care is available in Germany. The approach to medical care, however, is different. A large number of physicians speak English. In addition, the U.S. military operates a number of clinics and three hospitals in Germany for active duty military. Participants of the State Department Medical Program are eligible to use military facilities for a fee on a space-available basis. The Department of State’s Regional Medical Officer is based in Berlin and is responsible for the operation of embassy medical units in Berlin and Munich, local care provided in the Consulates General of Mission Germany, and at posts in six other countries. Patients who have chronic medical problems requiring scheduled and unscheduled medical follow-up should plan to use local German physicians. Most local German hospitals provide 24-hour emergency care. German medical practice is often different from what is customary in the U.S. and not all hospitals can provide full English-language assistance.

Germany also has excellent medical and educational facilities for the mentally and physically handicapped, but all services are usually in German. English-speaking facilities are scarce. Germany is not necessarily appropriate for all special-needs children. Families with children requiring special facilities should write to the Post Health Unit for up-to-date information relating to the child’s specific needs. Medical bills related to hospitalization of employees and family members are covered by the Department of State Medical Program as a secondary payer after private medical insurance. The payment of outpatient care at local German facilities and at American military facilities is the responsibility of patients and their private insurance plans. Bills for German medical and dental care must be paid by the patient and then submitted to a health insurer. Dental and orthodontic care is available throughout Germany although standards may sometimes vary from U.S. standards. Charges for medical and dental care are standardized by the German Government and tend to be equivalent or somewhat higher than in the U.S.

Berlin. The U.S. Embassy Health Unit in the Clay Building in Berlin is staffed by a Regional Medical Officer, two additional FSN nurses and an administrative assistant. Medical care is available to employees and family members who are covered by the Department of State Medical Program and to members of the U.S. military and their families assigned to the Embassy. The Embassy Medical Unit is a primary provider for acute and routine medical problems. In addition, the Medical Unit offers immunizations, counseling, briefings and assistance to help families step into the German system of medical care.

Well-known German medical institutions near the Embassy’s Clay Building and the American housing clusters in Dahlem include the Waldfriede Community Hospital and the Benjamin Franklin Klinikum, one of Berlin’s finest large university hospitals with a full-service emergency room.

Düsseldorf. Excellent medical care is available from German providers in the Düsseldorf area. The Post maintains a list of English-speaking physicians. The nearest U.S. military medical facility is an outpatient clinic at Geilenkirchen Air Base, over an hour away by car. The nearest U.S. military inpatient facility is the hospital at Landstuhl, more than three hours distant.

Frankfurt. The Consulate General’s Health Unit is staffed by two American nurses and an administrative assistant. This unit provides medical assistance for acute care, health counseling, immunization screening, and assists should there be hospitalizations required. Additional out-patient medical care is available to all official employees and their family members on a fee basis at the Rhein-Main Clinic at the nearby Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt. For certain special medical conditions, appointments and treatment can be obtained, on a space available basis, at Landstuhl Army Hospital, 2½ hours from Frankfurt.

German physicians and hospitals are also frequently used. St. Markus Hospital is conveniently located just minutes from the Carl Schurz Siedlung housing area. Dental care for civilians is not available at military facilities (with occasional exceptions for emergencies). Qualified English-speaking dentists are locally available. The Health Unit provides each employee with a comprehensive health and information booklet that outlines medical care in Frankfurt for our families and identifies locally available services including English-speaking medical care providers in all specialties.

Hamburg. The city and region have many competent and specialized German doctors and hospitals, many of which are internationally recognized and which provide excellent emergency and routine care. Generally, German doctors in Hamburg speak at least some English. The University Hospital of Hamburg-Eppendorf has a number of specialized clinics that treat illnesses and medical conditions of all kinds. For detailed information regarding this hospital, see their Internet site at www.uke.uni-hamburg.de.

Leipzig. The post enjoys excellent relations with local medical establishments capable of handling routine medical problems and emergencies. A number of local medical and dental facilities have reached West German standards. The Bundeswehr Krankenhaus offers high-quality treatment and the Diakonissen Hospital, located a short drive from the Consulate General, offers most medical services. Post personnel, American tourists and business officials have also received satisfactory emergency services from Leipzig University’s clinics and quality dental care from local practitioners. Embassy Berlin’s medical staff can also assist with medical issues.

Munich. Post is staffed with one nurse. Consulate General personnel are encouraged to establish local medical contacts. Excellent medical care is available from German physicians and German hospitals in the Munich area. A list of English-speaking German physicians in all specialty areas is maintained by the post. The nearest U.S. military medical facility is in Bad Aibling, about an hour’s drive from Munich. Bad Aibling has outpatient facilities only, staffed by three General Practitioners. They generally refer cases requiring specialist treatment and/or hospitalization to German hospitals in the area. The clinic is open Mondays through Fridays between 0730 and 1630 hours. It is closed on American holidays.

Health and Medicine

Community Health Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:28 AM

Community sanitation and public cleanliness are similar to or exceed those in comparable American cities. Drinking water, dairy products, fresh vegetables, meats and other food products are under strict German Government control and meet the highest sanitation and health standards. Smoking continues to be a major public health problem in Germany. Germans have the highest rate of tobacco use in Western Europe except for Greece. All buildings of the U.S. Mission to Germany are smoke-free.

