Germany is a small and extremely old country; with many cultures, beliefs, customs and ways of life. Culture is a particular society that has its own beliefs, lifestyles, customs and art. Most of these have been shaped throughout the country's history, with the current culture being shaped by the First and Second World Wars. Cultural awareness and tactical planning regarding operations were essential to Allied victory in the First and Second World Wars. Thus, having an understanding and awareness of a region's culture is key to successful intercultural relationships. In the beginning, between 750 BC and 768 AD, Germany was not a single country, but several states, made up of many different people called Germanic tribes. In the first century, the Roman Empire attempted to take control of several Germanic tribes by defeating some of them, but ultimately losing to a single Germanic tribe, this was a huge turning point for fledgling Germany. With the victory of the Germanic tribes over the Roman Empire, the birth of German history had begun. In the 5th century, the Roman Empire fell and Germanic tribes began to expand and claim more land, to the north, south, east and west. As these tribes grew larger and occupied more and more land, the Frankish Empire saw an opportunity and conquered the Germanic tribes, distributing them among the heirs to the throne. Frankish rule lasted for some time until the formation of the Holy Roman Empire, the medieval German state. This Empire was in force until the reform of the Catholic religion into Protestant in the northern German states by Martin Luther. This religious separation escalated into the 30 Years' War, ending the Holy Roman Empire. After the 30 Years' War, Germany began to transform into a modern state...... middle of paper ...... wars, leadership change, change The evolution of regimes and the influx different peoples and cultures over thousands of years have shaped Germany today. Most people and most Germans recognize Germany's tumultuous past and realize that it is part of their history and culture, no matter how bad it may be. Even though Germany is an economic and democratic power in Europe, it still bears the scars of its past. Because of these stigmas and their past involvement in war, their culture is different from ours. Despite everything that happened to Germany, Germany persevered and today has a rich culture based on art, literature, sports, gastronomy and music. Culture, no matter whether German, Polish or Chinese constitutes the country and the people. Understanding and being culturally aware is imperative for successful intercultural relationships..