A Day in the Life: Breakfast in Germany

Traditionally, breakfast in Germany has been a very diverse, hearty meal with many dishes. In today's world, where people opt for a quicker lifestyle, breakfast is more simplistic; however, food is a rich culture in Germany and breakfast is an important meal of the day.

A traditional German breakfast would have:

Bread:

Source: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRehHRjXECATya2wi0HEJRvMNB8ideoSGN781kH8WMW1tP3HtEaPA

The German are big on their bread, and it is usually a base staple for their meals. Their bread, cut from loaves or served in rolls, is often bought fresh from a local bakery.

Spreads:

Source: http://www.thewednesdaychef.com/.a/6a00d8341c660253ef017eea4212c4970d-pi

A choice of jam, butter, or a cheese known as quark. 

Beverage:

Source:http://liebesgermany.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/germanbreakfast2.jpg%3Fw%3D637%26h%3D424

Usually coffee or tea is served, sometimes it is a glass of juice, or milk. (note: unlike in America, where coffee is taken in mugs, coffee in Europe is usually taken in teacups, or what I like to tall "espresso cups")

Cold cuts or wurst:

Source: http://stockarch.com/files/13/08/meat_and_cheese.jpg

A German meal just isn't German if it doesn't have its sausage.

Eggs:

Source: http://img.food.com/img/recipes/27/82/30/large/picjABRsr.jpg

So that's it: a delicious, hearty German breakfast! Now, I know that the typical German does not eat such a splendid breakfast like this every day, (just like Americans don't eat pancakes and bacon every day) but it sure would be nice to have a traditional German breakfast like this every once in a while, wouldn't it?

Sources: http://www.germanfoods.org/consumer/facts/eatinghabits.cfm
http://livingingermany.geekymoms.com/2013/05/31/traditional-german-breakfast/

History: the skiing warfare of WWII

So, coming off of the current Winter Olympics excitement and Germany's victory team gold in men's skiing...I thought I might focus on Germany and skiing.

Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have had a long history in skiing. The Alps along their southern border provide one of the world's most prominent skiing bases, and kids often begin skiing while they are very young.

But...did you know that there was such a thing as skiing warfare? 

I didn't.

Dating back to the 1600s, ski warfare has been used in many parts of Europe, from the battle in Polish-Lithuania against Russia in 1605 to the Norwegian-Swedish war of 1814 to WWI Austria to WWII Germany.

Look! The Swedish!
Source: http://www.theskichannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/20090807_Norwegian_ski_soldiers_606.jpg 

Because many parts of Europe are mountainous, especially central Europe, fighting is not always done on open terrain. In World War II, the US formed the 10th Mountain Division and took to the dangerous terrain of the Alps, where some German troops were situated.

According to a source on npr.org: "The men lived in the mountains for weeks, working in altitudes of up to 13,500 feet, in five to six feet of snow and in temperatures that dropped to 20 degrees below zero at night."

Around that time, "Ski tanks" were developed to access the snowy sites of battle:

Ski tanks
Source: http://www.theskichannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/20090807_aerosan.jpg

I'll admit, there isn't too much rich historical background behind ski warfare, but the thought of soldiers fighting in skis was quite interesting, and something I had never encountered before:

Sources: http://www.theskichannel.com/news/20090807/guns-blood-skis-the-history-of-ski-warfare/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14594652