Employment for Spouses and Dependents Last Updated: 6/17/2004 9:56 AM

Employment opportunities for spouses and family members at U.S. diplomatic posts in Germany vary and depend on many factors including skills, language abilities and available positions. Clearly, there tend to be more opportunities at the larger posts in larger cities than at the smaller Consulates General. As a general principle, within the Mission, posts try to make job opportunities available to spouses and family members to the extent that post size and business allow and recommend. Persons with specific questions or requiring additional information should not hesitate to contact the Embassy Human Resources Office in Berlin or post's Management Officer.

U.S. regulations governing responsibilities, conduct and conflict of interest issues relating to outside employment of spouses and family members are contained in 3 FAM 620. These regulations apply to spouses and family members of all U.S. agencies assigned to U.S. diplomatic posts in Germany. Family members of an employee of the U.S. Embassy or a constituent post who plan to accept employment outside the U.S. Government are required to notify the Ambassador or Principal Officer in writing prior to accepting employment. Similar rules regarding advance notification apply to self-employment outside the U.S. Government. Although the employment of family members of U.S. personnel is governed by a reciprocal agreement (defacto bilateral work agreement) between the U.S. and Germany, family members assigned to constituent posts may be subject to differing rules or interpretations by State officials on the matter of work permits. On all employment matters, the first point of contact is the Embassy or post Human Resources or Management Officer.

Berlin. Full-time, temporary and part-time employment opportunities within the Embassy are advertised by administrative notice, and in the Quadriga, the Embassy newsletter. All eligible family members may apply by submitting an SF-171. Appointments are made at post. Office management skills and systems familiarity are a great help in obtaining work. Job opportunities requiring technical support skills are sometimes available.

Local employment may also be possible. However, applicants must comply with German laws and receive a work permit from the Berlin Labor Office. The process begins with finding work. The local employer and employee complete the work permit application, which is sent then to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under cover of a diplomatic note. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks the local labor office to issue the work permit. Employees who work locally pay German taxes. Assessed local taxes are higher than corresponding U.S. taxes. Fluency in German is necessary in most cases for local positions. Spouses and family members with local jobs must often relinquish their diplomatic IDs and diplomatic immunity during work hours.

A summer employment program for teenagers exists subject to the availability of funds. Numerous volunteer opportunities exist in the American community and some in German communities.

Düsseldorf. The Post has no positions reserved for American family members. Employment on the local economy in Düsseldorf is possible, although this requires a work permit and fluency in German. There are a number of American companies in the region, but the majority of their American staff is on transfer from the U.S.

Frankfurt. Employment opportunities in Frankfurt are good for qualified family members and cover the traditional range of skills. At this writing, there are more than 50 American Family Member (AFM) and Personal Service Contract (PSC) positions ranging from shared Community Liaison Officer (CLO) positions, secretarial and administrative assistants, visa assistants, computer operators, housing inspectors, postal clerks and procurement assistants. Consular staffing is a top priority and those who successfully complete the FSI Consular Course should be able to gain employment. There is also a continuing need for family members with enhanced computer skills.

Some family members have worked on the local economy and at the Frankfurt International School. However, more restrictive policies for local economy work permits are expected to be issued by the German Government. Specific inquiries regarding such positions and present policies in effect should be directed to the Personnel Officer for additional information.

Frankfurt has an active summer employment program for qualified family members age 16 and above. This program will continue, subject to availability of funds. Most of the positions are in the Consular Section and the Regional Support Center, although other sections and agencies sometimes participate.

Those seeking employment at Frankfurt should fax a résume as well as their pay history from previous federal employment to the Personnel Officer (local fax number is 7535–3477).

Hamburg. Because of the small size of the Consulate, employment opportunities for family members are very limited. There is a summer-hire program for dependent teen-agers. Because of the reciprocal work agreement, family members may work on the local economy. However, most employment opportunities require excellent German language skills. The International School may sometimes have positions available, and there are possibilities to teach English at private language schools.

Leipzig. Employment opportunities for family members are very limited, and nearly always require fluent German, though there are sometimes openings for teachers at the Leipzig International School. While family members may occasionally work on special projects (e.g., cost of living surveys), there are no permanent positions at the Consulate General designated for family members.

Munich. The post has a few positions designated for family members, but their availability is subject to change. American companies in Munich are willing to hire family members, but some knowledge of German is normally required, and work permits are not easy to obtain. Spouses and family members should not expect employment at the Consulate General to be readily available. There are presently no family members employed outside the Mission. If the family member finds a job and the employer is willing to sponsor the applicant, then the Human Resources Office will assist in the process of obtaining the work permit.

American Embassy - Berlin

Post City Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:35 AM

After an absence of nearly a half century, the Embassy of the United States officially returned to a united Berlin on August 31, 1998, with the announcement that, until the completion of the Embassy’s move from Bonn to Berlin in 1999, the U.S. Embassy in Germany would henceforth be located in two German cities, Bonn and Berlin. “One Embassy, two locations” was an unusual and innovative concept that, for the final year of the U.S. presence in Bonn, successfully integrated the Embassy’s operations in two cities, prepared Berlin to receive Bonn’s large contingent of offices and staff and proudly returned the Embassy of the United States of America designation to Germany’s largest, most historic and now unified city.

