Sachen: Germany

1
Sachen Germany

• By Word Adkins

2
Demographics

• Capital Dresden
• Population 4.5 Million
• 3 Major Cities Dresden, Leipzig, Chemnitz are
  the heart of inudstry in Germany.

3
Politics

• Type of Government Parliament Democracy
• Current German President Horst Köhler
• Chancellor Angela Markel

4
History

• Date Country gained Independence October 3, 1990
• Significant Historical Facts The history of
  Saxony begins with Heinrich I, who from 919 to
  936 was the first Saxon ruler to reign as King of
  Germany.  Heinrich, coming from the Harz, entered
  the region of today's Saxony, which until then
  had been settled by Slavs, and there put margrave
  in power in Meissen.  German peasants soon
  settled in the region, thus putting an end to the
  sole settlement by the Slavs, and missionary work
  soon ensued.
• In 1453, the duchy of Saxony attained the title
  of an Electorate and became a leading power of
  the Reich.  In 1485, the land was divided between
  the two sovereign brothers, Ernst and Albrecht. 
  From Wittenberg, the residence of the Ernestines
  and now part of Saxony-Anhalt, Martin Luther
  preached and the Reformation started to spread in
  1517.  Albertine Saxony later became Lutheran
  too.
• After several wars, Saxony climbed to new heights
  in its development under the electoral prince,
  Augustus the Strong 1694-1733, who was also
  King of Poland as of 1697.  In the 18th century,
  Saxony was undoubtedly respected as one of the
  cultural centers of Europe, but politically it
  was soon overshadowed by upcoming Prussia. In the
  Seven Years' War (1756-63), in the Napoleonic
  wars as a French ally, and in the Austro-Persian
  War (1866) as an Austrian ally, Saxony was always
  the loser in military conflict with Prussia. 
  Even though the State was declared a kingdom in
  1806, it had to relinquish almost three-fifths of
  its territory to Prussia in 1815 - and thus it
  roughly attained the borders of today.
• Due to especially intensive industrialization in
  Saxony, a strong workers' movement developed at
  an early time.  In 1863, the General German
  Workers' Union was founded in Leipzig, which was
  a precursor of the Social Democratic Party.  From
  1871, Saxony was a part of the German regime and
  developed by 1914 into the most densely populated
  area of Europe.  At the end of the First World
  War, Saxonywas proclaimed a Republic.
• During the National Socialist era, the State was
  brought into line.  Dresden suffered most
  severely in the Second World War.  A short time
  before the end of the war, in February 1945,
  35,000 people died in Allied air raids.
• History from http//www.saxonytourism.com/aboutsa
  xony.htm

5
Art, Literature, and Education

• Famous Figures The Green Vault is the most
  magnificent Treasury Museum in Europe, it owes
  its existence to Augustus the Strong, who
  combined his rich collection of precious objects
  and jewels with inherited masterpieces from the
  Renaissance and the Baroque.
• University/Sudent Population Dresden University
  of Technology with 34,993 sudents, Dresden
  University of Technology is the largest institute
  of higher education in the city of Dresden, the
  largest university in Saxony, and one of the 10
  largest universities in Germany.
• Important Landmarks Zwinger is a beautiful
  Baroque structure. The name means intermural.
  It was built in the space between the former town
  fortifications.

