British-German Association

BGA Reception for young professionals under 35 at NORD/LB
2025-02-06 18:30 - 20:30 (Europe/London) | Nord/LB
Join us for an exclusive networking opportunity at our BGA Reception for young professionals under 35 at NORD/LB!
Date: 6 February 2025
Time: 6.30 to 9.30pm
Location: NORD/LB, One Wood Street, London EC2V 7WT
You will be joined by young professionals from the different Landesbanken in London. Connect with fellow young leaders, enjoy refreshments, and learn more about NORD/LB. This is a great opportunity to network and share ideas. Drinks and nibbles will be served.
The sale for this event has now ended. Please do get in touch with office@britishgermanassociation.org, if you still would like to join.

German Treasures at the British Library with Susan Reed
2025-02-13 14:00 - 15:00 | British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
On Thursday 13 February 2025 from 2pm to 3pm, Susan Reed, the Lead Curator of the Germanic Collections at the British Library in London, will do a show and tell session for BGA members on literature in the British Library featuring themes of Anglo-German relations and Germans in the UK followed by a Q&A. If attendees are interested, we can have coffee after the event in one of the restaurants at the Library.
Susan is currently Head of Germanic Collections at the British Library, and has worked with the Library’s German collections in various capacities for over 30 years. Her research interests include printed ephemera from the 1848 revolutions in Berlin and Vienna, and the history of German-language publishing and printing in nineteenth-century Britain. She has also co-curated major British Library exhibitions on the early twentieth-century European Avant-Garde, the Russian Revolution, and Fantasy, as well as smaller displays on Schiller, Luther, and Stefan Zweig.
This event is now fully booked. Please email us at office@britishgermanassociation.org if you have any questions or would like to have a place on our waiting list.

Hermann Beck - Online Book Talk
2025-02-20 19:00 - 20:00
On Thursday, 20 February 2025 from 7pm to 8pm, BGA members are invited to an online book talk with Herman Beck on Before the Holocaust: Antisemitic Violence and the Reaction of German Elites and Institutions during the Nazi Takeover.
Hermann Beck is Professor of History at the University of Miami. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles after studying History and Literature at German universities (Mannheim, Freiburg, and Berlin), the London School of Economics, and the Sorbonne. He has been a Fulbright Scholar and a member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. His publications include books on nineteenth-century Germany, The Origins of the Authoritarian Welfare State in Prussia, and the late Weimar and Nazi periods, The Fateful Alliance: German Conservatives and Nazis in 1933, and (co-editor), From Weimar to Hitler: Studies on the Dissolution of Weimar Democracy and the Establishment of the Third Reich, 1932-34 (with Larry Jones), as well as articles on conservatism, socialism, the Prussian bureaucracy, antisemitism, and the early Nazi period. These were published in British, German, and American journals and in edited collections.
For more information and ways to register, please follow this link: https://www.lbilondon.ac.uk/events/special-events/holocaust-antisemitic-violence-and-reaction-german-elites-and-institutions

Kaput! The End of the German Miracle - In conversation with Wolfgang Münchau
2025-02-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
On Tuesday 25 February 2025 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm GMT on Zoom, join Wolfgang Münchau, director of EuroIntelligence, and Rhian Chilcott, Senior Advisor at Berlin Global Advisors for their conversation on Wolfgang’s book Kaput: The End of the German Miracle.
Until recently, Germany appeared to be a paragon of economic and political success. Angela Merkel was widely seen as the true ‘leader of the free world’, and Germany’s export-driven economic model seemed to deliver prosperity. But recent events – from Germany’s dependence on Russian gas to its car industry’s delays in the race to electric – have undermined this view.
In Kaput, Wolfgang Münchau argues that the weaknesses of Germany’s economy have, in fact, been brewing for decades. The neo-mercantilist policies of the German state, driven by close connections between the country’s industrial and political elite, have left Germany technologically behind over-reliant on authoritarian Russia and China – and with little sign of being able to adapt to the digital realities of the 21st century. It is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of Europe’s biggest economy.
Wolfgang Münchau is a journalist and commentator who focuses on the European economy and the European Union. He is director of leading news service Eurointelligence and a columnist for the New Statesman. Prior to this, he worked for the Financial Times, where he wrote a weekly column about the European Union and the European economy.
Rhian Chilcott relocated to Berlin and joined Berlin Global Advisors in September 2023. She also worked for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) for over 15 years where she was the Director General before moving to Washington DC to open the CBI’s first international office.
Please note that registration is necessary for the event. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the Zoom registration link (starting https://) below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the Zoom registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date or contact us.