The shift of the U.S. Embassy back to Berlin, the traditional capital, had its roots in the dramatic events of 1989 that resulted in the fall of the wall, the collapse of communism and the reunification of Germany. In 1990, less than a year after the wall disappeared, U.S. Embassy Office Berlin was created to replace the American Embassy in the former German Democratic Republic (located in what was then East Berlin) and the U.S. Mission (located in what was then West Berlin). Meanwhile, following the lead of the German Government, the U.S. began planning for the shift of the U.S. Embassy from Bonn to Berlin in 1999, a decision formalized with the signing of a landmark property exchange agreement with Germany in 1994.

Berlin is a capital city with a turbulent past, the crucible of a century of history. Reduced to rubble by World War II bombing, and starkly divided by the Cold War, the city has survived and prospered through the courage, optimism and determination of its citizens. Today, Berlin has a population of nearly four million. The city is situated on the North German Plain about 100 miles south of the Baltic Sea and 50 miles west of the Oder River, the modern border between Poland and Germany. Berlin is one of three German cities that comprise a separate Land although it is completely surrounded by Land Brandenburg. The city is divided into 20 districts, each with its own name, ruling authority and history. Since 1990, but especially since a huge construction and modernization boom started in mid-decade, the city has experienced a process of radical economic and physical change as well as a significant cultural renaissance. Berlin is once again the seat of Germany’s Government and Parliament and the move of ministries, offices and embassies from Bonn is continuing.

Berlin’s climate is similar to the northeastern U.S. even though the city lies at a much more northerly latitude. Overcast days are not uncommon and summers tend to be cool and rainy although uncomfortable summer heat waves do occur. Winters are cool and temperatures between 20°F and 40°F are usual from December to February although much colder days and nights are not infrequent along with periodic snowfalls. Berlin is one of Europe’s most celebrated green cities with over 20 percent of its area devoted to parks. Although completely land-locked, Berlin is also a lakeside city, with an extensive complex of forested urban parks and lakes where residents enjoy swimming, sailing, water sports and sunning.

There are several Internet sites with Berlin-specific information. A good starting point is: http://www.berlin-info.de with English-language information about Berlin and excellent links to scores of other Berlin-relevant sites. The Embassy’s popular web site is located at http://www.us-botschaft.de or http://www.usembassy.de. The site offers information about the Embassy as well as links to other useful sites. From the Embassy’s home page, Internet surfers can travel to home pages for each of the U.S. Mission’s constituent posts, pages that offer current information about the post and its locale.

The Post and Its Administration Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:37 AM

U.S. Embassy Berlin is housed in four buildings scattered throughout the city. All buildings are conveniently located near excellent public transportation. The Chancery, with the offices of the Ambassador and DCM, the Political and Economic sections, the Office of the Defense Attaché, the Foreign Commercial Service, the Public Diplomacy section and the Embassy’s Information Office, is located in our former East Berlin Embassy building in the Mitte District, Berlin’s historic center. The Mitte Building and the adjoining Annex are located just beyond the eastern end of Tiergarten Park, near the Unter den Linden, the Brandenburg Gate and a short walk from the rebuilt Reichstag, home to Germany’s Parliament.

The Clay Building, in the Dahlem area of Berlin’s southwestern Zehlendorf District, houses the Consulate, the Embassy’s Administrative Section, the Foreign Agriculture Service, the Regional Security Office and the cluster of U.S. law enforcement agencies attached to the Embassy, the Internal Revenue Service and several other offices. The America House is centrally situated in Berlin’s commercial and main shopping district at the western end of the Tiergarten. The Embassy’s Program and Exchanges Section and the Public Diplomacy administrative support unit have offices there. In addition, a large General Services Section with offices, warehouses and maintenance workshops is located in the Curtiusstrasse Annex, in Dahlem/Zehlendorf. The Embassy expects to be housed at these different locations until a future time when construction of a new U.S. Embassy Office Building in Berlin is completed.

Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Both German and American holidays are celebrated. The Embassy’s telephone (the Berlin area code is 030 — the local calling number is 238–5174) is staffed 24 hours daily and Marine Guards are on duty around the clock at the Mitte and Clay buildings.

Newly-arriving staff should plan their arrivals in Berlin on work days and should always advise the Embassy of arrival dates, flight times and other details well in advance. Most international flights and connecting flights from Frankfurt or other gateway cities in Germany arrive at Berlin’s Tegel Airport which is convenient to the Embassy and Embassy housing areas.

The addresses of the four Embassy office buildings are:

The Mitte Chancery Building The Clay Building The America House GSO Curtiusstrasse

Embassy of the United States Mitte Building Neustädtische Kirchstrasse 4/5 10117 Berlin

U.S. Embassy Clay Building Clay Allee 170 14195 Berlin

U.S. Embassy Amerika Haus Hardenbergstrasse 22–24 10623 Berlin

U.S. Embassy General Services Annex Curtiusstrasse 64 12205 Berlin

Visas. Visas are required for holders of Diplomatic and Official passports. All U.S. Government personnel traveling to Germany to work at the U.S. Embassy or a constituent U.S. post in Germany must obtain a German Diplomatic or Official visa before arrival in Germany and before entry will be allowed. This requirement applies only to permanently-assigned staff and does not affect TDY personnel who plan to stay in Germany less than 90 days. Travelers who have questions or doubts about their status should check with the passport office of their sponsoring agencies to ensure that they are in full compliance with German visa regulations.