6
Cultural Activities

• Customs
  
• Ascension Day
• "Ascension Day" is the 40th day after
  Easter and represents the ascension of Jesus to
  His Father in Heaven. Ascension Day always falls
  on the Thursday nine days before Whitsun.
• Whitsun
• Whitsun or Pentecost ("Pfingsten") is
  celebrated with Whit Sunday ("Pfingstsonntag")
  and Whit Monday ("Pfingstmonntag"). This is the
  50th day after Easter. This commemorates the
  descent of the Holy Ghost among the apostles of
  Jesus, which was the starting point of their
  missionary work. Whitsun can therefore be
  described as the birthday of the church. Whit
  Monday is a public holiday
• Holidays/Celebrations Saxony Celebration of Sorb
  Ethnic Minority Consul for Public Affairs Dr.
  Elizabeth Bonkowsky represented the Consulate at
  the Sorb folk group festival at Crostwitz, near
  Bautzen. She was welcomed at every turn including
  a luncheon - attended also by Saxon state
  ministers and representatives - a festival parade
  and the afternoon program of folk music and
  dancing. The Sorbs, a Slavic minority group, live
  in a small town and rural area of Saxony and
  south Brandenburg.
• Music/Dance Violins of masters have been made in
  Vogtland musical nook at the south-western tip
  of Saxony for over 300 years.

7
Food

• Regional Specialties Stollen preperation
  Combine the fruit, peel and zest with the rum to
  macerate
• place the butter, milk and sugar in a small
  saucepan heat gently until the sugar is
  dissolved
• in a bowl, combine the flour, salt, cinnamon,
  nutmeg, yeast and cardamom
• make a well in the centre pour the melted butter
  mixture and the eggs into the well knead all the
  ingredients together for 5 minutes to form a
  smooth, supple dough if the dough is too sticky,
  add a little more flour add in the macerated
  fruit, peel, zest and almonds
• cover with greased paper and leave to rise for 3
  hours, until the dough has doubled in volume
• knead again on a floured surface roll out into a
  25 cm (10") square
• spread the marzipan over the centre fold each
  side over to form a rectangle
• turn over and place on a buttered baking sheet
  cover with greased paper and let rise again for
  one hour or until doubled in volume
• place into a preheated 190 C (375 F) oven and
  bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the
  bread is nicely browned and produces a hollow
  sound when the bottom is rapped
• remove from the oven brush with melted butter
  sprinkle with icing sugar.
• German Recipe Black Forest Cake
  Ingredients1.66 cups all-purpose flour, 1.5 cups
  white sugar, .66 cup unsweetened cocoa powder,
  1.5 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1.5
  cups milk, .5 cup shortening, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon
  vanilla, .5 cup Schwarzwaelder Kirschwasser, and
  for topping 1 square semisweet chocolate.
• Cooking Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175
  degrees C). Line the bottoms of two 8 inch round
  pans with parchment paper circles (since I didn't
  have such paper, I just greased the pans). Sift
  together flour, cocoa, baking soda and 1 teaspoon
  salt. Set aside.Cream shortening and sugar until
  light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Add
  vanilla. Add flour mixture, alternating with
  milk, beat until combined.Pour into 2 round 8
  inch pans. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a
  toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
  Cool completely. Remove paper (if any) from under
  the cakes. Cut each layer in half, horizontally,
  making 4 layers total (as you can see from my
  picture, I chose not to cut the layers because
  they looked too fragile to cut them). Sprinkle
  layers with 1/2 cup Kirschwasser.In a separate
  bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks. Beat in 1/2
  teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon Kirschwasser.
  Add sugar powder, and a pinch of salt. Beat
  again. Spread first layer of cake with 1/3 of the
  filling (use 1/2 of the filling if you have only
  2 layers instead of 4). Top with 1/3 (2/3) of the
  cherries. Repeat with the remaining
  layer(s).Frost top and sides of cake. Sprinkle
  with chocolate curls made by using a potato
  peeler on semisweet baking chocolate. Or you can
  use the remaining crumbs to sprinkle the sides of
  the cake.

8
Geography

• Where is Saxony? In South East Germany
• Rivers, Mountains, etc. The main axis of Saxony
  is the Elbe river, crossing the state from
  southeast to northwest. Another important river,
  west of the Elbe, is the Mulde. The Neiße river
  forms the Polish border.
• Climate Saxony is the transitional zone between
  the maritime climate of Western Europe and the
  Continental climate of Eastern Europe.