This archive report was first published on 1 September 2019.
Germany's love affair with nudity dates back to the early 20th century, when naturists rebelled against the grime of industrialization and the mass slaughter of World War I. The concept of 'free body culture' – bathing the whole body in water and sunlight while exercising – became a battle cry for a healthy, harmonious lifestyle and an antidote to a destructive modernity.
One of the first licensed nudist clubs in Germany was founded in 1921 on a lakeside near Berlin. Today, entire stretches of German waterfronts are designated as nudist beaches, and there are sporting events from nude yoga to nude sledding. German saunas are mixed and naked, and people regularly take their clothes off on television.
For a relative newcomer to Germany, like my British husband, all this nudity can be disconcerting. When we visited a sauna south of Berlin, he didn't know where to look. But for many Germans, nudity is a normal part of life.
As John C. Kornblum, a former United States ambassador to Germany, noted, 'Germans are both afraid of freedom and deeply desire it.' Nudity, he said, allows people to feel a little rebellious. The Nazis and Communists tried to root out nudism, but to no avail.
Today, nudism is an integral part of German culture. 'Most Germans find it totally normal to be naked in the sauna, see bare breasts on the beach, and naked children in the paddling pool,' said Prof. Maren Möhring, a cultural historian and nudism expert at Leipzig University.
Germany's relaxed attitude towards nudity is also reflected in its history. The first nudist congress in New York was organized by a German immigrant, and German nudists tried to colonize pockets of South America. It's not just a matter of cultural heritage, but also a reflection of the country's values.
As Tina Müller, a 39-year-old mother of two, explained, 'When you swim naked, it tingles on the skin. You feel every movement of the waves, every gust of wind directly on your skin. You feel your whole body. You feel alive, you feel free.'
Germany's unique attitude towards nudity has also been the subject of scientific study. A 2017 survey of 850 British people found that nudism makes us happier. Outside of designated clothing-optional areas, public nudity is treated as a petty offense in Germany, punishable with fines up to 1,000 euros. But legal precedent has de facto legalized nudity near a beach; and nudity in nature is tolerated as long as no one complains, which rarely happens.