Housing

Temporary Quarters Last Updated: 1/7/2004 8:08 AM

Embassy Berlin maintains a policy of arrival-ready housing. Housing assignments are made by the Embassy Housing Board based on the A-171 standards and information provided in official travel messages. New arrivals generally move directly into their permanent quarters. There are no temporary quarters or TDY apartments available at post. Welcome kits are available and should be reserved in advance.

Housing

Permanent Housing Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:42 AM

Berlin is a limited shipment, furnished-quarters post. At present, most Embassy employees from foreign affairs agencies are assigned to government-owned apartments or houses in the western part of the city, near the Clay building and the German-American John F. Kennedy School. A limited number of short-term leases are being used due to requirements to enlarge the Embassy’s housing inventory to accommodate currently assigned staff. Personnel from non-foreign affairs agencies generally occupy leased quarters although some Department of State and other foreign affairs staff are also housed in leased quarters, both near the Clay Building and at other locations throughout the city. The Ambassador’s Residence, formerly the residence of the U.S. Berlin Brigade Commander, is a newly-renovated, attractive large house and grounds in Berlin’s Dahlem area. The DCM’s home, also in Dahlem, was originally constructed in 1930 and, as an example of the Berlin Bauhaus style, is a historically protected building. It has also been recently renovated and has ample representational space and a large rear yard.

To the extent possible, special needs and preferences regarding housing are considered by the Embassy Housing Board when making housing assignments. Such information, along with complete and accurate information regarding the number of family members or others who reside permanently (more than 50 percent of the year) with the employee, as well as the age and sex of children, should be directed to GSO (Housing). Housing options in Berlin are quite limited so there are no guarantees that preferences can be satisfied, but all relevant information helps the Housing Board decide the best possible match with available housing.

Berlin’s pool of Government-owned housing consists mostly of small to moderately-sized apartments and houses, with very, very limited storage capacity. Pack carefully. Contact your sponsor or the GSO prior to your pack-out if you have questions concerning your housing and/or individual storage facilities. Storage of personal effects at U.S.G. expense at post during your assignment is not authorized.

Housing

Furnishings Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:43 AM

Employees not authorized a full HHE shipment are entitled to residential furniture and other equipment in U.S. Government-owned and leased quarters. Government-provided housing includes queen-sized beds in master bedrooms. Employees assigned to Berlin should pack the usual china, glassware, flatware, linens and other personal belongings. Sheer curtains are provided and many units have wall-to-wall carpeting. Other quarters have area rugs over hardwood or tile floors. Query the post for more specific information before planning pack-outs.

The Ambassador’s Residence is fully furnished by the Department of State with high quality representational furniture in spacious public entertainment areas. Similarly, the DCM’s home is also well furnished and equipped for representational duties. State’s Overseas Building Operations (OBO) has details of both residences and furnishings and offers newly assigned Ambassadors and DCMs a full briefing on their Berlin housing.

High-demand items such as bookcases can be in short supply, a fact that should be considered when deciding what personal items to ship to post. With the exception of those housed in apartments, all employees assigned to houses are required to maintain their own grounds. Many yards are very large, and you may wish to check with GSO before packing out to determine if you will need to ship gardening equipment. Lawn mowers are provided to Department of State employees (other agencies have their own policies concerning furnishings and equipment).

Housing

Utilities and Equipment Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:51 AM

Each Government-owned residence has a telephone line and one telephone included. Adapter plugs are available locally to enable U.S. telephones to be used with German wall plugs. A variety of telephones in all models may also be purchased locally at prices generally comparable to U.S. prices. Telephones can also be rented at a nominal monthly fee from Deutsche Telekom, the local telephone company. Most residences have only one active phone jack and few are equipped for modern computer modems. Additional jacks and ISDN service can be installed by Telekom but installation costs and labor can be expensive and there is a brief waiting period for service. Alternatively, some employees install a second, portable, phone on their line.

Local current is 220v/50 cycles, though some Government-owned residences have both 110v and 220v outlets in the kitchen and bathroom. Items such as electric clocks and turntables may need to be converted to 50 cycles to operate properly. The Embassy provides a reasonable number of transformers. U.S. lamps can be used in Germany with the replacement of 110v light bulbs with locally purchased 220v bulbs. Note that off-sized light bulbs for some antique or specialty lamps are sometimes difficult to find in 220v versions. The post does not usually provide fans, freezers, or air-conditioning, though some of these appliances have been issued on a non-replaceable basis. Microwave ovens are supplied to all Government-owned and short-term leased residences, for employees of agencies that participate in the Embassy appliance program. Many but not all residences have dishwashers in addition to standard kitchen appliances. Please contact GSO for information specific to the quarters to which you have been assigned. Although there are no health concerns about tap water, the water in Berlin is hard, and many families prefer to use water filters or bottled water for drinking.

Berlin offers a rich variety of broadcasting, including English-language television (via cable). Most U.S. Government housing has cable television provided commercially through a local company. Satellite TV is also available.

The situation regarding appliances, utilities and equipment in short-term leased housing varies. As a rule, European kitchens tend to be significantly smaller than American kitchens and appliances are comparably reduced in size. Importantly, the electrical wiring in many older houses and apartments is often unable to accept the operation of American-sized appliances and air-conditioning. Generally, European housing has smaller rooms and less storage than American standards although this is changing as newer apartments and houses are built.

