States of Germany Trivia Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This first German state is home many of Germany's most famous cities including Cologne and Dusseldorf. It borders both Belgium and the Netherlands. It received its name partially from the river that flowers through the state. The Ruhr, a region of highly industrialized cities, is the economic hub of the state and one of the largest in Europe. Which state is this?

Answer: North Rhine-Westphalia

North Rhine-Westphalia contains many of Germany's largest cities and four of the ten most populous. Its population is roughly that of the Netherlands. The Ruhr Valley is the most populous metro region in all of Europe. It was formed shortly after World War II when the states of Rhineland and Westphalia merged and later took in other former states.

Politically, the state is one of the more liberal in Germany and is often represented by the Social Democrats at most levels of government. North Rhine-Westphalia is known worldwide for its museums and other places of German culture. The Aachen Cathedral and Cologne Cathedral (pictured in the left as it looked in 1891) are two of the most visited religious buildings in the state.

2. This state's name is something of a misnomer since it is in the north of Germany and also north of a similarly named state. The city of Hanover is home to the Staatsoper Hanover, a state opera house. Much of this state, including Hanover, was badly damaged by bombs during World War II because it was a center of the oil and rubber industry within Germany. Which state is this?

Answer: Lower Saxony

The state is called Lower Saxony after the Lower Saxon Hills, a mountain range in the state. It has nothing to do with the state's location. The name also might come from the "Low German" language that was once spoken there. Mining and manufacturing, specifically because of Volkswagen, are still strong industries in Lower Saxony, as well as agriculture.

Lower Saxony borders more states than any other in Germany. Historically, the state was very wealthy because of the large salt deposits and its location which allowed for many cities to become port cities.

The state is diverse geographically with swamps, mountains and coastline. The Elbe River provides Lower Saxony with fertile farming land with the chief crop being apples.

Pictured is the Aegidienkirche Tower which was bombed during World War II and was not rebuilt. Its ruins stand as a solemn reminder of the war.

3. This state is the smallest by area in Germany. It also consists of two separate cities separated by Lower Saxony. One of these cities has the same name as the state. The other is called Bremerhaven, which is an important German sea port on the Weser River. A city in this state is also famous for a traveling band of a donkey, dog, cat and rooster who never actually make it to said city. Which state is this?

Answer: Bremen

Bremen is sometimes called Land Bremen to distinguish it from the city of the same name. The name Bremerhaven means Bremen's harbor. Most people probably know of Bremen for the Town Musicians of Bremen. In that story by the Brothers Grimm, an aging donkey, dog, cat and rooster are abandoned by their owners and decide to move to Bremen.

However, they wind up moving into a cottage that was occupied by robbers and never get to the city. Despite that, there is a popular statue of the four animals in Bremen and it said that touching the donkey's hooves will make all your wishes come true.

4. This southern state is very well known outside of Germany and many things considered quintessentially German originated here. It is an alpine state, home to ski resorts. It would not be unusual to see men dressed in lederhosen while guzzling down a beer in Munich's Oktoberfest. The beer here is governed by the infamous Reinheitsgebot, or German beer purity standards. The BMW automobile company is headquartered in Munich as well. What German state is this?

Answer: Bavaria

Bavaria might be the most well known German state and is the largest by land area. It is a predominately Catholic state and more conservative than the rest of Germany, both politically and maintaining their traditions. Oktoberfest, which was first celebrated to honor the wedding of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese in 1810, started as a 17 day long festival that ended with a horse race. The horse race continued annually and the large festivities surrounding it continued to grow. Some stereotypical German things commonly seen in Bavaria are Bavarian cream pies and lederhosen.

Historically, Bavaria was a Nazi stronghold during World War II. Hitler led his first failed coup called the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, an event that would send him to prison where he wrote "Mein Kampf". It also gave him infamy among his supporters.

To the right, is one of the many picturesque hills of the Bavarian Alps.

5. This is the northernmost state in Germany and borders Denmark, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Its strategic position on both of these leaves this state as a major trade hub in Northern Europe. Its culture is a mix of German and Scandinavian influences. In 2014, this state gained attention for being the first in Germany to have 100% renewable energy. What state is this?

Answer: Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein was a much fought after region in older times and was considered crucial to Denmark's survival during the Middle Ages. Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire constantly ceded control of the state to each other until the Treaty of Versailles set the boundary after voter referendum in 1920.

