Your visit to Germany 1957/Tipps für Deutschlandbesuch 1957

Social customs When you go to Germany you will probably want to adapt yourself, in reason, to German customs and conventions. You will find, for instance, that most German men wear hats which they doff with a sweep whenever they meet anyone they know, both male and female. ... Even if you wear a hat, however, there is no need to become flamboyant in acknowledging or giving salutes ... Ladies should not smoke in the street, although they can do so in restaurants and, without offence, in smoking compartments on trains. There are no special restrictions on women's dress, such as the wearing of slacks. As the Germans do not show the same self-discipline which Britons possess, you will find that there is no queueing, say for buses, and it is often a case of the most pushing persons being first. Nor do the Germans have our particular sense of humour - theirs is rather a "heavy" brand - so, however, well a German may speak English, he will seldom be able to understand (or appreciate) what I might term "sly digs." It is best to be ca…