Food Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:52 AM

The availability of food in German food stores is much the same as in the U.S. albeit with some important differences. Retail shopping is tightly controlled in Germany and the inconvenient shopping hours present serious challenges to working couples. Most food shops are closed evenings, Sundays and holidays and are tightly shut by mid-afternoon on Saturdays. Fortunately, loosening restrictions in Berlin have resulted in many major supermarkets remaining open until 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, and popular “warehouse” stores where Embassy staff shop are open as late as 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Outdoor farmers markets and neighborhood groceries are a feature of city life throughout Berlin. Fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent but availability is distinctly seasonal. The German diet usually emphasizes meat (especially pork) at the expense of fish but fresh and smoked fish along with excellent poultry and game are available in most large markets. Fine bakeries are everywhere with huge selections of fresh bread and rolls and other tempting baked goods often made on the premises. German and other European wines and cheeses are widely available. Familiar U.S. products are found in most large supermarkets although favorite breakfast cereals, for example, may be slightly altered for the European palate. Ethnic food shops are scattered throughout the city. Berlin’s famous Kaufhaus des Westens Department Store (popularly known by its initials, KaDeWe, or “Kah-Day-Vay”) has a specialty food hall that rivals Harrod’s in London with a huge (and quite expensive) selection of gourmet-quality fresh and imported food items which can be bought for home or consumed on the premises. Generally, food prices in Germany are somewhat higher than in the U.S. although the quality, variety and freshness of food are also high.

The nearest U.S. military commissary to Berlin is located at the U.S. military base at Vilseck in northern Bavaria, a distance of around 350 kms. in the direction of Nürnberg. Many Embassy families do bulk shopping and use other base facilities there. The drive requires four-five hours and often involves an overnight stay.

Clothing Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:53 AM

Clothing suitable for autumn and winter wear in Washington, D.C. will be ideal for Berlin. The climate is generally much cooler than Washington’s. Clothing for men and women is readily available in Berlin with shops ranging from expensive boutiques offering familiar designer labels to more moderately-priced department stores. Clothing is usually costly in Europe, especially children’s clothes, but quality is high and most goods are European-made. On the other hand, good European shoes are also widely available, usually at prices lower than in the U.S. Priority mail should be requested for mail order clothing from the U.S. Internet ordering significantly lowers telephone charges when dealing with the large U.S. mail order suppliers. The post receives a cost-of-living allowance to partially offset the generally higher prices in Berlin for food, clothing and goods and services.

Supplies and Services

Supplies Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:53 AM

As with most large European cities, Berlin offers a nearly unlimited range of supplies and services. There are differences, however, between U.S. and European standards and practices that sometimes make locating a particular item or familiar service difficult. Such services as laundry and dry cleaning, hair stylists for men and women, shoe repair and tailoring are readily available in most neighborhoods at prices somewhat higher than in the U.S. A small American Embassy Association store near the principal Embassy housing locations offers video rentals and beverage sales.

Supplies and Services

Domestic Help Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:54 AM

Domestic help is difficult to obtain and expensive in Berlin although agencies exist to provide domestic services. U.S. Embassy staff who employ domestic workers are expected to comply rigorously with applicable German immigration and social security laws which control legal status, working conditions and the payment of required taxes.

Diplomatic and consular personnel, including administrative and technical staff, are permitted to bring household staff to Germany. Sponsors are expected to provide non-German domestic employees with a living wage, health insurance and repatriation. U.S. Mission employees planning to bring private domestic staff to Germany should apply for appropriate visas for them at the nearest German Embassy or Consulate General, and notify the Embassy Personnel Office as soon as possible. The Embassy will provide current information about applicable laws and regulations.

Religious Activities Last Updated: 4/22/2004 10:54 AM

Church services and Sunday School activities — both Protestant and Roman Catholic — are held in various Berlin Churches. English-language Protestant services are conducted in the American Church in Berlin. Berlin has a growing Jewish community, now more than 10,000 members, and Jewish services are held at locations throughout the city. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has an active community in Berlin. In addition, there are several other active Protestant denominations, many of which offer services in English, and a particularly large Muslim community.

Education

Dependent Education

At Post Last Updated: 4/28/2004 4:37 AM Education

Dependent Education

At Post

One third equally of embassy children attend the John F. Kennedy School, Berlin Brandenburg International School, and the Berlin British School. Very few are currently attending the Berlin International School.

JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL

Teltower Damm 95 – 123

14167 Berlin, Germany

The JFK school is located near most Embassy housing. Founded in 1960, the JFK School is a bilingual, bicultural American College preparatory school with approximately 1,400 students from kindergarten through grade 13. A private bus service, covered by the education allowance, is available.

Unlike an international school, JFK School is a German public school organized under the auspices of the Berlin Senat. The Berlin Senat and the school district of Zehlendorf are jointly responsible for the overall operation of the school. A ten-member Educational Directorate, comprised of representatives of the U.S. State Department, the Berlin government, and the parent body, works with the school administration in shaping policy.

The secondary school (grades 7-13), which is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, offers students either an American High School Diploma and/or the German Abitur.

Extra curricular activities are available for both elementary and high school students. Musical performances and drama productions are particularly strong features of the school’s program. For older students, class trips to the U.S., England, France, Austria, and within Germany provide unique opportunities to foster American-German integration among students.