2025 LSE German Symposium
2025-03-03 - 2025-03-08 | London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, United Kingdom
As in previous years, BGA members are warmly invited to attend the LSE’s prestigious German Symposium held from 3-8 March 2025. Initiated in 1998 by German LSE students, the German Symposium has become an important date in the LSE’s calendar and will be hosted for the 24th time in 2025 under the motto “Transforming Tomorrow”.
Featuring a wide variety of events ranging from keynote speeches by and discussion panels to intimate coffee chats with world-class speakers, the LSE offers time and space for rigorous political debate.
Booking is available from 17 February, 6pm, via this link: https://lsesu.native.fm/event/lse-german-symposium-2025/249270.

German elections - what's next?
2025-03-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Mile End Institute / Queen Mary University, Bancroft Rd, London, E1 4DG
Join us on Thursday, 20 March 2025 or an engaging in-person panel discussion at Queen Mary University on the German elections held on 23 February. This event will be held in the Maths Lecture Theatre in the Mathematical Sciences Building, which is number 4 on this map of Queen Mary’s Mile End campus. Its What3Words locator is: https://w3w.co/roses.cove.wiping. Doors will open at 6.10pm and we aim to start at 6.30pm sharp. Queen Mary’s campus is equidistant between Mile End and Stepney Green Tube stations. Buses 25, 205 and 339 all stop near or outside the campus.
The speakers will delve into the new political landscape and the potential implications of the election results for Germany and Europe. Whether you’re a political enthusiast or just curious about the election results, this is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of German politics and its global significance.

Speakers:

Annette Dittert is a writer, columnist, filmmaker and reporter, who is the Bureau Chief and Senior Correspondent in London for the German television channel ARD. She is one of Germany and Britain’s most prominent commentators on German politics and was awarded ‘Political Journalist of the Year’ in 2019 for her reporting on Brexit.
Dr Canan Atilgan has been Head of the United Kingdom and Ireland Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung since October 2024. Prior to this, she has headed the Middle East and North Africa Division in the European and International Cooperation Department from May 2020.
Professor Dan Hough is Professor of Politics at the University of Sussex. He is an expert in German politics, Die Linke and the legacy of the GDR. He is the co-author of The Left Party in Contemporary German Politics (2007) and The Politics of the New Germany (2011), and regularly contributes to British and international media outlets.

The event will be chaired by Dr Sofia Collignon, the Director of the Mile End Institute and an expert in the study of candidates, elections, political parties and gendered violence against political elites. Sofia is a Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics at Queen Mary and acted as an official election observer during the German Federal Election in February 2025.

This is a free event for our members and their guests, but please note that registration is necessary. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the registration link below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date or contact us.

Booking page: https://britishgermanassociation.org/event/booking-page-german-elections-whats-next/

BGA Stammtisch at Munich Cricket Club
2025-04-02 18:30 - 21:00
On Wednesday 2 April starting from 6.30pm, we are hosting another Stammtisch together with the civil service network for German. The Stammtisch will be held at Munich Cricket Club Victoria close to Westminster and St James’s Park. Everybody is welcome, you don’t have to speak German to attend.
Please log in to your account before accessing the booking page linked below. If you are still unable to access the page after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date, or contact us.
Booking page: https://britishgermanassociation.org/event/booking-page-stammtisch-at-munich-cricket-club/

Wahnfried - The Birth of the Wagner Cult
2025-04-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
On 29 April 2025 at 6.30pm, we are honoured to welcome Polly Graham, the Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, for a virtual fireside chat on her artistic practice and the upcoming production of “Wahnfried: The Birth of the Wagner Cult” which will be running from 27 May to 14 June 2025. Polly will be in discussion Prof. Richard Bell from the University of Nottingham.

What happens to an artist’s work after their death? Who controls the narrative?
This major new opera by Avner Dorman, with a libretto by acclaimed playwrights Lutz Hübner and Sarah Nemitz, begins with the death of Richard Wagner and spans forty years of history. Opera goers will witness the Wagner family’s determination to construct the myth of the composer, their brutal infighting and their disturbing political affiliations. It will receive its UK premiere at Longborough in 2025. The world premiere was presented alongside the Karlsruhe Ring in 2017 and was nominated for a prestigious International Opera Award in the Best New Opera category.

As Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, Polly has played a key role in redefining the festival, making it more engaging and accessible while introducing new talent and fresh approaches. Under her leadership, the festival has produced works that connect with modern audiences while respecting opera’s classical roots.

