Abstract:The purpose of this essay is to give some introductory background information to understand the wider context of
urban and regional planning in Germany in the early 21st century. For that purpose, 11 successful projects of planning
and policies in Germany (e.g. balanced urban development, controlling urban sprawl, sensitive, gentle or careful urban
regeneration, our village has to become more beautiful etc.) and the twelve narratives supporting the above success
stories were described. Lastly, the four efforts, what German planners are already doing to react to and prepare for the
changing development trends in German as well as world society were shortly suggested.