There are no facilities at JFK for children with special learning needs.

Inquiries should be directed to John F. Kennedy School, Teltower Damm 87-93, 14167 Berlin Germany. Tel: 632105701/5711. Their web address is www.jfks.de .The e-mail address is: jfks-el-adm@t-online.de.

BERLIN-BRANDENBURG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (BBIS)

Am Hochwald 30/2 14532 Kleinmachnow

Director Mr. Stephen Middlebrook Phone 033 203 80360

E-mail: stephen.middlebrook@bbis.de

School web address: www.bbis.de

The Berlin-Brandenburg International School (former Berlin-Potsdam International School) was founded in 1991 but moved to its present Am Hochwald campus in 2001. The school has developed a comprehensive educational program from pre-school to Grade 12, leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The school follows the International Baccalaureate Program in all grades.

The new campus features a cafeteria, gym, all types of classrooms including science labs, computer labs, two libraries, a theater hall and many other facilities to serve the international community. The school is close to Embassy housing areas.

BBIS students and staff comprise more than 20 nationalities. The language of instruction is English. German is taught from Grade 1, French from Grade 5. Admission of students is possible all year round depending on class capacity. A regular bus system is available for all students.

THE BERLIN BRITISH SCHOOL (BBS)

Dickensweg 17-19, 14055 Berlin-Charlottenburg

Tel: 304 22 05/37 80; Fax: 304 38 56

Headteacher: Mr. Gary D. Benfield

www.berlinbritishschool.de

e-mail: bbs.enq@T-online.de

For allowances purposes the Berlin British School has been made the baseline school.

The BBS offers an educational program for students 3-18. The curriculum is based on the International Baccalaureate but has been adjusted to roughly match those of other international schools. Senior students prepare for the IGCSE ( International General Certificate of General Education) and the International Baccalaureate. The language of instruction is English. The BBS is a 15-25 minute drive from Embassy housing.

BERLIN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (BIS)

Lenzallee 8/10, 14195 Berlin-Dahlem

Tel: 82 00 77 90

Adm.Director: Peggy Bleyberg-Shorr

The school opened in August 1998. It teaches students 3-18 in both English and German. Primary language is English. It offers the Abitur in English with one major exam in German and the International Baccalaureate as of 1999. The school is located about 15 minutes from the embassy’s residential area. The school has about 450 students in total of which 170 attend high school.

Web address: www.berlin-international-school.de

e-mail: office@international-school.de

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, BERLIN

BISB)

Heerstrasse 465, 13593 Berlin

Tel: 36439820; Fax: 36439821

Academy Program Coordinator: June McTaggert

The Nord Anglia Education Group for international students aged 3-18 opened the for-profit BBIS. Students are taught in English following the syllabus of an adapted English national curriculum, including German language, literature, history, and geography. The school is housed on a green campus, about 45 minutes from the Embassy housing area.

www.bisb.de

e-mail: info@bisb.de

EDUCATION ALLOWANCE

The educational allowance is set to cover all fees, including bus transportation for the baseline school. The post is working closely with the Office of Overseas Schools so that the at-post-educational allowance will also fully cover costs at other accredited international schools in Berlin.

The away-from-post education allowance is equal to the at-post allowance due to the adequacy of the local schools.

In addition there are other schools in Berlin with international student bodies. Together with the schools mentioned here, there are an increasing number of school options in Berlin providing Embassy parents with a good number of schools to choose from.

Education

Dependent Education

Away From Post Last Updated: 4/22/2004 11:01 AM The away-from-post educational allowance is equal to the at-post allowance due to the adequacy of local schools.

Education

Higher Education Opportunities Last Updated: 4/28/2004 4:40 AM

There are three large universities in Berlin: the Humboldt University, founded in 1910, and located in Berlin’s Mitte District; the Free University of Berlin, founded in the post-war period and located in Dahlem; and the Berlin Technical University located in Charlottenburg. Instruction at Berlin’s universities is in German. Several U.S. universities offer extension and correspondence courses in Berlin. Check with the Embassy’s CLO Office for the latest information. German-language instruction is available from private tutors, commercial language schools and the Goethe Institute’s cultural centers in Berlin. The Embassy also offers German language instruction, which is administered by Human Resources.

Recreation and Social Life

Sports Last Updated: 4/28/2004 4:24 AM

Berlin offers many private and public athletic facilities open to Embassy personnel and their families. These include private and semi-private golf courses, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, sailing facilities and outdoor sports fields throughout the city.

Although Berlin’s terrain is flat, a few natural snow slopes exist for downhill skiers. Most nearby ski areas are for cross-country skiing, a popular German wintertime recreation when snow conditions permit. Ice skating is also popular and there are several rinks open in winter. The Botanical Gardens and Museum and the extensive Grunewald and Tegel Forests provide extensive sites for family outings and parts of the Grunewald and Wannsee areas are designated nature preserves. The Wannsee is home to one of Europe’s largest lake beaches. Running along city streets or pedestrian sidewalks is not customary in Europe (although not uncommon in Berlin). There are many trails and paths reserved for biking and running, especially in the Grunewald which is crisscrossed with bike and pedestrian paths. The Tiergarten, Berlin’s Central Park, and the grounds of Charlottenburg Palace also offer good runs for joggers.