Polly Graham made her debut at the Vienna State Opera in 2019, directing the world premiere of Olga Neuwirth’s “Orlando”. Her recent projects include “Il Piccolo Principe” at La Scala, “Così fan tutte” for Irish National Opera, “The Fairy Queen” for Longborough Festival Opera, and “The Rake’s Progress” for English Touring Opera.

Richard Bell is Professor at the University of Nottingham in the Department of Philosophy. Richard is investigating the theological, ethical, and artistic interests of the composer Richard Wagner. He has just completed a two-volume work exploring the theology of the Ring cycle, Wagner’s work and its relationship to Christianity.

Please note that registration is necessary for the event. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the Zoom registration link (starting https://) below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the Zoom registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date or contact us. This event is a virtual fire side chat where attendees can leave their cameras on if they wish and participate in the discussion directly.

Germany’s New Government in an Era of Global Challenges
2025-04-30 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
Join us on Wednesday, 30 April 2025, from 6:30 to 7:30pm for an online event on Zoom with Dr. Nicolai von Ondarza and Dr. Matthias Dilling as they discuss Germany’s evolving political landscape following the coalition-building process. Our moderator is Prof. Louise K. Davidson-Schmich from the University of Miami. This event is a collaboration with the International Association for the Study of German Politics (IASGP). Germany’s conservative Christian Democrat-led bloc has secured 208 out of 630 seats in the Bundestag (the lower house of parliament) and is currently engaged in complex coalition negotiations with the social democrats, the SPD, to form a majority. With Friedrich Merz positioned as the likely new Chancellor, a coalition between the two parties will establish a narrow 52% majority in parliament with the opposition composed of the AfD (Alternative for Germany, 152 seats), Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (The Green Party, 85 seats), and Die Linke (The Left, 64 seats). Key questions the new government will face are around taxes and finance, social policy, and migration.
Nicolai von Ondarza is an Associate Fellow at Chatham House and the Head of the EU/Europe Research Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin. His research focuses on Germany’s role in Europe, EU politics and institutions, EU–UK relations as well as democracy in Europe. As part of his work, he has consulted the German Government, the Bundestag, the UK government, the European Parliament and the European Commission.
Matthias Dilling is an assistant professor in political science and qualitative methods at Trinity College Dublin. His research is on the emergence and resilience of democratic institutions, political parties, and the far right. He is particularly interested in how political parties change and adapt to new challenges and what this means for the future of democracy.
Louise Davidson-Schmich is Professor of Political Science at the University of Miami. Her research interests include gender and politics as well as politics in long-term democracies.
Please note that registration is necessary for the event. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the Zoom registration link (starting https://) below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the Zoom registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date or contact us.

Insights in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
2025-05-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Following our popular tour of the FCDO last year, we are delighted to offering this event again this year. On Thursday 1 May 2025, BGA members are invited to a tour at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The tour will commence at 1pm BST and last for approximately one hour. The tour will start in the Quad, leading through the old India Office and round to the old Foreign Office. It finishes with a look through the gates at No 10’s door and questions of all kind are welcome at any time.
This event is now fully booked. Please contact us if you would like a place on the waiting list.

Introducing the Warburg Institute
2025-05-21 16:30 - 18:00 | Warburg Institute, Woburn Square, London, WC1H 0AB
On 21 May 2025 from 4.30pm to 6.00pm, BGA members are invited to a visit to the Warburg Institute . The Warburg Institute is one of the world’s leading centres for the study of art and culture. Its collections, courses and programmes are dedicated to the study of global cultural history and the role of images in society. Founded in Hamburg at the turn of the twentieth century by historian Aby Warburg (1866-1929), the Institute was established to trace the roots of the Renaissance in ancient civilisations and ended up changing the way we see the world around us. There will be a tour of its newly refurbished premises and its director, Professor Bill Sherman, and his colleagues will introduce the institute’s work and its history. The Institute is named after its founder Aby Warburg. In 1913 Warburg was joined by Fritz Saxl (1890-1948) who, in 1921, turned the library into a research institute. The Institute was exiled to London when the Nazis came to power in 1933 and became part of the University of London in 1944.
This event is now fully booked. If you wish to have a place on the waiting list, please email Tamara at office@britishgermanassociation.org.

Spargelabend at the NLC
2025-05-21 19:00 - 21:00 | National Liberal Club
The National Liberal Club invites BGA members to their Weisser Spargelabend which will take place on Wednesday 21 May. The evening will run as follows:

7pm – Maibowle drinks reception in Smoking Room;
Short music recital
Three course asparagus dinner in David Lloyd George Room accompanied by German wines.
The evening will conclude with a glass of Schnapps.

