German Reading| 21 Free Texts For Beginners

German Reading

Explore 20+ free German texts for beginners & intermediates. Each text has a native-speaker audio recording, useful vocabulary & an interactive comprehension quiz.

Beginner Texts (A1 / A2)Intermediate Texts (B1+)

Beginner Texts: A2

Rammstein

A simple text about the controversial German metal band Rammstein. Ready? Feuer frei!

Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl, who hid from the Nazis in the Netherlands.

Hildegard von Bingen

Discover the extraordinary life of Hildegard von Bingen: a medieval visionary, polymath and saint.

Struwwelpeter

Discover Heinrich Hoffmann's 1845 German classic 'Struwwelpeter' – controversial children's stories.

Sophie Scholl

A group of courageous young Germans, who risked everything to resist the Nazi regime.

Schlager Music

Though divisive in taste, Schlager's cultural impact in Germany remains undeniable.

German Christmas Markets

Discover centuries-old traditions, featuring twinkling lights, festive music, and delectable food.

World War 2

Explore Berlin's poignant WWII history at the Holocaust Memorial and the Reichstag building.

Intermediate Texts: B1

German Cinema

A glimpse into New German Cinema: a groundbreaking film movement that revolutionized German cinema.

Bauhaus

Discover how the Bauhaus movement combined art, craft & technology to create functional design.

The German Witch Hunt

Uncover 16th and 17th-century hysteria, resulting in the persecution of thousands for witchcraft.

Anton Wilhelm Amo

Explore the life of Germany's first African philosophy professor who fought against slavery and discrimination.

Nietzsche's Life & Philosophy

Who was Friedrich Nietzsche? What defined his life? What were his ideas? Why read his philosophy now?

Käthe Kollwitz

A famed German artist, known for her prints and sculptures, pivotal in 20th-century art.

C.G. Jung

Discover C. G. Jung's world: the father of analytical psychology. What were his main ideas?

Berghain

Read about the infamous Berghain: a Berlin nightclub, with one of the hardest door policies in the world.

Advanced Texts: B2

The Witch Craze

The Early Modern era in Germany: rampant misogyny, goat-riding witches, and abundant magic.

Schinderhannes

A legendary figure in German history, who led ambitious crime sprees with his band of thieves.

German Mythical Creatures

Explore German folklore: demons in cornfields, self-cannibalizing corpses, and other mythical creatures.

Magnus Hirschfeld

He fought for LGBTQ+ rights and tolerance in Germany, more than a hundred years ago.

E.T.A. Hoffmann

A pioneer of Dark Romanticism, delving into melancholy, demons, and the uncanny.

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Learn

If you aren't sure where to start or are looking for particular word, check out our free lessons & our vocabulary section.

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Immerse

To anyone looking to immerse more in German, we recommend our free, interactive texts & stories.

German Texts

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German Fairy Tales

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On Learning German

99 German Idioms

Download our free PDF: 99 German words & idioms. Each expression comes with a German example sentence, a translation & useful vocabulary.

Surviving German Winter

In this podcast episode, we'll share our tips on how to endure the bitter German winter. Topics include taking part in traditions like Christmas markets and Krampus walks, winter food and cozy indoor activities.

Comments

Leave a comment to let us know what you think, or what other materials you might find helpful.

This really helped me with my comprehension, just wanted to say thank you. Do you have more free texts / reading material?

David

08 Nov 2024

Hallo! Danke für diese Geschichten. Ich lerne Deutsch und diese sind sehr nützlich fur mich!

Kate

06 Sep 2024

Danke sehr! Die Lesepassagen sind sehr nuetzlich

Peter Moss

28 Apr 2025

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