Schleswig-Holstein is popular for its many beaches. Its location gave it access to wind and solar power which is responsible for its massive renewable energy resources.

Pictured is Holstentor, the famous Lubeck city gates.

6. This northeastern state is Germany's least densely populated and home to a lot conservation area. That, however, makes it a popular tourist destination in Germany outside of the big cities. The northern coast is littered with islands while the southern part of the state is covered with lakes. Schwerin Palace in the city of Schwerin is the state's best known work of architecture. What state is this?

Answer: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a popular tourist destination for the Germans who look for peace and quiet away from the big cities. Hiking, canoeing and spelunking are popular outdoor activities.

The city of Schwerin is the state's capital, which is most famous for the Schwerin Palace, a large castle that stands proudly on an island in Lake Schwerin. The Schelf Church dedicated to Saint Nicholas and Schwerin Cathedral (pictured)are also frequently visited places in Schwerin.

7. This region borders three countries, France, Luxembourg and Belgium, in addition to four states. Wine-growing is a large industry here, and this state is Germany's largest exporter of wine. Historically, the Amish people in the United States originated here. What state I am talking about?

Answer: Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhineland-Palatinate's capital city Mainz is the wine capital of Germany and the center of the wine growing industry of the state, with well over half of Germany's wine being produced there. The state is also known for creating new varieties of wine grapes.

Many German immigrants to the United States, including the Amish but others as well, originated from Rhineland-Palatinate because the Palatinate was historically a poor region. The state's close proximity to France gives its culture a little French twist. Many varieties of French wines are grown here as well.

Mainz is also the city were Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, making it the first city in the world to have mass produced books via that method.

8. This landlocked region is bordered by the Czech Republic and Poland. This state is one of the most secular in terms of religion with over 70% of the people being irreligious. During World War II, the city of Dresden was controversially bombed, an act that killed over 25,000 people. Culturally, the city of Leipzig was an important city for famous composers like Richard Wagner and Johann S. Bach. Which eastern state is this?

Answer: Saxony

Saxony is located in what was the heart of Old Saxony, a kingdom of German speaking people in the Early Middle Ages. Today, Saxony is home to many cities that played important roles during World War II including Dresden and Leipzig. The Colditz prison camp is also located here. Pictured is the Dresden Castle, one of many buildings damaged in the bombing that was restored in the 1990s.

The population of Saxony has steadily declined since it was bombed intensely during World War II. Many of the state's residents were Germanic people who were expelled from the nearby countries who have since returned. Other people left for better economic opportunity since it took some time for Saxony to be rebuilt. Even more people left once the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 to find a better life in the western parts of Germany.

9. This state is another one that is just a city and a pretty famous city at that. The Rivers Spree and Havel flow through here. It is considered one of the centers of German life, economy and culture. During the Cold War, this city was the center of hostilities and tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. At the Rathaus Schoneberg, JFK told the world "ich bin ein Berliner." At the Brandenburg Gate, Ronald Reagan told Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall". Which city-state is this?

Answer: Berlin

Berlin has long played a historic role in European and world affairs. Its division was symbolic of the Cold War and the Berlin Blockade in the immediate aftermath of World War II is seen as the first Cold War tension.

Nearly one third of the city state is public lands like parks and rivers. The rest of it is littered with popular sites including remnants of the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate (pictured). The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of peace and unity and was often the backdrop of historical events. It was built as a symbol of peace in 1791 but was badly damaged in World War II. During the Cold War, it was isolated because it was next to the Berlin Wall. It wasn't until 2003 that it was fully restored. The Rathaus Schoneberg was the former town hall in John F. Kennedy Platz, named after the U.S. President after his assassination.

10. This central state is covered with so much forested land that it is nicknamed "the Green Heart of Germany." The city of Eisenach is the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach. The Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther translated the New Testament, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state. Which state is this?

Answer: Thuringia

Thuringia is also seen as the center of intellectualism and the arts within Germany. In addition to Bach, other famous people who lived here include Johann Wolfgang van Goethe, Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner and Karl Marx. Thuringia is well known for ski slopes, so much so that over half of Germany's Winter Olympic medals are won by Thuringen athletes each Olympics.

The Thuringian Forest is the most prominent forest in the state and is where Martin Luther lived at the Wartburg Castle (pictured). Because the forest is very mountainous, it is a popular training site for winter athletes and several worldwide competitions have been held there.

Source: Author Joepetz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Germany has sixteen states or bundesland. This quiz asks questions on ten of those states. How many do you know?

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