Tickets are £89.00.

Please email events@nlc.org.uk or louisa.pooley@nlc.org.uk to book your space. Alternatively, you can call 020 7930 9871.

BGA members are also warmly invited to the Stammtisch beforehand from 6pm to 7pm in the Smoking Room.

BGA Parliamentary Day Lunch 2025
2025-06-25 12:00 - 15:00 | House of Lords
On 25 June 2025 we will be hosting our traditional Parliamentary Day Lunch. This year’s distinguished guest speaker will be The Rt Hon. the Baroness Ashton of Upholland LG GCMG.
Drinks will be available on the Cholmondeley Room Terrace from 12.15pm. Lunch will be served at 12.45pm in the Cholmondeley Room. The event will end at 2.30pm.
Booking for this event has now closed. Please get in touch with Tamara Aberle at office@britishgermanassociation.org if you have any questions.
More information on our Guest of Honour can be found below:
The Right Honourable Baroness Catherine Ashton served as the European Union’s first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy from 2009 to 2014. She earned wide praise as a negotiator, leading the P5+1 talks on Iran’s nuclear program and galvanizing agreement between Serbia and Kosovo. She is the author of ‘And Then What?: Despatches From the Heart of 21st-Century Diplomacy, From Kosovo to Kiev‘ (2023)- a book that chronicles her extensive experience as a high level diplomacy and policy maker. Serving as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council in Gordon Brown’s cabinet in 2007, she was instrumental in ensuring the passage of the Treaty of Lisbon through the UK parliament. This accomplishment paved the way for her tenure as the British European Commissioner and subsequently as the Commissioner for Trade for the European Commission in 2008.
In recognition of her experience and contributions, she was made a Life Peer in the House of Lords in 1999. Her political journey began with an appointment as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Education and Skills in 2001, followed by a position in the Ministry of Justice in 2004. By May 2006, she was named a Privy Councillor, and in June 2007, she ascended to the position of Leader of the House of Lords.
Further cementing her legacy in academia, in January 2017, Baroness Ashton became the first female chancellor at the University of Warwick.

The Road Ahead: Innovations and Challenges in E-Mobility in Germany and the UK
2025-07-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
Join us on Wednesday, 2 July 2025, from 6pm to 7pm BST (19.00 to 20.00 CEST) for an online discussion on Zoom on the evolving landscape of e-mobility organised jointly by the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft and the British-German Association. Three experts from industry and policy will explore the technological, environmental, and societal impacts of electric transport. The event will address key issues such as infrastructure development, sustainability, innovation in battery technology, and the role of public policy in accelerating the transition to cleaner mobility solutions. This event offers valuable insights into one of the most dynamic areas of modern mobility.
Our expert speakers are Dr. Ruprecht Brandis, Konstanze Scharring, and Anna Krajinksa.
Ruprecht Brandis is Managing Director of the Clean Energy Forum. He previously worked for bp for 20 years, including almost 12 years as Director External Affairs Germany and Head of bp’s Berlin capital office.
Konstanze Scharring is Executive Director, Government and External Affairs at The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Anna Krajinska is Director of Transport & Environment (T&E) UK, Europe’s leading NGO for clean transport and energy. She is an expert in road transport decarbonisation, electrification, and air pollution, having worked on EU policy in these areas for the past five years. Before joining T&E, she worked as an engineer at Ford.
This event is part of our British-German Climate Action Event Series, organised jointly by the British-German Association (BGA) and the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft.
Please note that registration is necessary for the event. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the Zoom registration link (starting https://) below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the Zoom registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date or contact us.

BGA Summer Stammtisch at Munich Cricket Club
2025-07-09 18:30 - 21:00
On Wednesday 9 July 2025 from 6.30pm we are hosting another Stammtisch together with the civil service network for German. Everybody is welcome, you don’t have to speak German to attend.
Please log in to your account before accessing the booking page linked below. If you are still unable to access the page after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date, or contact us.
Booking page: https://britishgermanassociation.org/event/booking-page-stammtisch-at-munich/