Recreation and Social Life

Entertainment Last Updated: 4/28/2004 4:26 AM

Berlin’s reputation as a great city for art suffered from the depravations of war and political division but now, with the reunification of Berlin, and the shift of the heart of the city eastwards to its historic and cultural center that had been East Berlin, the city is enjoying a cultural rejuvenation. A dramatic new center for culture has opened at the edge of the Tiergarten near the reconstructed Potsdamer Platz and is the new location for museums of modern art and the 18th and 19th century collections of the Gemaldegalerie, formerly situated in Dahlem. Meanwhile, in the Mitte District, Berlin’s Museuminsel, home to the “old” National Gallery and museums of classical art, is undergoing renovation with plans for a dramatic new work by architect I.M. Pei on the drawing boards. Charlottenburg Palace houses several museums including Berlin’s well-known Egyptian Museum, home to the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti.

Berlin is one of Europe’s greatest cities for serious music. The Berlin Philharmonic is one of the world’s premier orchestras. It performs in a sparkling new Philharmonic Hall in the Tiergarten complex. In addition, the city has three opera houses. The Berlin music season is long and features performances annually by nearly all the world’s finest companies, dancers, musicians, conductors and singers, with both traditional and modern programs. Theater is a Berlin staple and, although most productions on the Berlin stage are naturally in German, there are local English-language theater groups and occasional visits by English-speaking touring companies.

Most American films reach Europe about three months after their U.S. openings. Foreign films (and television programs too) are dubbed in German although films are shown in their original language at some Berlin movie theaters. The Berlin Film Festival brings many of the world’s best films to Berlin each February.

Berlin after dark offers plenty of entertainment for night-owls. Cabarets, dance clubs, rock and jazz joints and bars proliferate in all parts of the city. Fine restaurants at all prices are everywhere offering German and continental cuisine in addition to a huge variety of ethnic restaurants for every budget. In summer, the city blossoms with sidewalk restaurants and outdoor cafes fine for eating, drinking or just plain people-watching. Kids will love Berlin’s famous Zoo, especially the giant Pandas, the bridge over the reptile pit and the attached Aquarium with 9,000 varieties of fish.

Recreation and Social Life

Social Activities Last Updated: 4/22/2004 11:05 AM

There are probably more opportunities in Berlin for making contact with the local American and international community than hours in the day. Many social contacts tend to flow from professional relationships although several more traditional community and church-based organizations exist and have active social programs and sponsor fund-raising activities. The Berlin Chapter of the Steuben-Schurz Society brings Americans together with prominent Berliners for lectures by distinguished speakers. The Berlin American Chamber of Commerce provides a forum for business contacts and activities with a commercial-economic focus. The Society of Parents and Friends of the John F. Kennedy School offers opportunities for parents to be involved with the school and to meet Berlin officials involved in supporting bilingual education. The by-laws of the JFK School provide for Embassy representation on the school’s Board of Education.

Official Functions Last Updated: 4/22/2004 11:06 AM

Official functions in Berlin are similar to those that occur at most large European Embassies. The Ambassador, the Deputy Chief of Mission, the Military Attachés and Embassy officers at the Minister-Counselor level have extensive representational responsibilities and active calendars of events. Functions tend to be far less casual than the American norm with protocol rules more close adhered to as is often the custom in Europe. Business wardrobes should be adequate for receptions and the occasional event requiring formal wear. Courtesy meetings with the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission should be arranged soon after the arrival of new Embassy staff. Calling cards are very necessary and may be obtained in Berlin at prices somewhat higher than in the U.S. The best procedure is to check with your predecessor about the content of calling cards and the quantities of cards required.

Special Information Last Updated: 6/17/2004 9:47 AM

Office of the Defense Attaché and the Defense Liaison Office (DLO Bonn).

The Office of the Defense Attaché is located in the Mitte Building Chancery of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin. Following the unification and the move of the German government to Berlin, the Ministry of Defense and other specialized German military agencies remained in Bonn. Accordingly, elements of the Defense Attaché Office also remain in Bonn and is known as USDAO Branch Office, Bonn. The Defense Attaché Branch Office is housed in portions of the former U.S. Embassy building in Bonn-Bad Godesberg.

Military Uniforms for Officers

General. Attachés, assistant attachés, and staff members generally wear uniforms when visiting Ministry of Defense offices and German military installations during diplomatic events, and occasionally during visits of U.S. or German officials. All officers and NCOs should bring service required issue. Other special items are addressed separately by service. Black-tie or informal uniforms are worn to most official social events and on other special occasions. Authorized ribbons and aiguillettes must be worn with uniforms.

Army. Army attachés, including assistants and the Operations Coordinator, should have at least one Army Blue Uniform. The Army White Uniform is suitable during summer, but is not required. Battle Dress Uniforms are required for visits to field units or on exercise observations.

Air Force. Air attachés, including assistants, should have two Service Dress Blues, one Mess Dress Uniform, and one set of BDUs.

Navy. Service Dress Blues are worn year-round in Germany. Mess Dress Blues are worn for formal functions. Summer White, Mess Dress White, Dress Whites, and Summer Kakhi are NOT worn by attachés in the performance of duties. SW & SK are, however, appropriate when visiting U.S. military installations in Germany.

