Eine Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

The article "A History of the Federal Republic of Germany" by Knut Bergmann examines the significance of state banquets and the selection of food and drinks during diplomatic visits. Bergmann argues that these aspects can provide insight into the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. The decisions regarding the selection of food and drinks depended on international products, local products, and the preferences of the guests. German winemakers also took advantage of these occasions to promote their grape varieties. The article focuses on the state visits of foreign guests to Germany and the associated culinary aspects. It is noted that in the first decades after 1945, even dictators were given a platform and efforts were made to accommodate their wishes. Nowadays, however, politics has become more cautious and avoids meetings with undemocratic visitors. The author embeds the visits in the historical context and describes the interstate problems and expectations. It also points out the changing optics of state visits, while the culinary aspects have not yet been fully captured. It is speculated that in the future, information on allergens, regional origin, and CO2 balance could also be included on the menus. [Extracted from the article]