Hitler’s Mein Kampf: Reflections 100 Years On
2025-07-10 17:30 - 18:30 | Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU
This event is also the LBI Summer Lecture 2025
On 10 July 2025, from 5.30 to 6.30pm, the Leo Baeck Institute invites BGA members to their Summer Lecture on Hitler’s Mein Kampf: Reflections 100 Years on. Hitler and the history of the Nazis remain extremely popular topics and ones that never cease to attract people’s interest, even fascination. It is crucial to comprehend the nature of Mein Kampf, the mindset of its author, Adolf Hitler, and the ideology he espoused that brought untold tragedy to millions of people – death, destruction, genocide and war. The book presents a dangerous set of ideas, regrettably ones that still have followers today, one hundred years after Mein Kampf was originally penned. This lecture focusses on some key themes of the text, as well as examining the work in its historical context.
Lisa Pine is Fellow of the Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London. Her main research interests are the history of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. She is the author or editor of nine books, the most recent of which is a co-authored book (with Kees Boterbloem), Soviet and Nazi Posters: Propaganda and Policies (Bloomsbury, 2025).
Please register your space here: https://www.lbilondon.ac.uk/events/leo-baeck-institute-london-lecture-series-2025/hitlers-mein-kampf-reflections-100-years

Annual General Meeting 2025
2025-07-14 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
The BGA’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Zoom on Monday 14 July at 6:30pm.
At the AGM, we will be reporting on the activities of the Association and sharing details of our plans for the year ahead. We will be electing the Officers and Executive Committee members for the coming year. It is also an opportunity for you to ask questions.
Please note that registration is necessary for the event. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the Zoom registration link (starting https://) below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the Zoom registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date, or contact us.

Silent Catastrophes - translations of the works of W.G. Sebald
2025-07-15 19:00 - 20:30 | St George’s German Lutheran Church, 55 Alie Street, London, E1 8EB
On Tuesday, 15 July 2025 at 7pm, fans of German writer W.G. Sebald are invited to St George’s German Lutheran Church for a special evening with Dr Jo Catling, Sebald’s most recent English translator. A lecturer at the University of East Anglia – where Sebald taught until his untimely death in 2001 – Dr Catling will discuss her new translation of his lectures in conversation with Rick Jones, Chair of the St George’s Local Committee. Copies of the book will be available for purchase on the night, courtesy of Waterstone’s Broadgate. Click here for booking details: https://www.stgeorgesgermanchurch.org.uk/current-events

Introducing the German Business Hub
2025-09-04 18:30 - 20:30 | German Business Hub, 42 Essex Street, London, WC2R 3JF
On Thursday, 4 September 2025 from 6.30pm, join us for an exclusive evening at the German Business Hub in London. You will be welcomed by Alex Altman, founder of the hub, and introduced to the rich history of the historic Temple district in London’s Westminster, where the German Business Hub is located, by Mahnaz Malik from The Temple Society. Artist Petra von Hardenberg will give you a guided tour through the hub that showcases her artwork while offering insights into the intersection of business and creativity. The evening will conclude with a small drinks reception which is an opportunity to network and mingle.
The German Business Hub is a SME incubator, specialising in helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enter and grow in the UK. With a deep understanding of the business environment in both Germany and the UK, their mission is to bridge the gap between these two dynamic economies.
The hub was founded by Alex Altmann. He is a partner at Lubbock Fine LLP and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA). He earned a Business Bachelor’s degree at the Berlin School of Economics and Law in Germany and also participated in a Tax Law Master’s programme at the Queen Mary School of Law, University of London.
Artist Petra von Hardenberg most recently taught at the Continuing Education Centre of the Freie Universität Berlin and was awarded the “Kreativradar” by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Brandenburg for “Artistic Interventions in Companies”. Her exhibitions include zeitenwende at the German Business Hub (2023/2024), and preussischblau at von Poll Immobilien Berlin (2018/2019).
Booking has now closed. If you still wish to attend please contact Tamara.

Little Germany in London and the History of St George's Lutheran Church
2025-09-22 18:00 - 20:00 | St George’s German Lutheran Church, 55 Alie Street, London, E1 8EB
Join us on Monday, 22 September 2025 for an evening talk with Rick Jones at 6pm, exploring the rich and often overlooked history of St George’s German Lutheran Church—the oldest surviving German Church in Britain, dating back to 1762-63. Founded by Dederich Beckmann, a prosperous sugar boiler, the church became a vital spiritual and cultural hub for German immigrants working in Whitechapel’s sugar refineries, butcher shops, and bakeries. Known as Little Germany, this East End enclave thrived until the First World War brought drastic change in 1915.
You’ll also experience a demonstration of the church’s rare Walcker organ, the only one of its kind in the UK.
Following the talk, we welcome anyone who is interested to join us at a nearby pub for more conversation and connection.
This event is now fully booked, please get in touch with Tamara at office@britishgermanassociation.org if you have any questions.

