Der Baader Meinhof Komplex. (The Baader Meinhof Complex, 2008). This film examines the rise of the Red Army Faction (RAF), a left-wing terrorist group in 1970s Germany. Through investigative sequences, archival materials, and a focus on the motivations and societal conditions that led to radicalization, the film reconstructs the circumstances behind the violence. It provides a multi-faceted, evidence-driven exploration of why such a movement emerged.
Das letzte Schweigen
Das letzte Schweigen (The Silence, 2010). A crime thriller where a girl’s disappearance echoes a decades-old unsolved murder. The film follows detectives as they meticulously gather evidence, revisit past testimonies, and reconstruct the sequence of events. The narrative is structured around the gradual revelation of facts, mirroring the German logic of resolving conflict through objective investigation and analysis.
First check, then commit.
Erst prüfen, dann zusagen. Literal translation: First check, then commit. Meaning: Emphasizes the importance of thoroughly reviewing all information before making a commitment.
Forget “keep it simple”
Frankfurt. Handelsblatt. September 13, 2025. Forget “keep it simple”: according to a recent study (in Germany), start-up founders raise more funds when they express themselves in a more differentiated way. What makes a good pitch.
When start-up founders want to convince investors of their idea, they often receive the same advice: keep it simple. Messages should be as clear as possible, with few foreign words and no frills. However, a new study by researchers at the Technische Universtät Dortmund, the Universtät Passau, and the Technische Universtät Munich, published in the journal Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, shows that it’s not quite that simple.
According to the study, the use of cognitively complex language leads to greater financing success: those who expressed themselves in a more linguistically sophisticated manner during their pitch received an average of more than seven percent or approximately $125,000 in additional investment in the twelve months that followed.
let him who binds himself
Drum prüfe, wer sich ewig bindet. Literal translation: Therefore, let him who binds himself forever, first see whom he is binding himself to. Meaning: Originally from Friedrich Schiller, this phrase is often used to stress the importance of careful consideration and gathering context before making long-term commitments.
Without context, no agreement.
Ohne Kontext keine Zustimmung. Literal translation: Without context, no agreement. Meaning: Stresses that agreement is only possible when all relevant information is available.
Holy Roman Empire
Royal Elections in the Holy Roman Empire: The election of kings in the Holy Roman Empire was a highly ritualized and secretive process, emphasizing legitimacy and unanimity. Before the formal act of voting, extensive informal negotiations took place behind the scenes. All relevant issues and possible dissent were addressed in advance, ensuring that when the electors finally gave their “yes,” it was well-considered and fully committed. The ritual and secrecy symbolized the seriousness and binding nature of the agreement, and only after all context was clarified did the decision become public and final.
German Reunification
The reunification of East and West Germany is a landmark case of conflict resolution managed through careful negotiation, legal frameworks, and evidence-based policymaking. The process involved extensive documentation, transparent communication, and step-by-step integration of political, economic, and legal systems. While not mediated by a single agency, the approach relied on traditional German strengths: methodical problem-solving, inclusion of multiple stakeholders, and a commitment to transparency and rule of law.
Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt
Postwar German Collective Guilt and the Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt (1945): After World War II, German leaders and intellectuals grappled with the nation’s responsibility for Nazi crimes. The Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt by Protestant church leaders was only issued after deep reflection and extensive discussion about the nation’s past and the context of its actions. This public admission of guilt—and the broader culture of Vergangenheitsbewältigung (coming to terms with the past)—demonstrates the German tendency to seek full understanding and context before making a binding moral or political commitment.
Der Vorleser
Der Vorleser (The Reader, 2008). In this adaptation of Bernhard Schlink’s novel, characters confront moral and legal dilemmas in postwar Germany. Courtroom scenes and personal discussions showcase direct, sometimes confrontational exchanges about justice and responsibility, but the characters strive to keep these discussions focused on the issues, not personal attacks.