Citizenship test questions on history, symbols and remembrance

This topic brings together 18 questions from three areas. First, the national symbols: the flag, the federal coat of arms with its eagle, the Federal Eagle in the Bundestag and the opening words of the national anthem. Second, Jewish life and Israel: how long there have been Jewish communities in Germany, where the largest are, the synagogue, the Makkabi sports clubs, the founding of Israel and Germany's special responsibility. Third, the history of the Federal Republic after 1949: Konrad Adenauer as the first Chancellor, the economic miracle, Willy Brandt's Kniefall and Eastern Treaties, and the guest workers. Study tip: many answers are names. Tie each person to one keyword – Adenauer: first Chancellor; Brandt: Kniefall and Ostverträge – and for the picture question on the coat of arms remember that the federal eagle is black on gold, while the hammer and compass belong to the GDR.

1. Question 21

   Which is the coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Germany?

   Welches ist das Wappen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland?

   • Image 1 – Correct answer
   • Image 2
   • Image 3
   • Image 4

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2. Question 29

   Which animal is the heraldic animal on the coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Germany?

   Welches Tier ist das Wappentier der Bundesrepublik Deutschland?

   • Lion
   • Eagle – Correct answer
   • Bear
   • Horse

   In the test (German): Adler

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3. Question 40

   With which words does the German national anthem begin?

   Mit welchen Worten beginnt die deutsche Nationalhymne?

   • Peoples, hear the signals …
   • Unity and justice and freedom … – Correct answer
   • Joy, beautiful spark of the gods …
   • Germany, united fatherland …

   In the test (German): Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit …

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4. Question 59

   How many years ago was there first a Jewish community on the territory of present-day Germany?

   Vor wie vielen Jahren gab es erstmals eine jüdische Gemeinde auf dem Gebiet des heutigen Deutschlands?

   • about 300 years ago
   • about 700 years ago
   • about 1150 years ago
   • about 1700 years ago – Correct answer

   In the test (German): vor etwa 1700 Jahren

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5. Question 66

   Which cities have the largest Jewish communities in Germany?

   Welche Städte haben die größten jüdischen Gemeinden in Deutschland?

   • Berlin and München – Correct answer
   • Hamburg and Essen
   • Nürnberg and Stuttgart
   • Worms and Speyer

   In the test (German): Berlin und München

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6. Question 118

   Who may become a member of the approximately 40 Jewish Makkabi sports clubs?

   Wer darf bei den rund 40 jüdischen Makkabi-Sportvereinen Mitglied werden?

   • only Germans
   • only Israelis
   • only religious people
   • all people – Correct answer

   In the test (German): alle Menschen

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7. Question 165

   What was the name of the first Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany?

   Wie hieß der erste Bundeskanzler der Bundesrepublik Deutschland?

   • Konrad Adenauer – Correct answer
   • Kurt Georg Kiesinger
   • Helmut Schmidt
   • Willy Brandt

   In the test (German): Konrad Adenauer

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8. Question 180

   The first Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany was …

   Der erste Bundeskanzler der Bundesrepublik Deutschland war …

   • Ludwig Erhard.
   • Willy Brandt.
   • Konrad Adenauer. – Correct answer
   • Gerhard Schröder.

   In the test (German): Konrad Adenauer.

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9. Question 181

   What did Willy Brandt want to express by kneeling (Kniefall) in 1970 in the former Jewish ghetto in Warsaw?

   Was wollte Willy Brandt mit seinem Kniefall 1970 im ehemaligen jüdischen Ghetto in Warschau ausdrücken?

   

   • He submitted to the former Allies.
   • He asked Poland and the Polish Jews for forgiveness. – Correct answer
   • He showed his humility before the Warsaw Pact.
   • He said a prayer at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

   In the test (German): Er bat Polen und die polnischen Juden um Vergebung.

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10. Question 182

    What is the Jewish house of prayer called?

    Wie heißt das jüdische Gebetshaus?

    • basilica
    • mosque
    • synagogue – Correct answer
    • church

    In the test (German): Synagoge

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11. Question 183

    When was the "economic miracle" ("Wirtschaftswunder") in the Federal Republic of Germany?

    Wann war in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland das "Wirtschaftswunder"?

    • the 40s
    • the 50s – Correct answer
    • the 70s
    • the 80s

    In the test (German): 50er Jahre

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12. Question 184

    On what legal basis was the State of Israel founded?

    Auf welcher rechtlichen Grundlage wurde der Staat Israel gegründet?

    • a resolution of the United Nations – Correct answer
    • a decision of the Zionist Congress
    • a proposal by the Federal Government
    • a proposal by the USSR

    In the test (German): eine Resolution der Vereinten Nationen

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13. Question 211

    Which politician is associated with the “Ostverträge” (Eastern Treaties)?

    Welcher Politiker steht für die "Ostverträge"?

    • Helmut Kohl
    • Willy Brandt – Correct answer
    • Michail Gorbatschow
    • Ludwig Erhard

    In the test (German): Willy Brandt

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14. Question 214

    What are the colours of the German flag?

    Welche Farben hat die deutsche Flagge?

    • black-red-gold – Correct answer
    • red-white-black
    • black-red-green
    • black-yellow-red

    In the test (German): schwarz-rot-gold

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15. Question 216

    Which symbol can be seen in the plenary chamber of the German Bundestag (federal parliament)?

    Welches Symbol ist im Plenarsaal des Deutschen Bundestages zu sehen?

    

    • the Federal Eagle (Bundesadler) – Correct answer
    • the flag of the city of Berlin
    • the Imperial Eagle (Reichsadler)
    • the Imperial Crown (Reichskrone)

    In the test (German): der Bundesadler

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16. Question 288

    What is the basis of Germany's special responsibility towards Israel?

    Woraus begründet sich Deutschlands besondere Verantwortung für Israel?

    • membership of the European Union (EU)
    • the National Socialist crimes against Jews – Correct answer
    • the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) of the Federal Republic of Germany
    • the Christian tradition

    In the test (German): aus den nationalsozialistischen Verbrechen gegen Juden

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17. Question 299

    Foreign workers who were recruited by the Federal Republic of Germany in the 50s and 60s were called …

    Ausländische Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer, die in den 50er und 60er Jahren von der Bundesrepublik Deutschland angeworben wurden, nannte man …

    • undeclared workers.
    • guest workers. – Correct answer
    • temporary agency workers.
    • shift workers.

    In the test (German): Gastarbeiterinnen/Gastarbeiter.

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18. Question 300

    From which country did the first guest workers come to the Federal Republic of Germany?

    Aus welchem Land kamen die ersten Gastarbeiterinnen und Gastarbeiter in die Bundesrepublik Deutschland?

    • Italy – Correct answer
    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Turkey

    In the test (German): Italien

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This guide is not legal advice. Laws and administrative practice can change; your naturalisation authority's information is binding.