Riefenstahl - Kate Conolly in Conversation with Andres Veiel
2025-09-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
Join us on Thursday, 25 September 2025 from 6.30 to 7.30pm on Zoom for a conversation between film director and script writer Andres Veiel and journalist Kate Connolly on the documentary Riefenstahl. Andres is considered one of the most distinguished representatives of politically engaged art in Germany. In addition to his film works Andres Veiel writes and directs stage plays , i.a. at Theater Basel, Schauspiel Stuttgart, Gorki-Theater and Deutsches Theater (Berlin). Kate Connolly is the Guardian’s Berlin correspondent. She previously worked as a foreign correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, and first contributed to the Guardian in 1997.
Riefenstahl offers a captivating insight into the private estate of Leni Riefenstahl, who became world-famous with her Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will but kept denying any closer ties to the regime. She remains one of the most complex and controversial figures of the 20th century. As the Third Reich’s most prominent filmmaker, her works Triumph of the Will and Olympia are celebrated for their technical brilliance and visual innovation, while simultaneously serving as powerful tools of Nazi propaganda. Andres’ compelling documentary draws on rare and previously unpublished materials from Riefenstahl’s personal estate, including private films, photographs, recordings, and correspondence. It offers a critical exploration of her life, her carefully constructed legacy, and the enduring influence of her aesthetic.
Please note that registration is necessary for the event. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the Zoom registration link (starting https://) below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the Zoom registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date or contact us.

Broken Republik - In Discussion with Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes
2025-10-02 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
On Thursday, 2 October 2025 from 6.30 to 7.30pm members are invited to attend an event with Andra Riemhofer being in discussion with Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes about their latest publication Broken Republik: The Inside Story of Germany’s Descent into Crisis.
For decades, post-war Germany was seen as a model of recovery, admired for its economic strength, political stability, and cultural influence. Major firms like Mercedes-Benz, Siemens, and Bayer became global leaders, and reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall appeared seamless. Germany seemed to guide the course of Europe. However, even at its peak, there were signs of fragility, particularly a lack of cohesive national identity. As conditions shifted, these cracks widened. Industrial scandals, overreliance on Russian energy following the nuclear phase-out, and deepening inequality contributed to growing instability and the rise of the far-right AfD. In Broken Republik, journalists Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes explore how Germany, despite its past successes, now finds itself ill-equipped to face mounting challenges. Their account is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the country’s current political and social unraveling.
Chris Reiter has worked as a journalist covering economics, politics and business news. For more than twenty years, he has been based in Berlin where he has chronicled Germany’s political and economic struggles. He is a senior editor for Bloomberg after previously reporting for Reuters and Dow Jones Newswire.
Will Wilkes is based in Frankfurt and has spent his working life writing about Germany, travelling across the country to talk with politicians, executives, union leaders, and workers. From terrorism to economic crises to the resurgence of the far right, he has reported on the country’s mounting challenges and fraying social cohesion. He currently writes for Bloomberg and has previously written for Market News International and The Wall Street Journal.
Andra Riemhofer is an independent German business development consultant with a solid educational background in business and intercultural communication. Her most recent book Doing Business in Germany, Second Edition — How to Work Successfully with Germans published in January 2025, is a comprehensive guide on how to interact with Germans to develop long-lasting business relationships.
Please note that registration is necessary for the event. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the Zoom registration link (starting https://) below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the Zoom registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date or contact us.

Oktoberfest Stammtisch at Albert's Schloss
2025-10-07 18:45 - 21:30 | Albert’s Schloss, 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EU
Join us on Tuesday, 7 October, from 6:45pm for an Oktoberfest Stammtisch at Albert’s Schloss in London! 🍻 We warmly invite you to a special Oktoberfest Stammtisch, a relaxed evening of good company, German beer, and lively conversation! Whether you’re a native speaker, language learner, or simply a fan of Bavarian culture, come raise a stein with us and celebrate the spirit of Oktoberfest in true German style. Traditional dress encouraged, Gemütlichkeit guaranteed!
This Stammtisch is now fully booked. Please get in touch with Tamara at office@britishgermanassociation.org if you have any questions.