Warrant Officer and Enlisted Personnel. The Operations Coordinator should have one Army Blue Uniform. Formal dress uniforms are optional for all enlisted personnel regardless of service. All personnel are required to have their service equivalent Class A Uniform.

Civilian Attire

Attachés. During duty hours all attachés wear civilian suits or slacks and sport jackets while on duty. Conservative suits are worn at informal receptions and at small informal dinners at home. A civilian tuxedo is not required, but can be useful.

Warrant Officer and Enlisted Personnel. All male personnel wear suits or slacks and sports jackets while on duty. Female personnel wear dresses, or skirts and blouses, or slacks/pants suits in the office.

Language Requirements Attachés, assistant attachés and spouses should speak fluent conversational German. Private tutors are available locally at around $20 per hour. Depending on available funds, some financial support may be available to meet the cost of language tutoring.

Calling Cards Calling cards for DAO personnel are a must in Berlin and Bonn. These are usually engraved or printed with raised lettering. Block letters are recommended for legibility. Official invitations are always in script. Cards, invitations and other printing needs can be met locally. No cards are required for warrant officers, enlisted personnel or U.S. civilian employees.

Post Orientation Program The Community Liaison Office (CLO) is usually the first point of contact for Embassy new-comers following arrival and, for persons newly assigned to Berlin, in advance of arrival as well. CLO answers educational queries and provides briefing materials, community information and periodically organizes Embassy orientation programs for staff and family members. In Berlin, the CLO Office is located on the ground floor of the Clay Building. Address queries to the Embassy CLO Office through the U.S. Embassy Berlin APO, or by telephone to the CLO office at (49) 30–8305–1550. The CLO fax number is (49) 30–8305–1551.

Strategic Networking Program (SNAP) Berlin is one of 18 missions worldwide participating in a pilot Department of State initiative called the Strategic Networking Assistance Program (SNAP), created to help eligible family members to pursue professional development and employment outside of the Embassy. This may include furthering education, employment on the German economy, or making a difference through volunteer community work. SNAP is managed by a Local Employment Adviser (LEA), who networks with local and international employers, organizations, educational institutions and associations.

To sign up for SNAP, contact:

Local Employment Advisor, LEA

Strategic Networking Assistance Program

U.S. Embassy Berlin

Clay Annex (room 3083)

Phone: ++49 (30) 8305 1578

Fax: ++49 (30) 8305 1555

Consulate General - Düsseldorf

Post City Last Updated: 4/22/2004 12:27 AM

Düsseldorf is the capital of the German Land of North Rhine-Westphalia and a major political, commercial and cultural center. The city has a population of over 575,000 and the State, 17 million, about a quarter of Germany’s total, making it one of Europe’s most densely populated regions. The post’s Consular district or area of responsibility is the entire state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which includes the cities of Cologne, Bonn, Essen, and the Ruhrgebiet, Germany’s heavy industrial center located northeast of Düsseldorf. The Ruhrgebiet is Europe’s largest industrial region and Germany’s principal producer of power for the entire nation. Today, the Ruhr’s economy is more broadly based than ever before with less than five percent of the work force employed in the old coal and steel industries, but it still suffers from double-digit unemployment rates.

Düsseldorf is a large, cosmopolitan city with a flourishing arts community including opera, ballet, art galleries and concerts. The city has a sophisticated retail sector, including the famous Königsallee of exclusive shops and upscale restaurants. It is also the seat of the German fashion industry and site of some of the largest commercial fairs in Germany. Although Düsseldorf International Airport is Germany’s third largest airport, it is not served by any American carriers.

Located in the lower Rhine Valley, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg are all within a few hours’ drive or train ride of Düsseldorf. The city and its suburbs are built on the valley floor and are rimmed by low hills to the south and west. The Rhine is a major commercial thoroughfare and Düsseldorf is a major inland port. Much of the city was destroyed during the Second World War and has been rebuilt in a modern style, although Düsseldorf boasts a large and diverting Altstadt or old town full of charming restaurants and specialty shops. The city has incorporated suburbs on the opposite bank of the river, which include large parks and greenbelts, and there are a number of parks in the Innenstadt or downtown. Further information on Düsseldorf is available from the Internet at http://www.duesseldorf.com or its German-language companion, http://www.nrw.de.

The climate in Düsseldorf is similar to the northern Atlantic seaboard of the U.S. with more rain throughout the year and much cloud cover. Significant snowfalls are rare. Summers are short and cool, particularly when compared to Washington, D.C.

The Post and Its Administration Last Updated: 4/22/2004 12:29 AM

The Consulate General occupies two floors of an office building near the city’s central train station at Willi-Becker-Allee 10, 40227 Düsseldorf (telephone 0211–788–8927). At present, there are three American officers and 11 other employees at the Consulate General in Düsseldorf in addition to the Public Diplomacy staff in Cologne. The post has a Political/Economic section, an American Citizen Services section and a Management section. The Consulate’s Public Diplomacy section is located in the Amerika Haus in Cologne, about 25 miles away from Düsseldorf. The Foreign Commercial Service is also present and colocated with the Consulate in Düsseldorf. Working hours at post are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There are no Marine security guards at post. A duty officer can be reached after hours (telephone 0172–970–2456).

Public Diplomacy is managed from the Amerika Haus in Cologne, a distance of about 25 miles o