A Life of Dedication: Celebrating HRH The Duke of Kent at 90
2025-10-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
On 9 October 2025, our Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of Kent, celebrates his 90th birthday. Throughout his life, he has been at the heart of the British Royal Family. As a dedicated working member, he supported his cousin, the late Queen Elizabeth II, by representing her both at home and abroad.
His royal duties began at a young age: in 1952, at just sixteen, he walked in the procession behind King George VI’s coffin, and the following year he paid homage to The Queen at her Coronation. Since then, the Duke has continued to take part in key royal occasions and to serve the nation with distinction.
The Duke’s life has truly been one of service. He is actively involved with more than 140 charities, organisations and professional bodies, reflecting a wide range of causes, from commemorating the war dead, to supporting young people, to championing British technology and industry.
To mark this milestone and honour his remarkable contribution, we invite you to join a special online event on Monday 13 October 2025 from 6pm to 7pm on Zoom.
Our Chairman, Peter Barnes, will host the evening, joined by:

Hugo Vickers, royal biographer
Marcus Ferrar, Chairman of the Dresden Trust
Chris James, Head of Brand and Content, Scouts UK
Matthew White, Director of Engagement, Blood Cancer UK

Together, they will reflect on the Duke’s achievements and share personal anecdotes about his lifelong commitment to public service.
Please join us by registering here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8kvnUUbuRGiThTWMwqJwEQ

LBI 70th Anniversary Celebrations: Biennial Lecture 2025
2025-10-23 18:30 - 19:30 | Keynes Library, 43 Gordon Square, London, WC1E 7HX
Writing on the Wall: The Unfolding Persecution of Jews 1933 to 1939
On 23 October 2025 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, the Leo Baeck Institute invites BGA members to attend their 70th Anniversary Celebrations at Keynes Library. This lecture looks at the response of Jews to incidents of persecution and humiliation from Hitler coming to power in 1933 through to the outbreak of the Second World War. It will argue that while the Holocaust could not be predicted the level of persecution escalated during the period.
Professor Frank McDonough is an internationally renowned expert on the Third Reich. He was born in Liverpool, studied history at Balliol College, Oxford and gained a PhD from Lancaster University.
He has written many critically acclaimed books on the Third Reich, including: The Gestapo: The Myth and Reality of Hitler’s Secret Police (2015), Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi Party (2012), The Holocaust (2008), Opposition and Resistance in Nazi Germany (2001), Hitler, Chamberlain and Appeasement (2002), and Hitler and Nazi Germany (1999). He has also published many other books, most notably, The Origins of the Second World War: An International Perspective (2011), The Conservative Party and Anglo-German Relations (2007), Chamberlain, Appeasement and the British Road to War (1998) and The Origins of the First and Second World Wars (1997).
Please reserve your space here: https://www.lbilondon.ac.uk/events/biennial-lbi-lecture/lbi-70th-anniversary-celebrations-biennial-lecture-2025

Celebrating Bach - In Conversation with Michael Maul
2025-11-04 19:00 - 22:00 | St Georges Hanover Square
Book tickets for a truly exceptional evening hosted in collaboration with the London Bach Society This unmissable event as part of the London Bach Society’s 2025 Bachfest promises a rich blend of history, music, and international connection. On Tuesday, 4 November 2025, at 7.00pm, we are organising a musical evening at St. George’s Church, Hanover Square, a historic setting where Handel once worshipped, now marking its 300th anniversary.
This year is filled with remarkable musical milestones. We honour 275 years since the death of Johann Sebastian Bach and 300 years since the première of the 1725 version of his St. John Passion. The evening also marks Felix Mendelssohn’s Todestag, offering a poignant moment of remembrance.
We are thrilled to welcome Prof. Dr. Michael Maul, Artistic Director of the Leipzig Bachfest, who will deliver a keynote address followed by an engaging Q&A session. The evening’s recital – curated by award-winning German bass Florian Störtz – features a compelling programme of works by Bach and Brahms, offering a rare musical experience that bridges centuries and cultures. A post-recital reception will follow, offering the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow guests and celebrate.
Michael Maul is a musicologist at the Bach Archive in Leipzig, artistic director of the Bach Festival Leipzig and professor at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. For many years he has been searching for undiscovered Bach treasures in archives and has made spectacular discoveries. He is the author of numerous books about Bach and the Bach audio biography Universum JSB on Deutschlandfunk Kultur.
German bass-baritone Florian Störtz announced his arrival on the European concert scene with victories at 2023 International Handel Singing Competition as well as the 2023 Helmut Deutsch Song Competition. Together with pianist Mark Rogers he also took the Prix de mélodie at the 2023 Lili et Nadia Boulanger competition in Paris and won the Young Artists Platform at the International Song Festival Zeist, Utrecht 2024.
The London Bach Society, founded in 1946 by Paul Steinitz, is a society devoted to performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) with small, professional forces, using period instruments in order to obtain an authentic style of interpretation. Every year, the Society organise a Bach Fest in London.
Please log in to your account before accessing the booking page linked below. If you are still unable to access the page after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date, or contact us.
Booking page – Celebrating Bach

Still a Model? What We Can (and Can’t) Learn from German Federalism
2025-11-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Usha Kasera Lecture Theatre, Old College South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL
For decades, Germany’s federal system has been viewed internationally as a model of stability, subsidiarity, and institutional balance. But recent years have seen a more critical discourse emerge, reflecting concerns about the governance, coordination, and resilience of the ‘German model’. Why the Germans Do It Better has given way to Broken Republik.
This event on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 from 6pm to 7.30pm in the Usha Kasera Lecture Theatre, Old College, Edinburgh, jointly organised by the British-German Association and the Centre on Constitutional Change, explores whether German federalism still offers useful lessons for Scotland and the UK. With opening reflections from Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and a conversation with him to follow, the discussion will consider how Germany’s system of territorial governance has evolved, what challenges it now faces, and how this experience might inform ongoing debates about devolution, democracy, and reform in Scotland and the wider UK.
The panel is chaired by Dr Davide Vampa, Co-Director of the Centre on Constitutional Change. Discussants are Dr Elke Heins and Dr Benjamin Martill (Centre on Constitutional Change and Europa Institute).
Please follow the Eventbrite link to book your free place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/still-a-model-what-we-can-and-cant-learn-from-german-federalism-tickets-1795665727529

Jürgen Krauss: The German Christmas Cookbook
2025-11-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
Following the success of our 2023 event with Jürgen Krauss, on 24 November 2025 from 6.30pm GMT, BGA members are invited to an exclusive online session celebrating the launch of The German Christmas Cookbook where Jürgen will be in discussion with Abigail Abesamis Demarest, editor at EatingWell.
Jürgen Krauss, renowned for his festive German bakes, will share his passion for holiday treats: from rich, fruity stollen to delicately spiced lebkuchen, marzipan delights, and the iconic gingerbread house. His recipes make traditional German baking approachable, bringing extra joy to your Christmas kitchen. This is the ultimate guide for anyone wanting to make Christmas extra special, offering cakes, tarts, biscuits, breads, and savory snacks for every festive occasion. Recipes include highlights such as Mulled Wine Cake, Yogurt Stollen, Linzer Torte, Christmas Pavlova, and Black Forest Coffee Cake.
Jürgen Krauss was the star of Bake Off 2021, his semi-finals departure triggering over 100 complaints from dismayed viewers. His love for baking began during his childhood in the Black Forest. His travels across Europe, before settling in Brighton, UK, widened his culinary influences, but also gave him the yearning to master German bread-making, the perfect showcase for both his technical precision and creative flavours.
Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a writer, editor and former New Yorker based in sunny Panama City Beach, Florida. Her writing has been featured in HuffPost, Insider, Business Insider, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn and more. She is EatingWell‘s News, Trending & Updates Editor.
Please note that registration is necessary for the event. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the Zoom registration link (starting https://) below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the Zoom registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date or contact us.

Carols and Readings 2025
2025-12-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Christuskirche, 19 Montpelier Place
On Thursday, 4 December 2025 BGA members and their guests are invited to the BGA’s traditional Carols and Readings we organise jointly with the Christuskirche Knightsbridge. Come and join us for this joyful celebration of Christmas with Fever Pitch choir followed by a reception with traditional Stollen, Weihnachtsgebäck (gingerbread biscuits) and a warming glass of Glühwein.
The Carols and Readings will begin at 7pm GMT and will be led by Pastor Sebastian Fuhrmann. The reception will end at around 9pm GMT.
Music Director: Elinor Corp
Organist: Bernard Barker
Readings, carols and anthems will be in English and in German.To cover the costs of the service and to support our charitable work, we are asking for a contribution of £25 per ticket. If you would be willing to make an additional seasonal donation to the BGA, we encourage you to do so here.
We are expecting high demand for this perennially popular event in the lovely church, so make sure to reserve your place early!
Please log in to your account before accessing the booking page linked below. If you are still unable to access the page after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date, or contact us.
Booking Page – Carols and Readings

German Art at The National Gallery, London
2025-12-11 13:00 - 14:00 | The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN
On 11 December 2025 at 1pm, we are delighted to invite BGA members to a curator-led tour of German art at the National Gallery in London. Dr. Emma Capron, Curator of Early Netherlandish and German Paintings, will lead us through the highlights of the collection. Afterwards, those who wish to can join us for coffee and cake.
This event is currently fully booked. Please email Tamara on office@britishgermanassociation.org if you would like to be placed on the waiting list.
